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February 2024 by Drew Olson
Wonderful place to stay and such a unique experience for any visitor/resident of the area! Thank you so much to the Covington Inn for such a memorable experience.
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February 2024 by Ibsa Barisa
Honestly, I can't recommend this place enough. The boat provides an intimate experience of the Mississippi. The boat itself is cozy and has a great view of St. Paul skyline. The host's hospitality is welcoming, made me feel right at home the moment I stepped aboard. A true hidden gem!
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February 2024 by Julien JP
Very accommodating, warm and welcoming environment. The owner is a lovely kind person.
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February 2024 by James Chihak (Jim)
Stunningly cozy! A once in a lifetime experience!
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February 2024 by Jerald Adamsson
The Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the Covington Inn are a perfect combo. And definitely book two nights, not just one. Expect a very laid-back look and feel, almost a youth hostel vibe, except for the very private, unique rooms, and flavorful breakfasts . We had read from another review that drinking water is from the tap, so we brought our own. No problem for us.Rooms: We stayed in the Master's Suite on our wedding night back in 2001 and have returned to that room a couple three more times, since. You do have to get up a spiral staircase, so you must be ok with steps. Once in the room, there are no steps to the main deck/patio - just open the room's exterior door for direct access. We love having coffee out there. Cozy gas fireplace, comfortable bed, (not too cushy, and lots of pillows to choose from.) The bathroom is what you'd expect--very tight, funky quarters. The shower tile and fixtures looked new. Water was hot. The shower head was big and adjustable. Very nice.Nearby activities: Saint Paul Winter Carnival was our reason for coming to downtown Saint Paul in January. We enjoyed the walk to the ice sculpture contest in Rice Park very much. There are great eating choices downtown, as well, not to mention NHL hockey, concerts, museums, theatre. According to Google Maps, all of these were a 20-to-30-minute walk on foot from the Covington, which we found to be true.Walkability: Easy access dock ramps to the boat. Harriet Island is full of paved trails for daytime walks. The grand Wabasha Bridge is a 10-minute walk away, when you take the levee trail on the opposite side of the park. Raspberry Island, located below the Wabasha Bridge and home to a boat club, is a 5-minute walk from the inn. You can drive there, as well, for two-hour parking, and take the steps up to the bridge deck on either side of the bridge, from there.
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November 2023 by Al
Wow! What an incredible experience this was! I’m not sure where to begin so I’ll start be mentioning that I have traveled all over and not many of my stays were ever this accommodating. The innkeeper and her puppy were a delight! (She’s the one laying down)They immediately took to my boy and that made our stay feel just like home. The rooms were very clean and the bed’s incredibly comfortable, we had little local toffees laid out on our tables with our breakfast, the coffee was strong and very needed before heading out to the cities, the French toast and savory strudels were delicious.The innkeeper Calah was very knowledgeable on some of the best food spots nearby and in Minneapolis. Overall this stay was everything we didn’t know we needed and more. Thank you Calah for this and we will definitely be back!! This inn is a hidden gem in the city and I truly can’t say I’ve experienced anything like it anywhere else.
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October 2023 by Lucy Mellon Macnak
My husband and I have stayed here for many years. It is a unique property with a very relaxing atmosphere. We loved our stays here. But this trip we found it had a new owner and the experience was vastly different. The previous owner, Liz, made you feel welcome from the very beginning, and was very accommodating. We didn’t feel the same way this time. When in the evening we wanted a drink of water, we noticed there were no cups in the room, nor in the main sitting area. We had to drink water from a faucet using our hands in order to take our meds. At registration I asked the hostess about breakfast, and she said breakfast was at 9:00. Previously that would mean Liz would start breakfast at 9:00, but it would run for an hour. There was always serve yourself coffee prepared while you waited, but she would bring breakfast out as you arrived. She would also visit with her guests and we had some great discussions. This time when we went from our room at 9:35 there was a note saying that the hostess had waited 30 minutes but had to leave for a doctor’s appointment.?♀️ She left us a container of instant oatmeal ( don’t know what we were supposed to do with that) and a stale breakfast bar. Thankfully there was coffee. There was no one there to cheerfully send us on our way as there always had been in the past. It was a real disappointment after our wonderful experiences in the past. Very disappointing. We won’t be back.
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October 2023 by Chris Delaurentis
What a fabulous and unique experience in downtown St. Paul. So grateful to have had this experience.
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September 2023 by Don R.
DO NOT STAY HERE! This is not the same owner that is in the video! The owner kept us and another couple waiting to check in for over 30 minutes while she talked on the phone. She was confused and out of it when she did try to check us in. After she gave us our room key she just walked into her room and closed the door. I knocked twice and she wouldn't answer. We had no idea where or how to get to our room! In the room we found live spiders in the head board, above the bed and on the air conditioner. The bathroom towels were dirty! We told the hostess we were leaving and didn't stay. We have not been able to get a response from her sense for a refund. The parking area is defiantly sketchy at night and didn't feel safe. We have stayed at a LOT of B&B's and this is the worse one ever!
