Rocktide Inn, The Perfect Location to Boothbay Harbor
Written: Dec 01 '04 (Updated Dec 09 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great Location, Terrific breakfast, Fine rooms and a clean indoor pool.
Cons: Have to park a short distance away from your room when arriving late.
The Bottom Line: This is an excellent family Hotel/Motel. It's not a resort or a high end property but gives fine basic accommodations in a semi-relaxed atmosphere.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Rocktide Inn |
As an overnight stop on a relaxed ride up to Maine's Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park we have gone to Boothbay Harbor a number of times. This is an exceptionally charming town that has a myriad of small shops, fine restaurants, boat tours and interesting places like a nine-pin bowling alley all set in a rustic waterfront atmosphere. The one place we have always made our home while in Boothbay Harbor is the Rocktide Inn.
There are four major reasons we like it. They are location, a clean and comfortable room, the complimentary breakfast, and the indoor pool. The rates at this place differ according to season and amount and age of people in the rooms. I suggest checking their web site or call their toll free number for detailed information and reservations at peak times.
Location
The Rocktide Inn is located across the bay from the major part of town. This makes the location quiet and yet just a six minute walk across a foot bridge into the heart of town. The free parking at the hotel releases me from having to drive around the small town looking for a place to park my car. That makes it an absolute pleasure to go into town a few times.
The Inn also has a restaurant, so if I didn't want to walk to one in town, I would have a full service dining room for lunch, dinner and evening drinks. This is all attached to the motel part of the Inn that is two stories high and has 96 rooms. Though this is called an Inn most of the rooms are in what looks like a two level motel. The structure is well designed and architecturally pleasing .
Clean and Comfortable Rooms and More
For some reason or other we have always had the second level rooms. They are approached via outside stairs with a long balcony that takes you to the doors. This deck also has chairs outside the doors. Some of the decks have a pleasant view of Boothbay Harbor, some the parking lot.
I have found that check-in and check-out sometimes takes a bit longer at this place than most. It seems that the front desk, that is also at the main entrance of the dining rooms, is a popular information point. You will not find a concierge on the premises. The one or two people at the desk do it all. They are very friendly but are not overly concerned about expediting the process of check-in and check-out. I suppose it's a combination of the friendly Maine personality and a noticeably slower pace than NY.
Room keys are marked by number. There is a feeling of complete safety at the Rocktide and I especially like that when traveling with my children.
The rooms are a good comfortable size with two doubles or one queen. The decor is simple and the rooms are very clean including carpeting that is always new looking. A couple of comfortable chairs, good lighting, and a TV give the room the basics it needs. The drapes may open up to waterfront view depending on your room location. There is no safe or coffee pot but an iron and board is available as is a hair dryer in an immaculately clean and roomy bath room with a bath/shower that gives good water pressure and temperature control. There is enough closet space for a few day stay.
We have always been to this place in the summer and the A/C works well and is easily regulated. We have never had an issue with foul smelling rooms. The maid service has always been good.
The rooms are quiet and I have never been bothered by outside sounds or noisy neighbors. Many people only stay here for one night or perhaps two nights, so there is a constant turnover of guests. This means major cleaning by the maid service happens often and they are noticeable with their carts on the decks. There isn't really a quiet relaxing time on them due to people checking out in the mornings, maid service in the middle of the day and check-ins later in the day. Though this is true there are other relaxing options. Read on.
Breakfast
With your stay comes a buffet-style complimentary breakfast that is very good.
In echoing their web site I can say "...Our Complimentary Buffet Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:30 each morning and offers hot and cold cereals, scrambled eggs, sausages, corned beef hash, and baked beans; our Homemade Donuts and Maine Blueberry Muffins are made fresh every morning. Top it off with fresh fruit, juices, toast, coffee or tea. Breakfast is open to the public for a small fee; our House Guests simply show their key to enjoy this fine repast.
There is a person who is careful to check for room keys and a head count. So you wait in line, get your plate, fill it up, and move on into the breakfast room that has wonderful view of the bay. If you look up you will also see an electric train that follows its tracks around the perimeter of the dining room.
This is just steps from the juice and coffee bar. There is coffee service at the tables if I recall and the staff is helpful and friendly. It seems to me that everyone in Maine is.
I should mention for those who like nautical items that a fine looking collection of model boats under glass is on display in the halls as you enter into the dining areas.
The Rocktide Inn also has a bar with a water view if you just want to hang out with a drink and watch the colours change as the sun starts down in the evening. They offer an appetizer menu. This was renovated just a couple of years ago and is bright and differently decorated than the rest of the place. The Rocktide really has the best views of the town and bay. I have rated this place as good for (well behaved) families but it also takes on a romantic mood too.
The Inn also has a Library with a fireplace, books, games a TV and it's close to the bar if you would like a drink. This room usually has a quiet comfortable atmosphere.
For dinner there are two dining rooms offering New England fare, one casual and the other is formal where men must where jackets, tie not required. I believe this is in season only. The dining rooms are beautiful with bay views and an outside deck in fine weather if you like. The rooms are air-conditioned during the summer. Once again I can't stress the beauty of the rooms and the outstanding views especially as the light dims from the sky.
The Pool
On the far end of the Inn is a separate attached structure that houses an indoor pool. I have been pleasantly surprised many times in that our family and perhaps one or two other people are all that enjoy this very clean pool that also has toilets and a small changing room. It even has a small deck outside for sunning. This has been a real plus for our kids who, when they were younger, were a bit antsy. The Inn does not have any exercise equipment, Jacuzzis, saunas or the like.
Trolley, Boat and the Bridge
What the Inn does offer is a seasonal trolley ride (bus) that starts from the Inn's front doorstep and continues on a scenic route that has stops at convenient and interesting places. This picks up every hour or so from about 10:AM- 5:PM. You can also get picked up by boat, for a fee, for a tour and drop off in town right at the Rocktide Dock. This one we never did but we often take the very scenic footbridge to the town. It's a wonderful place to take pictures. I would guess it's about a hundred and some plus yards long. It only takes five or six minutes to get from the Inn and into town at a leisurely pace.
INN Closing
There is much we like about this place. You can save a few dollars at others motels but this place has charm, is clean and offers many special touches. We hope to be stopping by again this coming July.
Boothbay Harbor
Coastal Maine, One man's view
Bar Harbor, Maine
Acadia National Park
A Canadian side trip from Maine's Acadia National Park
Portland Maine
Portland Museum of Art
Portland Head Light
Howard Johnson's Hotel, Portland
Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center.
Recommended:
Yes
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