Finding cheap sleeps in Maine’s Western Lakes & Mountains region is easier than on the coast. Accommodations here tend to be less expensive and less fussy and frilly. Whether you’re oohing and aahing at the foliage; skiing at Sunday River or Sugarloaf, snowmobiling in Rangeley; antiques shopping in Cornish; visiting Bates College in Lewiston; or touring the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community and Poland Spring, there are decent rooms for less—often far less—than $100 per night, with rates usually including breakfast. Here are my picks for budget-friendly lodging in western Maine. (Updated June 20, 2025)
Three Stanley Ave, Kingfield, offers comfy cheap sleeps with easy access to skiing at Sugarloaf and hiking in the Bigelows.
This antiques-filled Victorian (built by Bayard Stanley, younger brother of the famed Steamer twins) has three first-floor guestrooms with private baths and three second-floor rooms sharing two baths. It’s all very welcoming, with comfortable wicker chairs on the front porch and a traditional gazebo (ex-bandstand) in the backyard. Don’t expect anything fussy or frilly, and there is no public space, but the location is ideal, and room rates begin at $90.
For budget lodging at the base of Sugarloaf, check into The Hostel of Maine. Courtesy photo.
The former Nestlewood B&B reopened in 2018 as the Hostel of Maine, offering cheap sleeps at the base of Sugarloaf. Choose from family rooms, private rooms, and bunk rooms, with the latter qualifying as a cheap sleep. All are paneled with real pine. There’s also a nice fireplace; ideal for warming cold tootsies after skiing or riding. The hostel, located just off Route 27 near Hugs Restaurant, is on the Sugarloaf shuttle route, which makes skiing easy. A continental breakfast is included. Summer rates from $49 in a bunk room and from $139 in a private room.
Carolyn Bailey extends a welcoming hand (and paw) to those traveling with pooches. Two second-floor guest rooms are equipped with dog beds and/or crates. Other dog amenities include a fenced yard and barn play areas, and plentiful doggie snacks and love. You only need to bring food for your dog. Dog-sitting is available. Carolyn prepares a generous continental breakfast and guests have kitchen privileges. Read more about it on my dog-friendly review page. Find it two miles south of Bethel. Rates begin at $110 in summer, $115 in winter, and include breakfast and your dog.
Bethel Village Motel offers budget lodging in Bethel.
For clean, cheap, and convenient, check into this cheery motel, with a smack downtown, walk-to-everything location behind Ruthie’s boutique. Rooms are pleasantly decorated, and all have a/c, TV, fridge, and Wi-Fi. Rates from $70.
Here’s a real budget find. The handsome, brick, Greek Revival-style home, built by a wealthy banker in 1859, retains the elegance of a bygone era. Spacious, antiques-accented rooms have chandeliers, marble fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rates include a full breakfast. Some private bathrooms are detached, and the least expensive rooms share a full bath. This is an excellent cheap sleeps location for autumn foliage fans. Rates from $140.
Poland Spring Resort makes it easy to keep within a budget with rates including breakfast, dinner, and most activities and entertainment.
For inexpensive digs with few services, check in here. Rooms are split between the Maine Inn, Presidential Inn, Lodge, and cottages. Packages that include buffet-style breakfast provide the biggest bang for the buck. Facilities include an on-site pool, an 18-hole Donald Ross championship golf course, a driving range, a pool, and frequent entertainment. The Poland Museums edge the premises. Not for everyone, but a reliable, cheap sleep for non-fussbudgets. Peak season rates from $140 (but check out the packages for the best deals).
Yes, you can find budget lodging in Maine’s Acadia region, which comprises the Blue Hill/Deer Isle Peninsula, the Ellsworth area, Mount Desert Island (home to Bar Harbor), and the Schoodic Peninsula. But it’s not easy.
