I want to start with the positives: the room was clean, well-appointed, and when we finally got…read morethere, we were just relieved to be in it. Unfortunately, everything leading up to that point was frustrating enough to warrant this review. Check-In Was a Nightmare We waited nearly an hour and 45 minutes to check in. When we arrived, there was only one staff member at the front desk during what is clearly a peak check-in window (5 PM). She was frequently distracted at one point on the phone, while a long line of tired, frustrated guests waited in front of her. There was no acknowledgment of the wait, no apology, and no communication to the guests standing in line. At one point, another guest came up to ask how long the process would take. Rather than addressing her with any empathy, the response was simply, *"I'm the only one up here."* I understand staffing challenges are real, but that's not how you handle guests who have been waiting 30+ minutes. Where Was Management? Housekeeping Supervisor Karen eventually brought someone to open a second counter but only after more than an hour had passed. Why wasn't that done sooner? Why wasn't the supervisor assisting at the desk herself while the line grew? Additional Issues - The online check-in was not functioning, which only added to the bottleneck. - The key card we were given didn't work. - Our reservation was for a king bed; we were given two queens. Bottom Line This property clearly needs better staffing protocols for high-traffic hours, a more proactive management presence, and basic guest communication skills. A simple *"We apologize for the wait, we're doing our best to get to everyone"* goes a long way. Tired travelers deserve better than silence and dismissal.

I kind of want to keep this place a secret, as it seems to be a hidden gem…read more Located just in front of Revere Beach with STUNNING views from the lobby. The rooms are huge, very spacious and comfortable. They offer a variety of amenities like a pool, gym, and an onsite restaurant. Staff was super friendly, and the biggest reason we booked this was proximity to the airport as we needed a shuttle, to the hotel, and our driver was awesome! Definitely a bonus. The breakfast as great, offered a decent variety, and again you're eating front of floor to ceiling windows facing the beach., There is also a starbucks in the lobby. We would definitely recommend and come back again.

We decided to come to Salem on a whim in August so finding something available the 3rd weekend in…read moreOctober actually in Salem was like winning the lottery for us. The price was decent and the reviews were great. My fiance called multiple times to confirm certain details but those calls were never returned. We arrived a few hours prior to check-in (one of his calls had been about early arrival luggage storage). Flora's daughter greeted us and helped us store our luggage so we could get some food and walk around Salem. They did not have an available bathroom for use aside from the porta potty in the driveway, which we were told is the norm for Salem anyway. That was the one and only time I had to use a porta potty, thankfully, and it was clean. Once our room was ready, we were given a code to open the key lockbox and told we were on the 3rd floor. We entered the house and took the narrow high stairs all the way up to find 2 rooms... neither of which are numbered. We chose correctly the first time and started to get settled. The ceilings are super low (we are very tall humans), a queen sized bed with 1 side table, a sofa with a side table, a dresser with a TV, a dinette for 2, an ottoman, a non-working fireplace, and a very large bathroom. The bed was comfy enough and we eventually figured out how to turn the heat on. The water pressure in the shower was fantastic and the temp was perfect. The first day we arrived it rained like crazy nonstop. We were completely soaked through. They do not offer use of their clothes dryer so we were relegated to using a small house fan to dry our clothes out. The next morning we couldn't figure out exactly what we were supposed to do for breakfast because the book in the room has conflicting info - either show up during these hours for hot food or text. The first morning there was the most delicious frittata I have E V E R had. There is also a selection of all kinds of other quick breakfast items. Our last morning we went down during the set hours, but there was no breakfast so we text asking for hot breakfast. Flora ran to the kitchen to scramble eggs and cook sausage (we weren't given an option - she just cooked). The eggs were great but the sausage was still frozen so that was a bummer. She seemed put out by having to make us breakfast, which I thought was the whole premise of a bed and breakfast. And for what they charge, I definitely expected a bit more hospitality. The location of Northey Street House is wonderful. It's a quick walk to Salem Common and everything you need or want to do in town. If I had to do it again, though, I'd pick somewhere else that feels a little more homey. Otherwise we could have just stayed in a hotel with more creature comforts.

