First, let me commend the new property owner on her responsiveness and kindness! It's tough to take over a new property and not know what the expectations were of the customers who had booked before hand.
While this property is indeed water front and the scenery perfect, the 'Bear Suite' is not. In fact, the 'Bear Suite' is directly on the busiest highway in Sitka. And before you scoff and ask
"how busy could it really be in Sitka?", this highway connects the cruise terminal with the downtown tourist area. Trust me, it is really busy, 24/7! And that makes this suite very noisy and not at all relaxing. So, instead of a quiet relaxing 2-week retreat, I spent two weeks in sound-cancelling headphones trying unsuccessfully to ignore the constant traffic noise and without the benefit of a beautiful waterfront view: two strikes. This is certainly not the new owners fault, but the listing needs to be a bit more upfront about what to expect. IF it were mine, and I am a host in my own right, I would say something like this..."Beautifully remodeled modern suites in a waterside location on the busy Halibut Point Road. Conveniently away from the center of town, but close to everything you'll need or want. Easy parking, on-site common laundry, Wifi, cable, and serviceable kitchens in each suite. Not all suites have full-on waterfront views. A great location to anchor your stay and come back to after a day of exploring, fishing, hiking, kayaking, or any of the hundreds of other activities available to you." The final strike is the fact that the construction of the building did not use adequate sound proofing between suites. I won't get graphic here, but at times I felt like was in a group home rather than in my own private space.
Anyway, I've made the best of my stay and am thankful to have spent it in Sitka. Next time, I will make certain that my lodging is more suited to my expectations.