Some of these cheap sleep choices are waterfront. Some have a bit more, uh, character. If you’re used to five-star lodgings, these won’t cut it; many wouldn’t earn even two. But all are clean and pass my sniff test. And each has peak-season rooms (not every room, mind you, but at least a few) that go for less than $160 per night, some considerably less. (post updated June 20, 2025)
Check into Boyce’s, and perhaps purchase artwork from one of Deer Isle’s numerous galleries with the savings. The hodgepodge of rooms and apartments is strung perpendicular to Main Street. The décor isn’t fancy, but the frills include a harbor-front dock, Wifi, and in-room refrigerators. Some rooms have kitchens, water views, and private decks. Pets are accepted in some rooms for an additional $15 per stay. It’s an easy walk to the Isle au Haut ferry accessing a remote section of Acadia National Park. Peak season rates from $140 ($115 for 3 nights).
These adorable red-and-white cottages are adjacent to a winery and a cafe—perfectomundo! Even better, there’s a lobster shack on site, as well as a laundry (eating lobster can be messy) and a small playground. The property has a dozen nicely decorated cottages, including two family ones that each sleep seven (of course, those are pricier, but still). All have heat pumps offering air-conditioning and heat. Pets are welcome for $10 per day. Peak season rates began at $118 per night.
This clean, affordable, family-friendly, and well-maintained motel and cottages are simply decorated and basic, but that keeps the prices low. And by low, I mean cheap, but it has a few frills. You’ll find an outdoor pool, a barbecue, a guest laundry, and a play area. In peak season, motel rooms start at $75 and cottages at $119. It’s right on Route 3.
Sssh! Don’t tell too many others about this downtown find on a quiet side street between Main Street and the Shore Path. All rooms in this white gabled cottage have microwaves and refrigerators. Options ($10 each) include a delivered-to-door continental breakfast basket and housekeeping (but towel exchange is free and the inn has a complimentary coffee bar). Peak season rates begin at $189 (from $99 in spring).
The shorefront Harbor View is on the edge of downtown but hidden from the highway. Picnic tables dot the grassy lawn, and there’s a private pebble beach at low tide. Rooms are split between two vintage motels and a newer three-story building with fancier (and a bit pricier) units. The Island Explorer bus stops nearby. Pets are allowed in some rooms for $20 per day. Also here are cottages that rent by the week. Peak season rates from $155.
Here’s a gen-u-ine bahgain in oh-so-tony Seal Harbor. Sure, it’s dated and dowdy, but at these prices (from $150 in season), who cares? A restaurant downstairs serves reasonably priced meals, and it’s a short walk to Seal Harbor Beach and the Seal Harbor entrance to Acadia National Park’s carriage road system. Who knows? You may even spy summer Seal Harbor resident Martha Stewart while here. Yup, it’s on the Northeast Harbor route of the free Island Explorer bus service. (via Air B&B: add fees for cleaning and service, or try calling 207/276-3958).
The niftiest cottage at the Main Stay is the one-bedroom Boathouse, which dates from the 1880s. It hangs over Henry’s Cove, letting water lapping below serenade guests to sleep at high tide. More spacious is Little Cranberry, a one-room cottage with a full kitchen, gas fireplace, and big deck taking in those harbor views. There’s also an expansive second-floor room in the main house with a private entrance off the deck. The property is adjacent to the Bar Harbor Ferry dock and on the Island Explorer Schoodic route, making it easy to explore the region. Peak rates from $140.
For budget-friendly lodging in down east Maine, check out these inexpensive accommodations that provide character, are clean, and pass my sniff test. (Updated June 20, 2025)
For inexpensive digs, you can’t beat this clean, cheery motel and tourist cabins, one with a kitchen. All have been nicely updated. Frills include air-conditioning, satellite TV, fiber-optic Wifi, refrigerators, microwaves, and an outdoor pool. Morning coffee and homemade blueberry muffins are included. One hint: If you’re taller than 6 feet, opt for the motel instead of the cabins—bathrooms in the latter are tiny. Some rooms are pet-friendly for $20. Peak season rates from $95.
