The parking and shuttles are major bummer but once you on the trails, the experience is much…read morebetter. The lifts move quickly for the amount of people. The mountains and trails have plenty of options. Stay away from weekends or holidays for the best time.

This was my first time at Sunday River. I looked online before I went and the website said for…read moremilitary discount you had to purchase tickets at the place. So when I arrived I explained to the gentleman that I have never been skiing before and wanted to know about taking lessons, renting gear, as well as applying a military discount. Since I have never been skiiing I assumed these were the main things to do. He told me he had nothing to do with the lessons and I would have to go talk to the school, and as far as gear I would go talk to the rental place. He then proceeded to sell me ski lift tickets for each day I would be there. Mind you, knowing I have never skied before, he still chose to sell me the higher priced tickets for "all access lifts." Something I had no idea was even a thing and didn't find this out until later that day. I then proceed to the ski rental place, which was right around the corner from "Guest Services." I picked up gear for a day and a half and then proceeded to the school where they give lessons. Come to find out, if you take a lesson the school provides you with gear and a beginner ski lift pass. I signed up for their next available class which was the following morning. Then, the school said I should talk to "guest services" to see if I could switch my lift pass for the next day since the school was already giving me one. I went to "guest services" to inquire about changing the lift passes that I was sold. The woman at guest services said she could refund me as a credit or switch it to a different day. That's when I found out that I in fact had been sold the "all access" lift passes which apparently is more expensive than if I had bought a beginner pass. When I asked her why the gentleman who sold me the lift tickets didn't explain there was a difference in the lift passes nor say anything about the school possibly providing a lift pass and gear she said it wasn't their job to explain everything. She also stated if she had to explain things like that to customers then the line would be out of the door. So, even though I walked into the first building at the ski resort and went up to the desk that said "Guest Services" that still meant that I needed to get that information somewhere else? For the amount of money this place makes off of everyone that walks in those doors, the last thing they should be doing is not providing customer service when it is needed. Needless to say I didn't need the "all access" lift pass after I took a first time beginner lesson, with the gear I rented and made it on the beginner ski lift 2 times. This has really left a bad impression on me and the friends I attended with. They do have an area to keep your shoes and anything you'd like to not take with you on the snow. It is not locked up so I would keep anything of value in there. Overall, the employees handling the rental gear were all very friendly and patient. The women at the school seemed confused when I showed up with my own gear. I took a first time adult lesson with the school. The lesson was with me and 3 others with an instructor learning the basics. Since I was able to catch on fairly quick I was told to continue practicing going down the small hill by myself. I was fine doing so but after about 45mins of me doing this by myself I started questioning why I was paying for a lesson. I checked in with the instructor and she was finally able to take me on the ski lift and down the mountain. And then of course the lesson was over. In hindsight, I should have taken a private lesson and hopefully would have gotten my moneys worth. This place is pretty kid friendly. They could use more equipment stands as there were quite a few people laying their gear anywhere they could find someplace to put it. I don't plan on going back, I'd rather take my money to Loon where everyone is friendly.

Small mountain with a "locals' vibe, especially on Maine Day Thursdays where lift tickets are only…read more$19.60 (a nod to the mountain's inauguration in 1960). L.L. Bean subsidizes these lift tickets (available for purchase in-person with proof of Maine residency). I was so thankful to learn of this super deal as I had pretty much given up skiing because of lack of affordability, Mt. Abram doesn't have the variety of terrain that its neighbor Sunday River has, but it also doesn't have the astronomical prices or crowds either. For someone who just wants to get out a few times a year and do some hot-dogging (jk!) in the crisp Maine air without breaking the bank, this is a great option, with lift tickets a max of $42/day. Note - I was glad we brought lunches because the Loose Boots Lounge was closed. It's only open for lunch Fri. - Sunday. However, looking at the menu and beer prices, I'm sorry it was closed. A Stella Artois for $5 at a ski mountain? Unheard of. So glad to have this option only an hour away :)

This is one of our favorite downhill ski mountain. We arrived just before 9 o'clock on the west…read moreside (the lifts begin running at nine). And even though Thursdays are the discount lift ticket days for Maine residents, we were able to park very close to the small lodge. It was under $40 for two adult all-day lift tickets. The west side is much smaller with easier trails. But it like the main lodge, offers ticket window, rentals and a full service snack bar. We always pack our cooler and drinks and eat inside or sometimes on the outside patio when all the inside seats are taken. The restrooms are clean. Staff is friendly. It is a great place for families and new skiers.

