Note: A version of this review is also published as a Google review for the hotel. It has been edited for ExploreErie.com. In addition, this is not sponsored or paid — it’s my honest thoughts on the hotel.
The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel is, hands down, my favorite Marriott property I’ve ever stayed at.
I come to Erie very regularly for weekend/extended stays to enjoy Presque Isle, etc., and I try to stay at the Sheraton as often as possible.
In fact, in the past 13 months (as of Sept. 3, 2022), I’ve had the pleasure and ability to stay in this hotel for about 34 nights.
In that time, I reached out to the staff for only one minor issue.
Every staff member I encounter is nothing but courteous and kind — from cleaning crews to maintenance workers, foodservice and guest services.
They’ve always been so great and friendly. I honestly can say I’ve never encountered an issue with the staff here and always think about how great the employee training and hiring process must be. So, hats off to the management team and White Lodging for such stellar work.
In an August 2022 stay, I was arriving late from the train and reached out ahead of time to let them know. They quickly sent me the mobile key and assured me that I’d have no issues getting to my room at such a late hour. And I had no issues.
In addition, it is the only Marriott property I’ve stayed at that successfully uses the in-app services. If I need additional towels or have a question, I use the Bonvoy app and questions/services are quickly addressed.
When friends and colleagues inquire about things to do, places to stay and where to eat in Erie, I quickly suggest the Sheraton. You could have an entire romantic getaway weekend at the Sheraton and never leave the property (or at least not venture too far).
The rooms are incredibly clean. Everything has always been in working order for me (TV, fridge, curtains, bathroom, etc).
The hotel rates are reasonable when demand is low and are high when demand is high, as one might expect.
When compared to prices at other hotels on Peach Street and considering the superior level of service and cleanliness (and the view!), there is no question the Sheraton is worth it.
A few things to keep in mind or consider when booking and staying:
Be kind to the staff. They are amazing. While the property certainly lives by the “Disney appearance” belief (that is, put on a great show in front of the curtain for the audience), there is no doubt they are impacted by having fewer staff members right now. Be patient and kind to them.
If it’s your first time, splurge for the bay view room and make sure to avoid any room ending in “02” or “04” (and maybe “24”) because the view of Erie’s Bicentennial Tower is obstructed by the building. But all bay views rooms offer a 100 percent incredible view of the bay, Presque Isle and Lake Erie (for higher floors).
In rooms with bathtubs, the tub area and curtain do not provide enough area for taller people or people with large arm spans. Sounds odd, but if you’re tall, you know what I mean. If you try to turn around, it could be tricky. If you can get a room with a shower only, do it.
Not every floor has a microwave or self-service laundry. But they’re only a few floors away if yours doesn’t have it.
Parking is $14 per day. I think that’s steep, especially for Erie. But we pay it because we have to. I have skipped the garage fee sometimes and parked on the street (a metered day is $10 and Sundays are free). In the winter, I prefer the garage if it’s snowing for obvious reasons.
The walk from the garage to the hotel is odd. There is a “tunnel” of sorts with an awning to protect guests from rain, snow and sun. It’s a long walk if you’ve got kids, are older or have a physical disability. Of course, you could do drop-offs at the main door, but, logistically, it is a bit of a pain.
The pool offers two hours of late-night adults-only swim. Most guests must not know this, so I’ve been lucky enough to have the whirlpool to myself. And, the pool does tend to be a little chilly. The pool area is great for reading.
All of the food I’ve had from the hotel is great — from the Bayfront Grille to the club lounge and room service. I do not eat meat, but friends and family who do have had nothing but praise for meat options on the menu. And the drinks! Enjoy the bar!
The lobby is small and can be pretty noisy and busy. It’s not a great place to hang out unless you’re waiting for others or are heading to the bar/restaurant. The lobby is gorgeous and looks so pretty when decorated for the holidays!
Anything conceived above as “negative” should not deter you from staying at the Sheraton Erie hotel.
The Niagara is considered one of the most historically authentic tall ships in the United States. The ship is an accurate reproduction of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship from the War of 1812’s Battle of Lake Erie.
Presque Isle State Park attendance jumped to almost 5 million people in each of the last two years.
With all of those visitors, unfortunately, not everybody cleans up after themselves.
It could be as simple as leaving your milkshake cup or a chips bag behind.
But with the increase in visitors comes a greater increase in people wanting to keep Presque Isle clean.
Jeff McCullor, the co-founder of Erie Ale Works, organized a recent cleanup.
“The beach over the summer takes a pounding from just a lot of heavy traffic use and we feel like it’s an important asset to the community and we just want to keep it that way,” McCullor told Erie News Now.
What are beachgoers littering Presque Isle with?
“The biggest item that we see are cigarette butts and just plastics of any sort. It’s plastic stuff like plastic bottles, plastic bottle rings, the caps — things that people may not be aware that are leaving behind,” McCullor told the television news station.
You, too, can take part in cleaning up Presque Isle.
How?
If you’re a visitor, be sure to take everything you brought back with you.
Place trash in the proper bins located throughout the park.
It’s usually windy at Presque Isle. So, use rocks or other heavy items to keep items in place.
Be alert of children with plastics, food wrappers, drink containers, toys, etc.