Recent updates and upgrades by new owners have made this vintage motel especially appealing. Every room has a fridge and microwave, and guests may enjoy a homemade continental breakfast before exploring. If you’re brave enough to visit in winter, snowshoes are available at no charge. Also available are an apartment and a cottage. Some rooms are pet-friendly; $10/dog. Peak rates start at $120.
For an authentic Maine seafaring experience, book this wharf-side inn in a renovated former sardine cannery. Passamaquoddy Bay practically laps under the windows, lobstermen unload their catches on the wharf, and fish processing takes place in the lower level (keep that in mind re: sniff test—there’s a slight brininess that most folks don’t even notice).
For this location, and with a continental breakfast included, it doesn’t get much better. The inn is within walking distance of downtown Lubec, and it’s a short drive or pedal over the border bridge to Campobello Island. That said, you might want to while away the hours gazing out the windows at the lobsterboat- and island-dotted views. Apartments are available. See my review here. Peak season rates begin at $143.
Another Lubec property I love is West Quoddy Station. Bill Clark has restored this former Coast Guard base on West Quoddy Head to its former glory, keeping true to its heritage. He’s also added a couple of new cottages, keeping to the mid-century style.
There are a boatload of options here, from studios to multi-bedrooms. All have cooking facilities, and most have ocean views. They are also pet-friendly.
From here, you can walk to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, pad along the cliff-hugging trail with views to Grand Manan, and return via the road—if you can tear yourself away from the dreamy views right here. Peak season rates from $160.
Eastport is an island tethered to the mainland by a causeway from Pleasant Point. In recent years, artist studios and galleries have brought new life to the downtown, which edges tidal-wonder Passamquoddy Bay. The antiques-filled Kilby house is steps from downtown shops and restaurants. Some rooms have glimpses of the water. Rates include a full breakfast served promptly at 8am in the formal dining room. Peak season rates begin at $145.
The Flying Eagle Lodge (previously The Lakeside) caters to anglers. Still, it makes a fine stop for unfussy travelers who value a comfy bed and a lakefront location at a very reasonable price. It sits back from Route 1 and edges Lewy Lake in the Grand Lakes region. The Down East Coast is an easy day trip, as are Campobello Island and St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
Although only two rooms in the main inn have attached bathrooms, almost all have at least a sink in the room. Lakeside cabins are also on the premises; most have recently been renovated. Pets ($10/night) are allowed in the cabins. Amenities include a games room with a pool table, rental motor boats and fishing kayaks, a fire pit, and free use of canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. It’s within walking distance to a very inexpensive family restaurant. Peak season rates begin at $70 for a lodge room and $120 for a cabin.
The stretch of coastline edging the western shores of Penobscot Bay, including Rockland, Rockport, Camden, Belfast, and Searsport, is Maine’s Gold Coast, but you can find budget-friendly lodging and downright cheap sleeps. (updated May 4, 2025)
Only one room comes in at $110 per night, but with a primo location in downtown Rockland across from the ferry terminal, this is an excellent choice. Although the room does have a private bath, it’s down the hall. But that’s not a bad trade-off for the other perks, which include an amazing breakfast, bottomless cookie jar, free wifi, and in-room TVs. The location makes it an especially good base for day trips to Vinalhaven or North Haven. Peak season from $110.
Amenities at this recently renovated and updated, meticulously maintained property include a heated outdoor pool and refrigerators in all rooms; some have kitchenettes, all are individually decorated. A continental breakfast in included from July 1 to mid-October. Peak season rates from $139.
New owners have renovated and updated this classic 1960s roadside motel (previously the Northport Motel) while keeping budget-friendly rates. And they’ve added nice linens and organic toiletries as well as in-room microwaves and fridges. Behind the motel is a nice lawn with a grill and picnic tables. Pets are welcome for $20 per stay. Peak season rates from $120.