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August 2023 by Crystal Cox
On FB we want everything to look to perfection… I did that but it wasn’t!!First off no host!! We got there. Called a number on door and she gave code to let ourselves in. My pilot room key was on table with a guest card. Sorry I won’t put my credit card info on something like this (PayPal took my money) to leave on a table for others here staying to see. I Called number on door and she stated “I’ll meet you after my chiropractor appointment”. Okay… We waited 2 hours.. She never showed up!! Ruined our dinner plans waiting on her to show up!! Once we realized we all on our own, we just left to eat dinner. No rules, where to smoke if you did, what you can and can do Nothing!! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!Second it was “A HOT BOX” in main area. No air conditioner anywhere. Me and my guest had to go outside to get air it was so hot. We went to our area and same thing!! Seriously, I have MS and heat is not my friend!! This place is not disabled friendly either!! If you’re disabled not for you!! Wish the google page they have would mention that!! Yet they “DON’T”!!!At 10:30pm i went to get coffee (make some). No coffee anywhere just tea. So my tea in hand and possibly a smoke outside off the boat. Went to get my smokes and I almost had a heart attack walking up the stairs to get them. For a person was laying on the outside front porch, with a Bible open. I figured it was someone no one told us about staying on aboard. So I went out an introduced myself. She was actually a homeless girl and said sorry a million times and left. I felt bad. Really bad. This place has cameras!! Why didn’t the people owning the inn catch it faster!! I then felt unsafe the whole entire time there!! That front door is nothing but a kick and they can get in!! I was so scared I didn’t sleep till 4 something in the morning.$320 dollars I’m sorry WTH is this? A escaped concept hiding from capture? Won’t lie.. I actually thought I had the whole boat to myself but I didn’t. I now feel bad. For walking in and out to smoke and my friend helping me with medication I needed I now feel bad. But HOST NEVER TOLD US ANYTHING!!Breakfast served here in this room are you seriously serious? No breakfast served in our room! Hot box main area we had to go!! Ridiculous!! Seriously I thought pilot room got breakfast in private on private deck…. nope9 Am breakfast time from host…. No host. Nothing. No Greet no meet no coffee. 9:45am finally coffee and nothing said. Served breakfast but not asked if allergy’s or what is okay…. Was served an o er sweet breakfast I couldn’t eat and I’m diabetic and had heart surgery…. Her dog too omg. Said was friendly. No it’s not!! Owner had on a leash and it violently barked at my guest, making him feel very uncomfortable.To me not worth $320 I spent. $120 sure for, the view and everything. It’s not very clean and my pilot room bathroom stunk. The fan didn’t even work to get smell out!! It was hard to sleep in that room!!! Opened window with air on was how I finally slept…..
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June 2023 by Ann Coleman
With new ownership, this place is not anything like shown on website. It is a dump. Breakfast was burned french toast. The young couple apparently don't have a clue as to how to run a B&B.
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June 2023 by Jean
I've stayed twice here. Once in the pilot house and also the river view suite. The place is quirky, yet inviting and the views into St. Paul are great. However, my first stay was in the winter and the aesthetic was different than a stay during the summer. I purposely came back for summer with plans to sit on the deck with my husband and watch the world go by. We didn't get to do that, though. There is no shade on the deck, no umbrellas for the various chairs which seemed to just be haphazardly scattered about. We were stuck trying to hide in a corner where the boat created a small area of shade. The main part of the boat was not air conditioned so sitting in the common area was almost warmer than being outside.We also weren't impressed with the cleanliness of the Inn. One of the first things I noticed in our room, which had a couch, was how stained the couch cover was. It also appeared that the carpet by the bed had not been properly vacuumed.The entrance onto the boat was also poorly maintained. A planter below the sign for the Inn had an empty bottle in it the entire we were there. The table outside the main door was so coated in dirt/dust. It wasn't an inviting first impression.I'm not sure why there aren't any comments about the pot smoking. Both times the smell has been so pervasive, and if this is not your thing, then being inundated with it each time you are in the common area, is questionable at best. None of this comes across as very professional.I also tried to call before we arrived but the mailbox for the phone is full, which I recall it was when I tried to call when I stayed during the winter.I was so disappointed this time around. The place apparently had been closed for a while due to the flooding, but if anything, this should have given time to get the place cleaned and spruced up, but it appeared that the place was left in disarray and hastily reopened without much preparation. There were things seemingly scattered about the common area, and when we left this morning, someone's personal clothes seemed to be tossed on the couch.Lastly, as much as I love St. Paul, the area is not inviting. There is garbage EVERYWHERE. Broken glass all over the parking lot. Questionable people walking around.We won't return which is really too bad.
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February 2023 by Emily VanPatter
Cozy cute place with great breakfast. Absolutely stunning view of the river and St. Paul. The lights at night were gorgeous. Calah was an accommodating host, such a cute spot! Thanks again!
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February 2023 by Ali A
My stay here was exactly what I needed without knowing it. I’ve lived and worked in the Twin Cities for years and didn’t know that this getaway was here but now that I am aware I will be back!
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December 2022 by Greg Lerdahl
My wife and I recently spent two nights at the Covington Inn Tugboat Bed & Breakfast on the two coldest and windiest nights we could imagine (12/22-23/22).Yet we had a wonderful stay with an owner/hostess with the warmest heart. Kayla could not have been kinder or more accommodating. She is an energetic and creative young person (to us anyway?), and her homemade breakfasts (included in the stay) were delicious.Even in below zero temps and high winds, our Maid’s Quarters room was warm and cozy due to the electric fireplace.Kayla’s prices are reasonable, and it’s an experience we’re going to have again. We might even see what it’s like when the weather is good!Greg and Laurie Lerdahl
