Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

This stately hotel opened in 2003 as a replica of the historic Rodick House that opened in 1875 and was demolished in 1906. The traditional decor feels appropriate for its downtown Bar Harbor setting, with brown-leather furniture, damask wallpaper, and Tiffany glass-style table lamps. The hotel is especially popular with seniors but fills up with younger couples and families during the summer vacation season. It’s quiet most of the time, but crowds build in the breakfast room in peak season, when the hotel is often full. The covered front porch is a fun place to people-watch from the rocking chairs while sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade that’s available all day.

The Bar Harbor Grand is located on a quiet, tree-lined street in downtown Bar Harbor that includes private residences. It’s a pleasant, four-minute walk to the picturesque town’s Village Green, past lots of shops, taverns, and restaurants. Some restaurants are as close as a one-minute walk. It's an eight-minute walk to the waterfront area, from which summer whale watching and lighthouse tours depart. The entrance to Acadia National Park is a five-minute drive from the hotel. Approximate driving times to Bangor International Airport and Boston-Logan International Airport are 75 minutes and four-and-a-half hours, respectively.

Like the hotel itself, the Bar Harbor Grand Hotel's 71 rooms have a slightly fussy traditional decor that includes vintage artwork, floral-print drapes, and upholstered armchairs. The antique-style wood furniture has a reddish-brown stain finish and includes armoires and headboards. Overall, it's a tasteful look, though it can lean toward dated. The true selling point here is the rooms sheer spaciousness, as even the Standard Kings and Double Queens are large and include oval coffee tables with upholstered chairs. The Double Queens with Sofa Beds are also quite large, with additional coffee tables and larger bathrooms. Standard bathrooms are typical of what's found in most mid-range chain hotels, with tan granite vanities and shower/tub inserts surrounded by white tiling. Standard room amenities include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, safes, and flat screen TVs with DVD players. Rooms on the top (fourth) floor tend to be quieter, as guests on lower floors have reported noise from rooms above them. None of the rooms have exceptional views.

This quaint hotel packs in a lot of handy amenities. It does lack a full restaurant or bar, but a continental breakfast comes with the room rate, and includes a few hot items such as egg sandwiches. Free coffee and lemonade are available all day, and vending machines sell snacks and drinks for cravings at all hours. The on-site gift shop also showcases local treats, including maple syrup and blueberry jam, along with souvenirs and sundries. 

Dining aside, the hotel's top feature could be its heated outdoor pool in a lovely setting with landscaping, a privacy fence, and an adjacent deck with a whirlpool and benches. The fitness center is less striking and runs small, but it’s open 24/7 and offers a choice of equipment, including a treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical machine, and free weights. A single computer with internet access and a printer make up the "business center," and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Other perks include a guest laundry room, valet laundry, and plenty of free parking in the hotel's lot.