Friends have stayed here and loved the place. It’s nothing fancy, but each of the 18 pine-paneled rooms has TV, air-conditioning, and Wi-fi, and a continental breakfast is served in a cheery breakfast room in the adjacent farmhouse. Pets are welcome ($25). The motel is set back from Route 1 by a nice grass lawn with a fire pit. It’s located next door to BlueJacket Ship Crafters. Peak season rates from $140.
It’s by no means a budget hotel, but The Federal offers an advance purchase, no cancellation/no refund rate that’s a steal. This upscale property is within walking distance of downtown Brunswick’s restaurants and shops and Bowdoin College’s museums and performance venues. Amenities include a yoga-stretching room and guest robes. Rates are room only. The excellent on-site restaurant serves dinner, but not breakfast. However, there’s a pantry where you can purchase a to-go breakfast and light convenience fare. Pets are allowed in some rooms; ask about policies and fees. Rates from $157.
Although guests can’t see Pemaquid Point Light from the Hotel Pemaquid, they sure can hear the foghorn when it blows. New owners have gently renovated and upgraded the 1888 accommodations without losing the charm of a Victorian seaside hotel, right down to the rockers on the front porch. Antiques are plentiful, but the emphasis is on comfort. Coffee is available in the morning, but most guests stroll over to the oceanfront Sea Gull restaurant for blueberry pancakes with a lighthouse view. A new building with 10 units, each with two queens, is expected to open this summer. Peak season rates from $160.
Moody’s Diner (photo) has been a landmark for generations of travelers heading up Route 1 through Maine’s mid-coast, its neon sign a beacon for weary drivers seeking a cup of joe and a slab of pie. Hidden from sight up a quarter-mile drive behind the diner is Moody’s Motel and Cabins. This coastal tourist cabin classic has operated since 1927. The location is convenient for exploring from Wiscasset through Searsport. Every unit has a screen porch and TV; some have kitchenettes. And the rates? Right out of a different era; peak season from around $120. Pets: $20/pet/night.
This family-owned and operated hostel is situated in a great walk-to-everything location. It has coed and single-sex dorm-style rooms with bunk beds. Linens, a duvet, and a pillow are provided, as are keyed lockers. The decor is wildly colorful, from the outdoor building murals to the indoor ceilings. Communal space includes a comfy lobby lounge and a shared kitchen. Rates: from $57 shared room; from $145 private room.
The Eighth Regiment Oceanfront Lodge & Museum offers communal living accommodations—private room, shared baths and kitchen—on Peaks Island, Maine.
The ultra-informal and uniquely historic Eighth Maine Oceanfront Lodge & Museum is in a class of its own and definitely not for everyone. Guests rusticate in much the same manner as the Civil War veterans who built the shorefront lodge in 1891, using a gift from a veteran who had won the Louisiana Lottery. They are immersed in a late-19th-century environment, a real hit with Civil War buffs.
Accommodations are more hostel than inn, with shared baths and kitchen space, and evening activities, including games and sing-a-longs. The pluses include extensive Civil War books, artifacts, and memorabilia, and Wifi. There are no housekeeping services; guests must strip linens and clean their room and their respective kitchen area before departing. No need for a car, as long as you pack in a backpack or use the island taxi. You can take the bus from Portland’s airport or bus/train terminals to the Casco Bay Lines dock, then catch the ferry to the island. Rates from $159.
Charming, retro, rustic, simple: That sums up this tidy cottage colony established in the 1930s by the Marsteller family and still operated by them. Rates will leave you with enough in your wallet for a Freeport outlet binge. Frills include fireplaces and/or kitchenettes in some of the pine-paneled units, older children’s playsets, walking trails, and a light continental breakfast, but overall, this is a back-to-basics kind of place. Only drawback might be traffic noise; it’s located between Routes 1 and I-295. Pets are welcome for $8 per night. You’ll need a car to get around. Still, when seeking budget lodging in Greater Portland, Maine, it’s a steal. Peak season rates from $108.
