In the week leading up to Labor Day this year, I made a point to stop by the Berry Manor Inn in…read moreRockland, Maine. Truth be told, my only knowledge of the Berry Manor Inn was when it was featured on Mike Rowe's "Dirty Jobs" TV show. Although the show had aired 10 years prior (unbeknownst to me), the inn was everything I had hoped for and more. I cannot emphasize enough about the amazing hospitality exhibited by every member of the inn's staff. They were so kind and such a pleasure to speak with. Unfortunately, in this day and age, qualities like "hospitality" and "kindness" and "courtesy" are often lost. But you can find them all within the Berry Manor Inn. I have family in the Rockland and Camden areas and will make sure the Berry Manor Inn is a regular stop for me each year when I go to visit. Even if it's just to say "hi" to the staff, I know I will leave there with a smile on my face. This place does it right from top to bottom. P.S. - and the food is AMAZING. :0)

Large blocks and weddings beware!!!! Beautiful and charming…read moreInn, but get everything in writing! We paid Berry Manor a $4,000 deposit for a wedding room block. We never signed a formal contract, and the 2 sentences of written terms we did receive did not state that our refundable deposit would be forfeited upon cancellation. Our plans changed just 12 days later, almost a year out and we immediately let them know we needed to cancel. Even after only holding the rooms for less than 2 weeks, almost a year in advance, management nevertheless refused to return the deposit based on what they maintained was their "policy"despite that cancellation policy never having been provided to us as part of our agreement and a completely different policy being stated on their website. We tried repeatedly to resolve the matter amicably, even offering that the inn keep $500 as a cancellation fee. After trying to reason with her for a few months, the owner eventually just ghosted us. Ultimately, we had to take the matter to small claims court. After hearing both sides, the court ordered Berry Manor to return $3,600 of our $4,000 deposit, plus our court costs. I also wish I had realized before booking that the inn had changed ownership. I wish i had paid closer attention to the more recent reviews. Reading them afterward, I was disappointed to find other guests describing experiences that felt familiar, particularly frustration with management's rigid reliance on "policies" and how those policies were or werent communicated. Berry Manor itself may be beautiful, and its historic reputation may be wonderful. But beautiful wallpaper, antique furniture, and a charming Maine inn cannot compensate for management that, in my experience, fails to recognize the difference between having a policy and having actually communicated and agreed upon that policy with the customer. One would think a small business in a very small town where everyone knows everyone, a business would be reasonable and accommodating, especially to its locals. If she had been we would have still recommended our out of town friends and family to stay there, i am a wedding photographer and i would have recommended it and even paid to do photoshoots here in the off season. But it was more important to be "right" and keep our money to them. My advice is quite simple: go elsewhere. Or at least get a formal contract!!! Get every cancellation and refund term in writing. Do not assume that an undisclosed policy won't later be applied to your reservation. I sincerely wish we had.

We travel to New England yearly for the outdoorsy adventures and food. The foodie scene is out of…read morethis world fabulous (fresh seafood haven)! If you have never been you are missing out on adventure and serenity. I found this cozy beautiful B&B in Camden ME after doing abit of research. The town of Camden is historic and quaint, we loved every aspect of it. Whitehall didn't disappoint, it was very clean inside and out, the grounds are well kept. The breakfast- bar was great. Customer service was top notch thru out the facility. The soap and lotion in the bathroom are vegan, which is a plus. We enjoyed the gas firepits in the evening. Free parking was available on site. I will definitely be returning in the near future for another stay. Now I'm on a mission to stay at their other locations! Great experiences are everything, and they definitely have made this a memorable time. @glampedlife

Had a great stay at the Whitehall inn! I highly recommend staying here. Clean and updated rooms,…read morefriendly staff, and a great breakfast. Perfect location to downtown Camden. One of my favorite places I have stayed and will definitely be returning!

Our three-night stay in the Grace Bailey Suite at the Captain Swift Inn was one of the highlights…read moreof our trip to Maine. The suite was spacious, extremely clean, and featured an amazing shower and an incredibly comfortable bed. We also happened to be visiting during an unusual heat wave, and the air conditioning did an impressive job--which was no small feat given the suite's two-story layout and high ceilings. Coming back to a cool, comfortable room each afternoon and evening was something we appreciated even more than we expected. The breakfasts each morning tasted every bit as good as they looked and kept us full until dinnertime! My husband was running late our first morning (we struggled to adjust from West Coast time), and Matt and Jessica kindly prepared an off-menu breakfast sandwich for him to enjoy later (which was fantastic, by the way). Admittedly, we weren't the most punctual breakfast guests during our stay, yet they couldn't have been more gracious about it. That level of flexibility and kindness certainly did not go unnoticed. Speaking of the innkeepers, I was impressed by how they managed to strike the perfect balance of being warm and welcoming without ever being over the top. They seemed to take their cue from each guest, happily engaging in conversation when invited while also giving everyone plenty of space to enjoy their stay. In my opinion, that can be one of the trickiest parts of staying at a bed-and-breakfast, but Matt and Jessica absolutely nailed it. The inn itself is beautifully maintained, with thoughtful details throughout that make it feel welcoming and special without being stuffy or pretentious. I kept thinking of it as "understated pampering". The location is also ideal--an easy walk to Camden Harbor, shops, and restaurants, while serving as a perfect home base for exploring the many beautiful destinations within an hour's drive. It's clear that Matt and Jessica genuinely care about creating an exceptional experience for their guests. We left feeling relaxed, well cared for, and hoping we might find a reason to return in the future. We highly recommend the Captain Swift Inn!

