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.

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.

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 :)

Not good. The place is severely understaffed. There was no provision for guests getting into the…read morerestaurant, so without reservations (at the restaurant at our own hotel - why didn't staff tell us this when we booked) we were left on our own to find food in town. Not fun when every place is jam-packed and it's five degrees out. The in-house restaurant won't even do takeout, so forget getting a pizza in your room. Winter amenities - the pool (closed), s'mores, sleigh rides - there wasn't a word about them. So the hotel is advertising features that clearly don't exist, or at least communicating very poorly about their availability. The staff are overwhelmed. They are so busy trying to keep the place afloat that they don't have time to solve problems. There was no manager on premises the entire weekend we were there. We didn't need one, but there was a family there who'd just arrived at their Bethel Inn time share, only to find that the place the had partial ownership of was occupied. Again, no manager, no solution, ruined vacation for that family. That's right. This isn't a place that is simply poorly organized. They are in such dire straights that they actually RUIN vacations. Here's a clue as to why. Just look at the help wanted ads. Sunday River hotel jobs generally pay several dollars more per hour and include ski benefits, health care, and even housing. For example, an $18/hr hotel maintenace tech job at Bethel with no benefits pays $24/hr at Sunday River. Even a bellman at Sunday River's hotel makes $22/hr, also gets tips, free skiing, and subsidized housing. The Bethel Inn was bought by a large hotel chain a few years back. The chain owns a lot of Holiday Inn Express and Fairfield Inn locations, in addition to "luxury" destinations. It seems pretty clear that the owners have yet to decide which they want the Bethel to be.

We came for the Thanksgiving buffet as we have for many years and were SO disappointed. The staff…read moreworking were all very nice and helpful, but it was obvious that the whole operation was very understaffed. Our server Sierra was very nice and helpful. But what was most disappointing was the lack of variety on the buffet. We have been here for many Thanksgiving Buffets and this one was so stripped down of past offerings it was sad. NO steamship round of beef carving station. NO pecan pie. NO smoked scallops. NO creamed spinach. It was as if new Bethel Inn owners Giri Hotel Management group decided to see how profitable they could make it for one year at $59 a head--- and to hell with people who decided they'd never come back again. Sad, and we won't be back.

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.

Horrible service ran out of hot chocolate and they couldn't refill it they also didn't put on they…read moreCeltics and they gave me beef the front desk very unkind very disappointed they should do better

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!