Bar Harbor, ME Lodging

[ChristineLiu]

We are planning on a trip with some friends to visit Bar Harbor next summer and would like recommendations/reviews of accomodations.

Thanks!

[AndreaU]

Any particular type of lodging (hotel, B&B, motor inn, etc.)?? Also, what's your approximate budget per night? BH is pricey in the summer, so I'm not sure how much you're all willing to spend.

Without knowing anything yet, may I recommend:

The Greycote Inn- nice B&B on a downtown side street; good friends spent their honeymoon their 2 years ago and loved it; $125 and up/night http://www.graycoteinn.com

The Shore Path Cottage- another nice B&B right across the street from DH's grandmother's house! $150ish and up http://www.shorepathcottage.com

The Bar Harbor Inn- "the" hotel to stay at in BH, right on the harbor/town pier/Shore Path (location, location, location); $200++ http://www.barharborinn.com

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel- only 3 years old (though you wouldn't know by looking at it- looks like a grand hotel from BH's heyday); $175-200 range http://www.barharborgrand.com

Those are some with which I'm somewhat familiar but there are SO many more. Check out http://www.barharborinfo.com/home.html for lots of listings. Hope that at least gives you a start.... we're there every summer, so if you need eating and activity suggestions, I'll be happy to help!! :D

[Triathlon13]

HI! I am so excited for you-Bar Harbor is one of my favorite places on earth-I grew up about 2 hours South of here and used to go once a year, but now that I live in Boston don't get up there very often!

It sounds like AndreaU covered the hotels-I don't often stay up there ( 2 times )-but don't remember the name of the motel (cheap wedding stays). I definitely recommend the B&B or the Bar Harbor Inn though-know people who have stayed at both (went to a wedding at BH Inn) and it is very nice.

But I wanted to make a recommendation on eating-my favorite Cafe in the entire world is in Bar Harbor (2nd fav. is in Alaska-but for the life of me can't remember the name). Anyway, so I had breakfast there-recommended by a friend from work who spends 1-2 weeks up there every summer and he will eat there every morning--I found it by accident one morning with my mom (brothers and dad back sleeping-we are the early risers). They have the MOST amazing breakfast foods ever-they are all homemade, fresh and very, very large!!! The name is "2Cats" and here is the info:
2 Cats
130 Cottage St
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-2808
2catsbarharbor.com

The smoothies are to die for-and the orange juice is freshly squeezed-can't go wrong there-so I recommend if you are going with someone that will share-one of you gets the smoothie and one gets the OJ and you share:^)

The omelets are great, but then so was their fresh bread (french toast:^).

Have a great time-sorry so lengthy-not too many people go all the way to my fav. place:^). Realize this is a very pricey area in the summer and that to really get the most of it you will want to do touristy things such as whale watches etc off the Maine coast so try to spend the money and get the full effect. Also make sure to go hiking at Acadia-it is beautiful-the Bee Hive is a great hike and definitely go to Thunder Hole and that area-pretty neat! Take a good amount of time one afternoon and look around at all the cute BH shops-they are one of a kind and you kind find lots of great things in them (again pricey and lots of jewelry!).

If you need other info-let me know!!!

Michelle

[ChristineLiu]

Thanks. Well, there will be 5, potentially 6 adults, so we've been looking at units (suites, apts, cottages, etc.) that can accomodate us and that dosen't leave us with many choices. It's a lot cheaper going this route than booking individual rooms. we're going in August.

we're debating between Bar Harbor Inn and Atlantic Oakes. I know Bar Harbor Inn's got many recommendations, but Atlantic Oakes got AAA rated 3 diamonds and is a tad bit cheaper. anyone been there?

I am definitely open to any suggestions for food (thanks Michelle; I love breakfast foods), things to do, where to go, etc., touristy or not.

[Terrytx]

We go there every year also. We have a son who lives there and one who goes to school there. We have stayed in several places, The Bar Harbor Inn being my fav. We will be there in June for DS #4s graduation and there will be lots of family going with us, so this time we rented a house for 2 weeks, that will sleep 10-The Ehrlich's at Derby Lane Cottages. Also, if prices in Bar Harbor are an issue, you can stay in Southwest Harbor, which is also really nice.

[ccooney]

I know you said you're looking to go the 'suite, cottage, etc.' route, but I couldn't resist putting in a plug for the Mount Desert Campground. It's a family owned place that DBF and I visit for Labor Day weekend each year. I find it astounding that they're a very family oriented place which somehow manages to keep the atmosphere quiet & serene. I think a lot of it has to do with well spaced sites located in the woods right on the water. It's also the cleanest, best maintained campground I've ever stayed at (with HOT showers!). A few years back, my extended family with niece & nephews stayed there, too. They loved it, but found it to be a long drive from their homes in VT. They liked that the sites were much less expensive than hotels (and even than renting a cottage), and we could bring our own food to save money, too.
Of course, you have to like camping for that to work.
So, just a thought.
Have fun!

[AndreaU]

OK, another suggestion now that I know that you're looking into apts, etc.

Right next door to DH's grandmother's house is the Snell House. They offer several efficiencies/apts at weekly rates. Looks like one room will accommodate 5-6 adults at about $1000/week. http://www.snellhouse.com/index.html