Try to pack using reusable containers that often are heavier than plastics.
Bring a bag with you to clean up other people’s messes. Don’t just walk over the trash, pick it up.
Remember: Leave Presque Isle better than you found it.
Check out some of our recommendations for other things to do, places to eat, things to see.
Where to eat?
Along the Bayfront, near the tall ships
Pier 6 Rooftop Bar and Restaurant: 6 Sassafras Pier, on top of the parking garage near the Bayfront Convention Center and Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront
Bay House Oyster Bar & Restaurant: 6 Sassafras Pier, in the parking garage near the Bayfront Convention Center and Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront
The Cove: 2 State St., in the parking garage of the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel
Jr’s on the Bay Sloppy Duck Saloon: 726 West Bayfront Parkway (for some people, this is walkable from the Tall Ships Erie event, but it may not be walkable for many people. It is a short car ride)
Yes, Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is worth visiting.
Beaches along Lake Erie.
Presque Isle offers 11 miles of hiking trails.
The peninsula has a 13.5-mile multipurpose trail for biking, walking and cross-country skiing.
Presque Isle offers swimming at guarded beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Presque Isle State Park is consistently rated among the top places in the country to bird-watch. The peninsula is located along the Atlantic Flyway, making it an excellent place for birds to stop on their migration across Lake Erie. At least 339 species of bird have been identified on Presque Isle.
Presque Isle’s Gull Point is considered the peninsula’s most ecologically dynamic area. Gull Point is the most fragile area of the peninsula, and many plant species there are threatened or endangered in Pennsylvania.
Surfing is permitted in three spots at Presque Isle: Areas near Beach 1, Beach 10 and North Pier Light. More details here.
From a quiet spot under a tree or at a picnic table to pavilions for up to 200, Presque Isle offers many areas for picnicking.
Walk on water (well, ice) in the winter. While the state does not monitor ice thickness, visitors regularly find ice fishers and other winter activity enthusiasts out on the ice. Take a walk across the bay if it’s thick enough!
Watch the sun set. Nobody knows where it started, but allegedly, Presque Isle is considered to have the third best sunset in the world? Even if it’s not based on a real survey, sunsets are gorgeous here all year.
If all of that isn’t enough, simply sitting in your car reading a book or sipping a milkshake can be great. Drive to Sunset Point when it’s storming, stay in your and watch the waves whip around.
Tall Ships Erie returns to Erie’s bayfront on Aug. 25-28.
The festival celebrates Erie’s maritime heritage with ships from across the world.
Among the highlights of the festival is the Parade of Sail, where viewers can see the tall ships entering Presque Isle Bay. The Parade of Sail begins at 4 p.m. Aug. 25.
The remainder of the festival will take place around the Bayfront Convention Center, Dobbins Landing and the Erie Maritime Museum.
Visiting ships
Visitors will have a chance to view seven ships during the festival.
In a return to Erie, visitors will get to see what’s considered the “World’s Largest Rubber Duck” and a smaller duck.
Admission tickets
» Single-day pass: $10 Includes: All-day access to festival sites. Dockside viewing of tall ships fleet. Live music and entertainment. Educational seminars. Family activities. Food vendors. Vendor marketplace. Does not include access onto ships for deck tours. A deck tour add-on must be purchased for access onto available ships for deck tours.
Deck tour add-on: $5: The deck tour add-on must be purchased with a corresponding single-day pass.
» Weekend Pass (Friday, Saturday and Sunday): $39 Includes access to festival sites and deck tours for all three days of the festival. Does not include sailing tours. Weekend passes are non-transferable. Does not include sailing tours.
» VIP Pass: $199 Includes festival sites and deck tours for the weekend as well as all VIP-only hospitality areas. VIP areas include complimentary refreshments and appetizers. VIP passes also include VIP line access and VIP parking. VIP passes are non-transferable. Does not include sailing tours.
Looking to spend the weekend? Hotels fill up quickly and can be pricy. Plus, there are campgrounds, RV parks and a variety of other options. Plan ahead. Find a list of places to stay.
No parking is available on festival grounds. But there are many parking opportunities nearby with shuttle service or a quick walk. Find more details here.
And if you’re coming from out of town, visit this link for driving details.
Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the perfect spot for your pooch.
With 3,200 acres, Pennsylvania’s only seashore offers a great experience for you, your family and your dog.
With all of the fun, though, there are some things you should know and prepare for before heading to Presque Isle with your dog.
Dogs must be leashed at all times on leashes of no more than 6 feet.
Dogs are not permitted at guarded beaches in the summer. Dogs can walk and be in the water at unguarded beaches.
At guarded beaches, dogs are only allowed along the tree line.
Harmful algal blooms can kill your dog. More information is below.
Dog owners must properly clean up after their dogs.
Ticks are prevalent at Presque Isle.
Presque Isle is home to a variety of animals. Caution should be taken at all times.
Harmful algal blooms
The Erie County Department of Health regularly tests water from beaches for swimming safety.
Advisories are issued by the health department to help protect people and their pets from risks of contracting waterborne diseases from contaminated waters, including exposure to toxins found in harmful algal blooms.
The thresholds for dogs are lower than for humans because dogs tend to drink water when they swim.
The advisory map is updated regularly from late May to the end of October.