Help me Maine Dis’ers or knowledgeable Maine vacationers:-)

[alldiz]

Hi,
Considering Maine for my summer birthday vaca this year if life ever starts again.
Debating a road trip from NY to avoid airplanes.
Want to see Portland and Bar Harbor.

Majority Bar harbor. What hotels you recommend . Has to have AC!
Needs a heated pool and great views of ocean, near town and etc .
Was looking at Harborside and Balance rock inn. Any opinions?
Thanks
Kerri

 

[SamFaniam]

@leebee

 

[alldiz]

@leebee

?

 

[luv2sewtjr]

I have no idea what is open in Maine. When I went to a conference in kennebunkport (which I loved) I took an evening trip to Portland. I also spent a weekend at bar harbor. Spent the bulk of time in Acadia but enjoyed some great restaurants in Bar Harbor. I rented a cabin at a koa and took the shuttle bus downtown. I would have loved to stay downtown, but it was too expensive for me.

 

[alldiz]

I have no idea what is open in Maine. When I went to a conference in kennebunkport (which I loved) I took an evening trip to Portland. I also spent a weekend at bar harbor. Spent the bulk of time in Acadia but enjoyed some great restaurants in Bar Harbor. I rented a cabin at a koa and took the shuttle bus downtown. I would have loved to stay downtown, but it was too expensive for me.

Thanks for response .
I am coming from NY. Do u think Portland worth a stop or spend all time bar harbor?
Thanks
Kerri

 

[SamFaniam]

?

I tagged her because I thought she would have good advice for you and wanted to make sure that she saw your post.

 

[disny_luvr]

We stayed at the Harborside in 2017. The hotel has since undergone a renovation, but even before the reno it was very nice. The location is absolutely perfect. You can walk everywhere, except Acadia NP, from the hotel. The pool is so nice and there are great views of the ocean - it has everything you are looking for.

That said, the customer service is lacking. There never seemed to be enough staff, and the staff that were there seemed very stressed and overworked, hence the lack of customer service. Everyday it took forever for our room to be serviced. Fortunately we didn’t go to the hotel restaurant, but from listening to others at the pool, the service at the restaurant must’ve been as bad as the rest of the hotel.

I’m not sure if we’d stay there again. The hotel is beautiful, the location is perfect, but the customer service is that bad.

My parents have stayed at the Bar Harbor Manor, which is also very walkable to town and many restaurants. The only downfall with that hotel is there is no pool.

One thing to keep in mind is it can be cool in Maine in the summer. I had thoughts of us hiking in Acadia during the day and relaxing by the pool at night, but it was so cool (middle of July), we only made it to the pool once.

Do yourself a favor, if you go to Bar Harbor, eat at Jordan’s. You won’t be disappointed. I’m pretty sure it’s only open until 2:00, but check the time in case you plan on eating there.

We are planning a trip to Disney this summer, but if it doesn’t work out, our back-up is a trip to Maine. We adore Ogunquit.

 

[alldiz]

We stayed at the Harborside in 2017. The hotel has since undergone a renovation, but even before the reno it was very nice. The location is absolutely perfect. You can walk everywhere, except Acadia NP, from the hotel. The pool is so nice and there are great views of the ocean - it has everything you are looking for.

That said, the customer service is lacking. There never seemed to be enough staff, and the staff that were there seemed very stressed and overworked, hence the lack of customer service. Everyday it took forever for our room to be serviced. Fortunately we didn’t go to the hotel restaurant, but from listening to others at the pool, the service at the restaurant must’ve been as bad as the rest of the hotel.

I’m not sure if we’d stay there again. The hotel is beautiful, the location is perfect, but the customer service is that bad.

My parents have stayed at the Bar Harbor Manor, which is also very walkable to town and many restaurants. The only downfall with that hotel is there is no pool.

One thing to keep in mind is it can be cool in Maine in the summer. I had thoughts of us hiking in Acadia during the day and relaxing by the pool at night, but it was so cool (middle of July), we only made it to the pool once.

Do yourself a favor, if you go to Bar Harbor, eat at Jordan’s. You won’t be disappointed. I’m pretty sure it’s only open until 2:00, but check the time in case you plan on eating there.

We are planning a trip to Disney this summer, but if it doesn’t work out, our back-up is a trip to Maine. We adore Ogunquit.