We stayed two days with the folks at Northey Street House. At first, we weren't sure what we had…read moregotten ourselves into, given we were assigned a room in the attic space which required us to carry our bags up at very narrow staircase to the third floor. By the time I lugged my wife's gigantic bag to our room I thought I had just gotten off the Stairmaster! Our room was adequate-- queen sized bed, sofa, small table with two chairs, and a nice sized bathroom with a shower. The mini-split style AC keep our room nice and chilled for a solid night sleep. The following morning, we enjoyed a home cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs and three egg omelet with tons of healthy spinach! Conversation with other guests around the table, that had place settings for six, was enjoyable. Access to restaurants and tourist attractions were within 12-15-minute walk.

It serves a purpose. But the extremely small room, smaller then anything we ever stayed in in…read moreManhattan, was a struggle. The outside noise can be distracting. We did like the central location.

absolutely love this lodge and would recommend to family and friends. I had a wonderful stay. The…read morestaff is so professional and kind. The waterfall shower was amazing. I melted into that bed and slept so well. There is so many shops and restaurants in the surrounding area. The train is so close by and walkable. I will absolutely be coming back to stay next time I am in Boston. This place is a gem!

Location looks sketchy due to construction and access is rough if u miss your initial turn- LOL…read more Right next to COSTCO which is connected to by a thruway so you can turn in there to be sure not to miss it. Friendly welcome and easy check-in. Room was very clean, bed was comfortable. Had an issue with door, but maintenance addressed immediately. Pool was clean and always had towels. Breakfast was very good with all types of options, well-stocked. Would stay again if in the area for sure.

What a comfortable place to stay while visiting Massachusetts. We were greeted kindly by Danny upon…read morearrival. He provided us with maps of the downtown Salem area for our trip Friday, gave great recommendations on places to eat, and overall was very pleasent to speak with. We secured room 423, and directions on the property to get there. Lots of parking. The room was on the second floor without an elevator so you needed to bring your luggage up a few lights of steps. The room was BIG. Offered a kitchenette, living room area, large king bed, vanity, shower and shampoo/conditioner/body wash. There were dishes to use and dishwasher with pod. Very clean, and perfect for what we needed.

My bf and I stayed here in March. I found the website online and was convinced it would be…read morewonderful because of the gorgeous pictures of the place and the stellar reviews I found all over the internet. When we got there, we found the owner and his girlfriend cooking dinner. They were very nice and welcoming. I knew to expect the owners living quarters to be really close to the guest rooms because of some of the reviews I read but since the room we were in had a private entrance we weren't worried, we figured we could come and go and have the privacy we were looking for with no problem. We told Ted that we were late sleepers and not to worry about providing breakfast for us (the website says breakfast is served between 8:30-9:30). We would much rather sleep in and then grab brunch somewhere and we didn't want to hold him up from whatever he may have had planned for the day. He seemed somewhat resistant to the idea of not providing sustenance for us so after a little discussion, J and I told him "okay, how about 10:30?" He said he would leave certain items out for us. The house and our room really were gorgeous! Ted is an architect and he has done a really great job on the house and grounds. We stayed in the pond room which had cathedral ceilings, a two person jacuzzi, a gas fireplace, double glass doors, lighted double sinks that automatically turned on when you walked into the room, a whole wall of windows, decks, and heated floors. We were really happy with the room. It was very clean and decorated with a subtle nautical theme. From the moment we got there, we kind of felt like we had to whisper in our room. Probably because there wasn't any other guests there that weekend and the owner was having dinner 20 ft from our door. I know they probably couldn't have heard us but it did make me feel more uncomfortable than I thought it would. In the morning, we were woken up bright and early by the sun coming through the large, high windows in our room. No wonder breakfast is so early, how can anyone sleep through that? However, I do have to say that if I wasn't a cranky morning person, this would be a really enjoyable way to wake up, sun and beautiful blue sky and trees to look at while lying in bed. We pulled ourselves together and quietly went to the kitchen for breakfast. Ted said he would leave things out for us so we assumed we'd be alone. He immediately came around the corner when we got to the kitchen so it felt like he may have been waiting for us. He served us cantaloupe slices with yogurt, granola and berries and a tomato and basil quiche, which was all very good. What wasn't good was that he talked to us from the kitchen the whole time we were eating, so we had to keep turning around in our chairs to respond to him. It was uncomfortable and awkward (if he had sat down with us, it wouldn't have been as bad). During our weird breakfast conversation, it comes up that J is a software engineer and next thing you know, Ted is asking for help with a website he is working on. I have no problem with J helping someone out, but DUDE we're on vacation and we are paying you good money, don't ask for business help while we are trying to relax. It just wasn't appropriate. I said "Maybe when we are on our way out on Sunday he can help you for a bit". After that, we pretty much chose to use our private entrance to the room when we came and went from the house. We didn't feel like discussing in great detail every time we came back from somewhere, what we had done and where we had gone. I think Ted meant well, he had a lot of advice and suggestions for things to do and he was a really nice guy but it just didn't mesh with our style. For the most part, we like to be left alone when we go away and Ted didn't seem to pick up on the signals we gave him. I think this B&B would be really great for an older couple, for some reason I feel like older people are more open to this type of attention. On Sunday when we packed up, J was heading out to take some things to the car and Ted followed him outside for help on his website. He spent more than an hour working on something with him, while I sat in our room waiting. We probably won't go back. Gorgeous place, beautiful backyard and pond, and nice trails that lead to a running path and the harbor. I really liked the physical surroundings but didn't really feel relaxed because Ted was overly available and obviously in closer earshot than we would have liked. A week later, Ted called and asked BF to go on trip advisor and write a positive review of our stay!! No wonder I found so many good reviews online. 5 stars for aesthetics and 1 star for invasiveness! It wasn't horrible but it was not our style. **Updating this review in March '09: Ted called J a month or so ago and said he found this review and apologized and offered us a free night at the B&B. Not sure if we'll take him up on it but nice that he tried to make amends.**