It's no longer a family owned and operated / managed resort. Giri management has been expanding…read moretheir footprint across New England and has since stolen this once wonderful getaway. I don't know if they kept the help on or what. There were a lot of new faces I hadn't seen in the years past which isn't a bad thing. Been coming here for years as part of a golf group. Pricing was realistic, hospitality was unparalleled, service was attentive and accommodating, bar / restaurant was well stocked and opened in the morning - whenever closed, golf course was good to amazing, on and on. Now, pricing went up maybe 30-40% over 3-4 years. We are getting less for the prices paid Accommodations: the rooms are fine. Actually hadn't changed at all since I was there a few years ago. Faucet downstairs has a slow drip. Bath / shower slow drain. Lint brush in our dryer unit has like never been emptied with a 3 inch layer of lint on all sides of the catch (extreme fire hazard). Door lock was old and decrepit causing us to jiggle keys for a minute before getting in. Only one roll of toilet paper provided for 5 days of stay. Road to the condos needs serious repair from pot holes and bumps (check your suspension / steering components after this). Service: Put in a trouble ticket for lack of TP and others in our group put in calls for faulty appliances which were all seemingly corrected that day. Not bad but, these things should be identified prior to rooming. Bar / Restaurant: the menu is lacking what it used to be and pricing has gone up (unfortunately everything climbed due to our world / economy). No food really stuck out as memorable but, got the job done. Bar was well stocked and the servers / tenders were extremely accommodating and helpful. Golf course: This is why I came. The tee boxes for the most part need a lot of attention especially the par 3s. Granted this is one of the harder things to maintain on a golf course however, they paint the picture for the rest of the experience. Fairways are in decent shape with some water pooling and not draining from a prior storm. Bunkers are either neglected, a pond full of water, not groomed, full of fist sized rocks, or not raked / maintained by players. The greens for the most part are good though the pin placements were somewhat tough. Putting a hole 4 feet from greens edge or on the middle of a slope makes the the game less fun. The maintenance crew and keepers do what they can but, more experience seems necessary. The group in the office were very friendly and nice. The starter was cordial but, not the same guy I saw years ago. I miss that guy. He took care of us. It's obvious they're working on the course as they were actively working on the cart paths while there however, I'd think more attention is deserved on the tee boxes. Driving range I believe is closed and neglected / overgrown. The Beverage Cart Girl was great and actually had a lot of fun with our group. Fast service, good drinks, and hospitable for sure. Overall, I don't know if my group will be returning. It was a great thing. But at the end of the day, if we are paying more and getting less, it entices us to widen our search.

Recently returned for our annual golf trip to Bethel Inn, and we were quite disappointed. The golf…read morecourse is in great need of repair. Tee boxes were horrible. We had to search hard to find a patch of grass on them. The sand traps were even worse, with little sand and many large stones and rocks scattered throughout. The fairways and greens were just ok. However Hole 1 was a disgrace from start to finish. The only way to hold your drive was to play up #9 fairway, as #1 was completely burnt out with visible ledge and boulders sticking out. Aside from the golf the condo units were fine but the landscaping is not very appealing, with a lot of dying vegetation. There were multiple other issues with the stay I will not note here as I was not the organizer. Suffice to say many were unhappy. We were far better served by the former owners and management.

We had an unexpected stop over and decided to stay here. Devon was so accommodating and friendly…read more We were traveling with 2 small kids, she was great! The breakfast was delicious and the rooms are spacious and clean. Highly recommend. The pictures we looked at before booking are old. It's been updated.