It’s not easy to find budget-friendly lodging on Maine’s Southern Coast. The region’s proximity to Boston and easy access have made it especially popular. These properties offer good value for budget-conscious travelers. (Updated May 4, 2025)
One of the least pricey lodging options in the Kennebunks actually has one of the most primo locations. The nonprofit Franciscan Guest House is situated on the 200-acre, riverside grounds of the St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery, within walking distance of both Kennebunk Beach and Dock Square. Rooms are spread between a main lodge in a renovated high school and a few smaller cottages; all are classic 1970’s décor. Frills include a seasonal saltwater pool and Wifi. What’s the catch? Fresh linens are available, but there is no daily maid service.
This budget-friendly lodging on Maine’s southern coast breaks my rule about not costing more than $165 in peak season, but given its location, I’ve included it. In July-August, the lowest rate is around $189, but you can score lower rates by going just before or after those rates kick in.
This colony comprising rooms and efficiency one- and two-bedroom cottages is on Route 1, just south of downtown Kennebunk. Although it’s an older complex, the grounds are nicely landscaped, and the accommodations are well-tended. Perks include a large outdoor pool, picnic tables, outdoor grills, and a games area. Pets (max 2) permitted for $20/night. Kids 14 and younger are free, and extra people in the room are $10 each/night. Peak season rates from $120.
The Percy Inn delivers everything an independent-minded traveler needs. This handsome, 1830 Federal-style row house is sited downtown Portland, Maine, just a few steps off Longfellow Square. That primo location is within easy walking distance of most downtown restaurants and sights.
Owner Dale Northrup, a professional travel writer, created the inn to meet the needs of those who don’t need a lot of hand holding. You’ll find detailed info sheets on what to see and do, and suggestions for dining. If he’s on site, he’ll answer questions and share his insider knowledge. But, if he’s off site, you may go without seeing him, although he’s always only a phone call away.
The eight guest rooms are quite comfy and they’re well equipped. Standard amenities include flatscreen TVs, wifi, toiletries, heat/air-conditioning, and fridges stocked with soft drinks. Each has a queen bed, a few are suites, some have gas fireplaces, others wet bars; all are named after writers. Perks include free off-street parking and daily self-serve continental-deluxe breakfast.
Summer and fall guests also have access to a deck with Adirondack chairs and umbrella tables and the landscaped grounds. Storage is available for recreational equipment, should you choose to bring bikes, boats, skis, or other toys.
What to know about the Percy Inn
I love the location of this inn, and I especially appreciate the free, off-street parking. The only drawback for some guests, especially those with mobility problems, is accessibility. Guest rooms are divided among three floors, the breakfast room is on the second floor, and the pantry stocked with books, games, ice, and on-demand hot drinks, is on the third floor. The stairways in between are steep and winding.
What makes the Percy Inn even more attractive are the rates. In peak season (mid-May through mid-October), rates range $129-219. The rest of the year, they’re $89-129. (holiday rates may be higher). At that price, with breakfast and parking, I can manage those stairs.
I’m hoping my first trip to Whitefish won’t be my last, and I’m wondering why I waited so long to visit this Montana mountain and community that share the name. Why Whitefish? Here are just a few of the reasons this four-season resort should be on your radar, whether you’re a skier/rider or not.
Whitefish, sited in northern Montana, scores triple location points: It’s roughly 30 miles from Glacier National Park; the town is 15 minutes from Glacier Park International Airport; the Amtrak Empire Builder stops in town: and if you’re looking for a ski trifecta, it’s only an hour from the Canadian border, making it easy to loop in Fernie and Kimberly.