Two weekends ago my friend and I spent a lovely weekend in Marblehead at the Fox Pond Bed and…read moreBreakfast. This gem is nestled in a quiet neighborhood bordering a 37 acre sanctuary with trails that lead down to Salem Harbor. I looked at a number of B & Bs before finding this obvious and rare jewel of a home. Ted and Sophie, our hosts, were flexible as we arrived early and left a bit late since the off season is easier on everyone. This home has been meticulously redone, as have the beautiful grounds. Indeed, this property is featured in a number of architectural, gardening, and home magazines. The obvious care and attention to detail is very very unique. Our host, Ted, and his lovely dog, Sophie, made us feel right at home. Ted has an easy way about him that makes one feel like family the second you walk through the door. As is common with Bed and Breakfasts, you are a part of the family while in residence - that's the charm. The breakfasts were lovely and we invited Ted to join us as we learned about the house, its history, and received numerous tips about local attractions, restaurants, shops, and some of the local North Shore news. All in all our stay was wonderful. Ted opened his home to us and helped make our stay a memorable and relaxing time. I most enthusiastically recommend the Fox Pond B&B; we'll be back!

Great rooms - fireplace, comfortable robes, spotless. Tasty afternoon snacks. Nice included…read morebreakfast. Friendly staff. Excellent location to shops, restaurants, and scenic walks.

I'm definitely glad we choose to stay at Marblehead instead of Salem. This quiet town was quaint…read moreand still full of history. Special thanks to Mary who checked us in for our 2 night stay. She was helpful, made restaurant recommendations and suggested we take the walking tour of Marblehead. The breakfast was good and the room was pretty spacious. Outside of being in the common areas, I didn't know there was anyone else staying at the inn. My wife and I will definitely be back.

The name says it all. Take it literally. I can deal with the fact that this place is old and…read moredecorated like the film set of a bad 60's horror movie but nothing in this place has ever been changed, renovated or upgraded. It's amazing they have AC. We had to move to 2 different rooms during our 3 night stay due to them reserving our first room for someone else. No biggie. I now have the perspective as if I'd stayed twice. The bed- clearly bought from a discount mattress store for ~ $79 20 years ago. Hard but saggy, my neck and back are killing me. The bathroom- hope you're not overweight because you won't fit in it. I'm not kidding (see pics). Just don't do this to yourself. The bed was the worst part. I'm so sleep deprived now.