What an amazing stay! Our suite was so comfy and so clean! The breakfasts were divine! The…read moregranola! You won't need to worry about lunch. We went up for our 5th wedding anniversary and Jeff had asked what our wedding song was and he put it on the radio while we were having breakfast. I almost cried. Shelly and Jeff made my husband and I feel like family and that meant so much to us. This was my favorite trip ever. I hope we get to travel again soon and I we can go back. Thank you so much for being such amazing hosts!

Had a great stay at the Blackberry Inn recently. When we arrived we were greeted at the door with a…read morefriendly smile and a "welcome" by Bob (the owner). He gave us a quick tour of the inn and showed us where our room would be, and shared a multi page document with information about the area and recommendations. The entire place was warm and inviting and I was glad I made the choice to reserve the last available room here for our stay. We stayed in the Victorian which was a quaint room with a fireplace. The bed was comfy and the room was clean - what else do you need? In the morning we were served a two course own by the other owner, Cat, Bob's wife. Course 1 was grilled pineapple topped with toasted coconut and maple drizzle, yum! Course 2 included homemade blueberry waffles and sausage. They waffles were topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and were the perfect way to start my day. We had a nice stay and would certainly recommend visiting Bob and Cat's place again.

I really do not think that I can truly put into words how magical this Inn happens to be. You have…read morenot witnessed true hospitality until you enter it's doors. The owners are outstanding. The house has so many rooms quaintly decorated. We stayed in The Painted Lady. This sleeps 3 plus plenty of space to sit and lounge. They have complimentary tea and coffee in the foyer. They have high tea, which is an extra cost, and open to the public. We did not share in this experience but I would love to next trip. The homemade breakfast was beyond delicious. On site parking. Walking distance to downtown Camden. You know a place is outstanding when you look to return very soon.

Sandra will make you feel right at home at the Ripple Inn. She is incredibly flexible and allows…read moreyou to hang out almost anywhere in the house. I highly recommend the rockers or the swinging chair on sunny wrap-around front porch. Compared to a hotel which confines you in specific places often this is a good option for a family or group of friends visiting Rockland. We watched some of the World Cup and used the mini fridge in the common room. Given the price and down home atmosphere, I don't think you'll find a ton of places like this so close to downtown. We strolled to a number of nice restaurants and cafes as well as the oceanfront boardwalk in just minutes. The house is older and has its issues - crickety floors, slanted bedroom, older windows, etc but this is not advertised as a five star place and you pay for what you get. Sandra has two older cute and friendly dogs and also allows guests to bring their dogs. She makes breakfast every morning and the two days we were there they were delicious. We also met a few of the other guests and ate family style. She also went out of her way to help secure a stroller for us and our baby. This was above and beyond what is expected of an inn keeper.

We stayed in the family suite and enjoyed our overnight stay there. The family suite has two rooms,…read moreone with a large bed and the second with a day bed. The room with the large bed is the only one with air conditioning. The large room doesn't have a TV but the room with day bed does have a very small TV. Each room has a sink as the private bathroom shared by a hallway has a tub and toilet only. The one thing I didn't expect was the mosquitoes in Maine during this time of the year. I got one of my first of many bites while using the bathroom at the Inn so just a warning to bring mosquito repellent or buy some at the Rite Aid close-by depending on the time of year you come visit. Sandi, the Innkeeper provided us with wipes from the common area since we didn't come prepared. The common area has a small TV and a computer for Internet use. I would recommend bringing a laptop for use in your room as the Wi-Fi worked great in my room. There is a microwave to warm up food and a small refrigerator to store leftover food and some drinks. We didn't really spend much time in the common area as we were either in our rooms or out and about exploring the area. The front door is kept open all day so make sure you lock your door to your room. This B&B is located within walking distance of some shops and restaurants in town including the Farnsworth Art Museum. One thing to also note is that you can get your car blocked here because of the limited amount of parking. You won't need a car to walk to the shops and museum, but in our case, we wanted to take the car out to buy some groceries and was blocked by someone else's car. We were still on West Coast time and woke up late but Sandi, our Innkeeper, kindly served us a late breakfast when we showed up in the dining room. We had a simple and satisfying breakfast of what was left for us on the table as we couldn't wake up early despite setting our alarm to wake up for breakfast. She brought coffee to us, made us fresh eggs, sausages, toasted English muffins, local berry jam, homemade Greek yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit. Sandi was a great host and definitely accommodated us at breakfast at a later time. I could tell by the people that said their goodbyes to here during our breakfast that they definitely would return on their next trip to Rockland. Sandi is a great host with her warm and friendly demeanor. She definitely made sure you felt comfortable at the B&B. If you needed her for anything, we could have reached her by her mobile phone. Sandi has some dogs and cats roaming around the B&B, so if you don't mind them, you'll enjoy your stay here in this charming B&B with a great host. We definitely felt like we were leaving the home of a friend or distant relative. Sandi is very gracious, kind, and accommodating and I would definitely return if I found myself back in Rockland.