Exterior of property is in need of upkeep. No one greeted us at front desk. Had to call the front…read moredesk from mobile phone and no one answered. We could hear someone talking but no one in sight. More than 5 minutes passed before Lisa entered with no apology, no greeting really. I don't think the room had heat. It was in the high 50's outside so I would hate to be there when it was colder. Was told by Lisa that at breakfast they would make whatever we desired. When I asked for an omelet, I was sternly told "No. we're not making omelets today". We were offered eggs, bacon, sausage and French toast. Food was good but not what I normally find at B&B's. Would not return.

We recently skied at Carter's XC ski Center on a Sunday, after days of rain had thankfully turned…read moreinto overnights of snow (1/28/24). They still had a really deep base of groomed and compacted snow - at least 2 feet - with fresh snow on top, and we were graced by more flakes as we skied around. Carter's is a cute little family-run ski center where you can rent and buy equipment and gear; they have a few snacks and hot water for cocoa upstairs, indoor bathrooms downstairs, and they offer lessons. There's a "food truck" (which isn't open all the time but looks to have a great menu!), ample parking, trail maps (paper and online), and knowledgeable people to answer all your questions. There's also a loungy area inside for warming up, and a fire pit outside, plus miles and miles of trails for all levels of skiers. After parking, make sure to go inside and get your trail pass! The price of the pass supports the center, trail grooming, equipment maintenance and other expenses. On the day we visited we skied approx 3 miles, mostly the beginner and intermediate trails. The open fields of Carters Pasture were great for our warm up, with views of the snow capped mountains all around. The two bridges were out, and although we couldn't figure out how to find the trail head from the road, we took our chances without skies and crossed the water, sinking into the deep snow up to our knees! We then skied all the way up to the yurt, and the groomed trails were great for classic. We tried our skis at the ungroomed part of Upper Sand Pasture, and even though we have been skiing for two decades, we found the small bumpy section full of water hazards and sticky. We were glad to get to the end of that and back into the good glide on Sunset Blvd, Head of the Swamp and Jesse's Hill. We left just before closing, feeling really happy for the experience, especially since this entire winter of 2024 has not been great. We definitely recommend checking them out - rent equipment and take lessons, or bring your own and buy your pass. You can ski all day, have lunch, rest, and ski again. If we lived closer I would definitely get a season pass. Looking forward to another visit in the future!

Small place, friendly service, beautiful trails. We had a great time learning to cross country…read moreski. We had never done it before and the staff was so nice. We talked about the weather, we enjoyed their large wood burning stove that kept us warm while we suited up. They gave us tips and send us out on the trail that were very well groomed. We had so much fun and laughed a lot. We went early on a weekday and it was lovely. Would definitely recommend it.

We stayed at the Air BnB for our wedding weekend this weekend and many of our guests were staying…read moreat the inn. The big house is amazing and perfect for being with your family friends!! The inn rooms were also very nice! They were so helpful and accommodating making our weekend perfect!!

Enjoyed our stay one night here (we were in the old I renovated part). Everything was clean, good…read moreWiFi connection, and my son loved the bunk bed. The owner was out of town for a wedding so we never got to see the inside of the main house, and the check in/out process was different. Would like to come back the renovated section next time. Nice location close to the town.

The Grand Summit is not so grand. It was and still is an unsafe place to stay. The rains came…read morewashing the only road to allow staff, guest, ambulances, and firetrucks to pass. Three days trapped in a tiny studio was too much. Even though most of the rooms were empty, they wouldn't upgrade us to something a little bit bigger leaving us in a lonely, negative, dark, and cramped space, which increased stress and anxiety. The temporary bridge will not handle the weight of a firetruck, ambulance or any vehicle of considerable weight. The staff that were confined with us for the 3 days were incredibly helpful and informative about the bridge/road that washed away being needed for repair for a very long time. Keep your family safe and away from the Grand Summit and Sunday River.