We arrived around noon with some friends who are also staying at the OCI, and meet the innkeeper…read more He explains that one room is ready, but the other one won't be ready for another hour..."because people are still in the room...one of those by-the-hour-deals...a local doctor and his lady friend...he's a regular...they should be done soon." Luckily that wasn't MY room, but my friends were less than thrilled to know about the shagging happening in their bed. Why was it necessary to fill us in??? The place was also pretty grimey. Granted, it was cheap and in a good location, but it could definitely use some detailing. But, I don't think there was anywhere else to stay in Manchester by the Sea. Oh, the kicker was when we came down for *breakfast* (bag o' english muffins, oj, coffee) and the inkeeper says, "you bastards are finally up!" I guess they call that Massachusetts Charm. So, if you're driving up the MA coast and need to pull over for a quickie, this will do. Otherwise, check out the town of Rockport, just north of MBTS. There seem to be several cute places there.

I was a little nervous about staying in a small boutique hotel, but this place completely won me…read moreover. It's beautiful, quiet, and genuinely accommodating, and the location couldn't have been more perfect. I woke up, grabbed a cup of coffee from the hall's snack area, and it ended up being the most peaceful, effortless escape.

Pros: - very comfy bed…read more- cruelty free toiletries available in the shower and bathroom, various herbal / fresh citrus scents that were not too strong - very friendly front desk staff that accommodated our needs around check out - we were able to keep luggage with them for many hours after check out and extend our parking time for no fee. The woman who checked us in was very friendly and gave us a tour of the common areas - entrances are locked to the public and secured with a password for extra safety - our room was big - I was pleasantly surprised to see that they offer Nespresso coffees with lots of fix ins available (even dairy free milk in the fridges!), grab and go snacks like Himalayan Gold popcorn and flavored almond mixes, and fresh made more substantial snacks like a chia seed pudding with coconut flakes and pineapple that was so good, I had it twice! Also available at any time in the fridges were Apple streussel yogurt parfaits and hard boiled eggs. Chocolate chip cookies are baked throughout the day. - nicely decorated lounge area on first floor and deck patio space - you are able to leave items in a designated shared refrigerator space in the kitchenette on the first floor, a clever solution to no fridges in the rooms (at least not in mine). The thought of a communal, unmentioned fridge with strangers did give me pause though, but it's nice they offer it. Room for improvement: - I understand I came in a heat wave and summer is not prime season in Salem, but the room was so warm. The air conditioning would not go below 67° setting, but the real room temp was always much higher according to the thermostat (this morning it was 76!) I was sweating and had a hard time sleeping. They gave us a box fan when we asked if the AC could go any lower...I wasn't even sure it was on....and that helped a little but still wasn't enough. Please let people turn down the temp so they can sleep without waking up sweaty! The AC units also made a decently loud bubbling noise - this seems to be in a part of town near where an unhoused group of people hangs out. To walk to the off site parking lot, which was not far away at all thankfully, you have to walk through a big park full of many unhoused people, some begging or shouting. It made me feel a bit unsafe and I wasn't thrilled to leave my car in an area of town like that. Head's up. On our last day here, there was also a seemingly unhoused woman hanging out on the front steps of the hotel's (beautiful!) lawn for many hours. At one point when we walked by, she was starting to get aggressive and shout at people walking by. - the bar in the lounge area, prominently featured on their website, is non functional as they do not have a liquor license, which would have been a nice place to enjoy a cocktail - the tvs have lots of streaming apps advertised on the TV main screen, but none are logged in to the hotel's account. I guess that's standard in some cases, but it felt frustrating to not be able to watch a lot of what was shown to us. - not the hotel's fault, just a product of the location (which was otherwise very convenient and centrally located!), but there were loud cars with booming stereos driving by at all hours of the night on a weekday that occasionally woke me up. - the lot they let you park in temporarily while you unload luggage, while a nice gesture and made moving bags much easier, is very tight and took quite a few maneuvers to be able to get out of. - there's really only one heavy duty lock on the door, but overall the closing mechanism felt very lightweight and I didn't have a ton of confidence in it. We were only given one key for two people staying in one room. Overall, the location and service were nice, but the temp issue was pretty hard to get past since it made me feel so stifled. The snacks came in handy more than once, but for the price, I'd look around at other locations before automatically coming back here, I imagine you could find something cheaper that isn't on the fringes of a sketchy neighborhood. It is right next to Hauswitch, which was one of my favorite shops in all of the many, many options in town, so that's a plus, but they really need a better AC system for summer guests. Thank you for a cozy stay other than that and for such welcoming treatment!