This inn has been our go to place whenever we vacation in the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area. The…read morerates have been reasonable, the location excellent and the rooms have been well maintained. This year we spent a total of 5 nights there and immediately noticed a change in staff at check-in and subsequently with the staff servicing rooms. Nothing seemed quite as good or as efficient as in the past, but not bad either. The negatives include a large spider web on our private deck that had obviously been there for quite some time given its size. The breakfast offerings were very similar to those in the past except MIA were the make your own waffles. In our room we noted the sink had a crack in it, the baseboard was rusted and there was a chip in the petite walk-in shower. Last, but perhaps not least was the cheap, one ply toilet paper.

Don't stay here if you want a clean room without bugs. I booked this hotel for 3 nights. Driving…read morein, it looked charming, but then we got to our room. SPIDERS. That was the first thing we saw walking in. I would have run back to the car, but it was pouring rain. The room was filthy. We had just finished a 5-hour drive, and with the storm, we didn't see any other option but to stay the night. I didn't sleep; I was freaking out, basically in tears. I'm terrified of spiders. My husband managed to fall asleep, and he got a few bug bites to show for it. In the morning, we turned in the key and told the employee about our problem. They were very nice. When we inquired about a refund, they said we would have to go through Booking.com for our money back. We thanked them and headed to another hotel. Booking says they are disputing our refund, and they couldn't come to an agreement with them. I wasn't on vacation; I was attending a doctor's appointment, and I tried to make it more enjoyable for my child by turning it into a weekend trip. Yes, they make you sign a waiver that says no refunds, period, but I was expecting them to at least have to provide a habitable room. Over $400 for a room that no one should be expected to stay in. I've had dirty hotel rooms before, but the bugs that were biting are inexcusable. Their refusal to give me my money back and not answering my email just adds insult to injury. I didn't realize that when I booked a room here, I was paying for stress and spider bites.

I had a great stay. The motel is no frills and unfussy but offers everything you need for a casual…read morevacation: a clean, comfy room, a kitchen with staples, and self check in, which I prefer. This is user error but after my long drive I got my room number confused, but I was able to reach a phone help desk right away. I'll be back next time I am in town!

My husband and I booked a last-minute trip to Maine for the 4th of July weekend. We wanted to…read moretravel to different parts of Maine that we haven't been to, and I stumbled across Camden. The Towne motel had great reviews and lucky for us we were able to book 2 nights there for the 4th! The room was cozy and perfect for the two of us. We were located on the first floor, and our parking spot was right outside our door. It was quiet and comfortable. In the morning the hosts provided homemade breakfast. It was so cute! We were fortunate enough to try the peach/plum pie, lemon cake loaf, and yogurt and granola. It was so good! The two women running the show were friendly and helpful and gave us plenty of recommendations for things to do in the area and what restaurants to try. We were just minutes away walking downtown, which was clutch! Yes, there is parking in the downtown, but it fills up quickly during peak hours so the location was amazing. I would 100% stay here again.

The high tide inn is and was a great experience. Views are great, place is cozy and comfy with…read moreadequate areas for peace/solitude and is very clean. Current owners have redone everything and is light years ahead of where it was at previously. Only recommendation is to look into the water pressure was slightly low but there's been a 6-7 week drought due to rain and they use a well but nothing extremely bothersome. Rooms are clean and comfortable, grounds are well kept and pleasant with access to the beach and an overlook over the ocean. Mark, seems to be the point person for check in, dining locations and anything local you need answering. He was very much a highlight of the trip, very social, knowledgeable, cooks breakfast and is always very friendly. He even serves people and is always seen cleaning or busing tables as well. He's a very genuine person and very welcoming and he's the reason we will absolutely be coming back! If the owners read this, you need to hang onto this man because he is a HUGE asset to your business!

This place was OK considering we didn't spend much time here because we were attending a music…read morefestival in the next town. The room was incredibly damp. The carpet felt wet, the blankets on the bed, felt wet, the towels felt wet. And the room had a horrible mildew smell that gave me a headache each morning when I woke up, tried using the heat, tried using the AC and it would not go away. Would not stay here again that's for sure. The staff was really nice though. The other problem is waking up in the morning and not having coffee unless you walked straight up a steep hill. They should have cure eggs in the room.