I thought I posted this in March, but I guess it got saved as a draft. So here it is…read more In 2014 In a previous review I wrote I'd never spend another dime here. Well the ski in/out lodging choices can get desperate up here and I have been back six times since that review and every stay has been lackluster and expensive. There is literally only one reason to stay at this pig sty. That's to have a ski in/out experience. However this is my first experience back since coof started and yikes I'll start off with the good. As someone who has been coming up here sometimes twice a year since 1995 I always arrive an hour or two before the official check in time. This year my room was ready upon my arrival. That's a first. Very exciting. I'm a fan of the fact that there are multiple lift ticket pick up points. It's also great that you can text the front desk to harass them with mundane questions like. "Why does my fresh towel in my room have a large blood stain on it?" I'm a fan of the little igloos and A frames outside that's cool. The wifi worked really good for our stay. But the bad. The room was clean but was tired. When was this hotel built? 1992/93? I remember coming here as a child and everything was brand new. Our vintage 1990's oven kept turning on and off. Our vintage March of 1993 MIcrowave worked but was absolutely disgusting inside. (I did house keepings work and cleaned it) Apparently they no longer give you a roll of paper towels when you stay here. I mean i'm shelling out around 450 a night. You would think I could get a .39 roll of paper towels, but no I had to go get ripped off at the Barking Dawg. The television was messed up. We had one channel. I inquired with the front desk and they said they would send someone to the room on Friday. But they never did. I figured it out myself. Someone fooled with the setting and made it so you have to go into menu and scan the digital channels. Putting in the channel number did not yield anything. I know this sounds trivial and I don't really watch television. But sometimes it's nice to know that an amenity i'm paying for works. The tap water will literally burn your mouth. So that's nice! On my first night I went to get my pregnant wife some water at camp. They advertised that they are open until 9pm on Thursdays. But the door was closed and lights were off at 8:40pm. Oh cool. That's great. I then went up to the vending machine on floor 2. It was showing an error code and said out of order. I told the dude at the front desk the vending machine is broken. He said "oh they will be in tomorrow morning to fix that" Cool that doesn't help me. I found an unrefrigerated vending machine that was flashing a code that said "78 degrees" that has a single bottle of water in it on the other side of the hotel. So that's cool at least I did not need to drive to get my wife water. Just one measly $3 bottle of water. The room. So yeah it was vintage. The murphy bed housing was disgraceful and the mattress seemed thinner than the ones in other years. The vintage heater/ac unit sounded like a runaway train. The door was so racked you had to slam it to close it. Btw look at the picture. You can see the outside of the room around most of the door. So you could see everyone walking by at night. The inside of the fridge was absolutely disgusting and it was obviously never cleaned. That little cafe near the ski check was not open when we were there. Cashless payments are the literal antichrist. I tipped an extremely inattentive waiter $5 for my breakfast meal. Despite this man not filling up my water, asking me for anything and simply handing me my check he saw me pull out a wad of cash and put $5 in and he said "it needs to be charged to the room" Uhhh lol no. No, your employer can not force you to not accept cash tips. That is stupid. He told me he would not take cash so poor fella didn't get a tip. Oh btw if you advertise a buffet breakfast being available to 10 and don't allow someone in at 9:45 you suck. You guys did that to my pregnant wife while I was out skiing. She called me crying at 9:45 because some piece of shit told her breakfast was closed. What is this bull shit? Complaining gets nowhere with any BOYNE owned property. But what does work is people reading these reviews. If I cost them one couple going to a different place it's a victory in my book.

AMAZING views! Warm & cozy home with adventure trails for miles. Everything you need to have a…read moregreat getaway! Highly recommend. We will be back for sure!

I spent several days here with my family. We had so much fun on our snowmobiles riding directly…read morefrom the trail entrance. It was so convenient to just unload our rides for the entire stay. There are hundreds of miles of accessible trails from this property. The old farmhouse is really comfy and newly restored. All the comforts of home with mother nature right outside the door. We really enjoyed sitting in the many windows and watching mother nature go by. We saw so many different animals. The beds were very comfy and we had everything we needed to cook our own meals. There is a great grocery store in downtown Bethel plus a handful of good restaurants in the area. At the end of the street is a boat launch to the Androscoggin River so I'm going back in the spring to put my kayak in. I thought the price for this farmhouse was a really great deal especially considering we didn't have to go anywhere once we got unloaded and situated. The kids enjoyed hiking the trails and playing in the snow. There is a really large field where the kids could play very far from the road. And the old barn is a hoot! We were amazed to discover that all of the structures were built from hand-cut wood that was lumbered there on the property. If you are looking for an escape from the city then this is the place. I highly recommend it and I will be back!