• Why Whitefish mountain: It’s big…
No, really; truth is: Big Mountain was its previous name. It was changed to associate it with its base town and to avoid confusion with Big Sky, in the southern Montana. Whitefish Mountain Resort comprises 3,000 acres with 105 marked trails + plentiful bowls, steeps, and trees serviced by 14 lifts & tows. The vertical drop is a respectable 2,353 feet; the longest run is 3.3 miles. Truth is, the mountain skis bigger than it first appears. As one ascends, bowls and ridges appear. Thanks to its multiple faces, one can usually find good conditions, not matter what the weather. Hint: Locals told me the north side is always lighter and dryer, so when in doubt, head north.
With a summit elevation of 6,817 feet, no worries about altitude issues. You won’t be gasping for breath or experiencing a killer headache if you bend over.
• and Pho & ahi in the cafeteria
I could eat lunch every day in the Summit House and be happy. Not only was the food very good, but also very appealing, and reasonably priced. One day I enjoyed a steaming bowl of hearty pho, another a Mexican chicken. I was tempted by an ahi tuna dish as well as the burritos. Most choices were in the $8-12 range—very fair considering the quality and location.
The mountain is celebrating its 70th anniversary this season. When I visited, I had the opportunity to hear long-timers share stories about the early years. I also caught the Clod of the Week/Frabert Awards, presented on Wednesdays at 5pm in the Bierstube (a.k.a. the ‘stube), the classic ski bar in the Village (go in if just for the nostalgia and decor—think old ski movies on the big screen, pool table, and old ski gear, signs, flags, and other mementos adorning the walls and hanging from the rafters); another good spot to soak in the atmosphere is the Hellroaring Saloon.
• Why Whitefish: The price is right!
No, not the TV show, but the prices for everything. For starters, winter is off-season in Whitefish, so accommodations are reasonably priced. Lift tickets are low for a major resort; rack rate: $79 adult 1-day, $72 each additional day (buy a $50 frequent skier card, and the daily rate is $50 adult). And hey, if you’re 70 or older, you ski free.
Free S.N.O.W buses connect the town with the mountain, stopping along the way. You can stay on mountain and enjoy afternoons and evenings in town or stay in town and still catch first and last tracks.
Not only is downtown Whitefish compact and easy to navigate, it’s streets are lined with independent shops, galleries, restaurant, and even two microbreweries and a micro distillery. There’s even an independent downtown hardware store, a rarity these days, especially in a resort community. Does it get any more perfect than Voyageur, a shop that sells artisan chocolates and used books? Oh, and nearly every restaurant or shop selling anything food related will have something in the huckleberry flavor. It’s local, it’s good, try it.
Beyond skiing, riding, shopping, and eating, Whitefish makes it easy to have a good time. So on those days when fog shrouds the mountain, consider the alternative outdoor pursuits: sleigh rides, dog sledding, Nordic skiing, fat-tire biking, and snowshoeing. Or, dive into the aquatic park, visit a spa, or simply curl up with the highly regarded Whitefish Review, a literary journal published twice each year.
The elephant in the room is Glacier National Park. Truth is, most people come in summer, which is why winter rates for lodging are low. The park in winter is quiet and spectacular, and it’s open for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, or simply oohing and aahing. Glacier Adventure Guides makes it easy.
• Cheap sleeps: on the mountain, Hibernation House (from $89pp with lift, lodging, & breakfast); in town, the Whitefish Hostel (from $75/bed; whole house rental available).
• B&Bs: one-third mile from town & on bus route, Good Medicine Lodge, which has especially nice lounging areas (from $135 w/breakfast); intown Garden Wall Inn (from $155 w/breakfast)
• Hotels & Inns: on the mountain, Kandahar Lodge (from $159 w/continental breakfast); in town, The Firebrand (from $119)
• Luxury ski-in/out chalets: Snow Bear Chalets, on the slope tree houses (from $3,000/week)
• Dude ranch: located on the outskirts of town, the Bar W Guest Ranch offers B&B rates during winter.
