Have decided on EP. Now looking for advice on lodging in Ely. Motel or outfitters?

What's your budget? You could stay at the Grand Ely Lodge, the Paddle Inn Motel (or similar) or an outfitter's bunkhouse.

We're cheap, so we usually do outfitter bunkhouse. They are typically bare bones though...done Voyageur North and Canadians Waters before. I typically can't sleep well the night before anyway so why pay for luxury. If you're going through an outfitter for rental, they can sometimes have deals to get you a room too.

Most bunkhouses are (thankfully) much better than I first imagined they would be, given the rustic-sounding name. Take VNO's: A/C, cable TV, bathroom with shower, full kitchen... not too shabby at all. Another bunkhouse, however, on the grounds of a very nice Gunflint area lodge, will not get our return business. Less-than-minimal attention to cleanliness or privacy needs or amenities, poor design leading to constant disruptions from neighboring guests... Maybe we will stay in the lodge on a return trip, but not the bunkhouse.

I like the Super 8 - Free breakfast, good Wi-Fi and if you call direct - you get a better rate than on-line!

What’s your entry point? There are lots of outfitters that have lodging for the night before or after a trip.

cyclones30: "We're cheap, so we usually do outfitter bunkhouse. They are typically bare bones though...done Voyageur North and Canadians Waters before. I typically can't sleep well the night before anyway so why pay for luxury. If you're going through an outfitter for rental, they can sometimes have deals to get you a room too. "

+1

And if you stay at a bunkhouse - PLEASE don't be 'those guys' drinking beer and telling stories with your buddies past midnite. We get it - you're all together for the first time in years, and excited about sharing an adventure tomorrow. Go to the steakhouse to drink, and try to keep it down when you get back. The rest of us are trying to wake up to be first in line at Briton's in the morning, because after 6am, the line is halfway down the street!

rant over

Briton's is a real treat

Every bunkhouse experience I've had has been different from the last.... Twice in Ely and twice on the GFT. Ranging from an entire house for 18 (Scout trip) to what could be best described as rooms in a converted cabin with a common area that all of the rooms open up to. I felt really bad walking around that place, it was after midnight when we got in and I had two kids with me, and I know some of the other guests had their doors open to help with the warmth that night.

Most of the bunks I've had were a standalone small building or row-house style. Some were dry, others might have had a sink only and a common bathroom a short walk away.

We stayed at the Paddle Inn after a mini wing night after our trip

Nice rooms and quiet.

While we're on the topic, my buddy's wife wants to stay some place nice in the area. She is a little bit fancy, so are their more luxurious options?

To TheGreatIndoors:
I would think the Grand Ely Lodge or Burntside Lodge would be the two nicest places around Ely. After a trip a few years ago, my wife and I stayed at the Grand Ely and had dinner at the Burntside. What a treat they both were, especially the dinner!

Ely Motel. Oldschool goodness, very clean, conveniently located in downtown Ely, and nice owners

I always stay at CCO motel. They also have "apartments" - half a house - good for a group. Love the convenience to walk everywhere BUT don't overlook Air BnB. Lots there.

Canadian Waters bunks, Voyagers North above the baitshop, Adventure Inn, Super 8, Paddle Inn, Lakeside Motel, Canadian Border Outfitters motel room on Moose Lake in Winton, and camped out a Cliff Wold's. All great.

The last few years, we have stayed at the Canoe On Inn. Very nice rooms at comparable prices.

I've stayed in just about everything CCO has to offer; the houses a longside the office, the apartment above the office, the bunkhouses out back, the apartment behind on the back Street and the bunkhouses out on Moose Lake. Good people...

+1 for the Ely Motel. We've stayed on two different occasions in the last couple years. Definitely old-school but always very clean. The owners put out a continental breakfast in the lobby, don't pass on the hardboiled eggs just because they come out of a bag!

So my #1 motel of choice in Ely is the Adventure Inn - I love it and have stayed there many times. Unfortunately it's full for the Ely Marathon weekend this year so I'm taking a chance and staying at the Paddle Inn. Anybody stay at both and can give me a sense of how they compare?

Tom, I've stayed at both, although it's been several years now.

I found the Paddle Inn clean, comfortable enough and acceptable to me. I have probably stayed there 4-5 times. Maybe 6. My guess is that you'll find it to be fine, but everyone has different tastes.

I stayed at the Adventure Inn one time. From what I can remember, the room was nice enough, but I could hear the guy in the next room snoring like we were separated by only a curtain. It was amazing. I haven't been back.

It was only one stay so it's hard to come to a conclusion after only one time. Others have stayed there multiple times and they enjoy it. I'm not usually a "one and done" guy - I'd stay there again if it was available and the Paddle Inn wasn't. I'd be curious about sawing logs in the next room though. :)