• Breakfast—On the mountain, I grabbed a breakfast quesadilla at Village Coffee in the upper village; in town, head to Loula’s, Swift Creek Cafe, or Amazing Crepes.
• Ice cream: I know it’s winter, but trust me on this, you don’t want to miss Sweet Peaks, which its own ice cream, sorbet, and yogurt. And of course you can get huckleberry.
• Dinner—On the mountain: For a wonderful dining experience with a highly regarded chef, make reservations at Cafe Kandahar. Intown: Abruzzo prepares excellent pastas and wood-fired pizzas; mountain Mexican is served at Pescado Blanco (I’m still signing over the bison enchiladas), Tupelo Grille specializes in Cajun and Southern fare; the lobby lounge at the Firebrand Hotel serves a tapas-style small-plates menu.
I’m sure late 19th-century Maine architect Francis Fassett would be pleased with The Francis, Portland’s newest boutique hotel. Fassett designed the Congress Street home for the Mellen E. Bolster family, which operated the Bolster, Snow & Co. store on Middle Street. The 1881 brick building later housed the Hay & Peabody funeral home for 80 years, before sitting vacant for a decade.
Enter brothers Anthony, Jacob, and Nate DeLois. In 2015, the trio were refueling at Tandem Coffee, a popular coffee house across the street, and noticed the empty property. The brothers, who have a family background in hospitality (other properties include two Ogunquit hotels, The Colonial and The Adimiral’s Inn), realized its potential, and purchased it. After a two-year restoration, they opened the massive oak doors to the 15-room hotel in October 2017.
Boutique hotel with original details + contemporary vibe
The Francis honors the man who helped Portland rise from the ashes of the Great Fire of 1881. Fassett designed roughly 400 buildings in the Victorian High Gothic and Queen Anne styles. He’s credited (along with his one-time apprentice, the better known John Calvin Stevens) with helping shape the current look of city’s West End. The hotel, now listed on the National Park Service’s Registry of Historic Places, successfully blends period architectural details with contemporary accents and amenities.
Anthony DeLois toured me through the property, pointing out original features such as gleaming hardwood floors—some parquet, tiled fireplace surrounds, and stained-glass windows preserve the building’s integrity. In some rooms, the reflection of light through original leaded glass windows dances playfully on the walls at night. He pointed out a window to the original, 1925 Seth Thomas clock, one of 80 street clocks made by America’s oldest clock company. The ornate, four-faced, pole-mounted clock is one of only a handful built with both mechanical and electrical works.
Contemporary elements balance historical ones. These include sleek furnishings, tiled baths, and quality linens. An elevator eases access to all floors, although the grand front stairway and the backstairs remain. Overall, the rooms are handsome and minimalist, providing all the necessities without clutter. The well conceived and meticulous renovation pays homage to the building’s architectural bones.
No two guestrooms at The Francis are alike. It offers eight room configurations, including an accessible king.
I loved my junior suite, with its vaulted ceiling, bay window, and spaciousness—enough room for two, perhaps three, adults to comfortably practice yoga. It offered a comfy seating area, luggage bench, bedside lamps, and individual room temperature control.
Other standard amenities include Frette robes, an in-room safe, 40-inch TVs, Cuddledown duvets and pillows, art by Nicole Wolf, Malin + Goetz toiletries, and a minibar emphasizing Maine-made products, a nice touch.
Other pluses for The Francis include:
a 24-hour staffed front desk offering concierge services,
local artwork in the public rooms,
a handsome front parlor,
reading nooks,
an onsite spa using Farmasthetics products,
off-street parking, and
a Congress Street location within easy walking distance of museums, galleries, and restaurants.
The hotel doesn’t serve breakfast, but with 24-hour advance notice, enjoy breakfast-in-bed: coffee, OJ, and pastry from Tandem and a newspaper delivered to your room for about $25.