Thanks for all of the great info!
I was supposed be in Wdw 5/21.... I rescheduled for November.
My daughter is a senior HS and her present was Disney, she is going in July. ( god willing)
I always go away my birthday week. (July)
In pAst years it has been Europe that is not happening. Montauk and Fireisland is my back up.
But this is a good opportunity to explore my own beautiful country on a road trip ...
Thanks
Kerri

 

[leebee]

Right now, I can't recommend planning a visit to Maine this summer. There is great concern that an influx of out-of-state tourists this summer will send our Covid-19 rates sky-high. As of last week, we are still on "Safer at Home," mandated to stay out of work until June 1 if at all possible and not essential. On June 1 SOME restaurants will be allowed to open, but only those that have outside seating, can guarantee enough space between tables so wait staff is 6' from everyone, only allowed 40% capacity, no more than 6 customers per party, masks are required except for when you are consuming food.The restrictions lessen for July, but there are still strict rules being considered. For June and July, out of state guests must quarantine for 14 days prior to staying at a Maine hotel. It isn't clear how this will be enforced, whether it's 14 days in your home state before coming here, or if it's a 14 day quarantine once you arrive, and THEN you can start your vacation (so 21 days in a hotel?). Hotels will not be providing housekeeping, buffet breakfasts, and hot tubs/pools are still questionable/uncertain. Bars/breweries/wineries can't open until at least July, with more information forthcoming. As far as I know, campgrounds can open July 1 (might be June) but with the same quarantine restrictions as hotels. Not sure what is up with Acadia National Park, but many beaches remain closed even if inland parks are open. There is no indication as to when or if the southern Maine beaches will be open this summer.

PORTLAND has been on tighter restrictions than the rest of the state since mid-March. I love Portland; I actually like it much better than Bar Harbor, which is pretty touristy. Portland is a great little city with incredible bars, restaurants, museums, breweries, concerts and festivals, etc. Of course, all of that is closed right now. Not sure what the restrictions on museums, galleries, etc. are, but many/most of the concerts and festivals in the entire state have been canceled for this summer, and I outlined the restaurant and hotel restrictions already.

Man, I love Maine, love living here, but this virus is going to devastate the economy. I still believe that wearing masks, social distancing, and limiting group/crowd sizes are key to keeping the infection rate manageable, but it's going to wreak havoc on us this summer. I think it's just too risky to plan ANY travel this summer that isn't 100% refundable.

 

[Colleen27]

I have no idea what is open in Maine. When I went to a conference in kennebunkport (which I loved) I took an evening trip to Portland. I also spent a weekend at bar harbor. Spent the bulk of time in Acadia but enjoyed some great restaurants in Bar Harbor. I rented a cabin at a koa and took the shuttle bus downtown. I would have loved to stay downtown, but it was too expensive for me.

How is that KOA? We were planning on Maine this summer but have pushed it off (I think - I might still try to fit it in in Aug. if the summer goes well) and I was leaning toward staying there. We wouldn't be making Maine the whole vacation but do plan on Acadia being the focus of our time there, and I was leaning toward staying somewhere with electrical hookups and a decent bathhouse, at least, rather than the more primitive camping we sometimes do with the van.

 

[Notrealname]

As I understand things. The 14 day quarantine means stay inside for the first 14 days in Maine. Not much of a vacation.

Pretty much “people from away” stay away.

https://www.necn.com/news/coronavir...or-14-days-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/2268308/

 

[leebee]

I have friends from Bangor who go to that KOA every year for Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. They take their kids and grandkids, as well as travel with friends. They love it!

And, just to show you how quickly things are changing, the Governor is relaxing standards in 12 counties where there is no evidence of community transmission. Still don't really know what it'll mean for the summer crowd.
https://www.wmtw.com/article/gov-ja...u5nLCzz1-BYGzZucekYI39XvIIghqZj_h8onV4E7wqXJI

 

[luv2sewtjr]

The KOA I stayed at is closed. It was right off 102. A little googling shows that it will become a glamping resort.

 

[leebee]

Of course, there's this to consider, the view off my deck this morning (5/9). I live just outside of Bangor, in Orono, home of the University of Maine (where it should be graduation today...)

 

[Notrealname]

Fresh powdah!

 

[alldiz]

Right now, I can't recommend planning a visit to Maine this summer. There is great concern that an influx of out-of-state tourists this summer will send our Covid-19 rates sky-high. As of last week, we are still on "Safer at Home," mandated to stay out of work until June 1 if at all possible and not essential. On June 1 SOME restaurants will be allowed to open, but only those that have outside seating, can guarantee enough space between tables so wait staff is 6' from everyone, only allowed 40% capacity, no more than 6 customers per party, masks are required except for when you are consuming food.The restrictions lessen for July, but there are still strict rules being considered. For June and July, out of state guests must quarantine for 14 days prior to staying at a Maine hotel. It isn't clear how this will be enforced, whether it's 14 days in your home state before coming here, or if it's a 14 day quarantine once you arrive, and THEN you can start your vacation (so 21 days in a hotel?). Hotels will not be providing housekeeping, buffet breakfasts, and hot tubs/pools are still questionable/uncertain. Bars/breweries/wineries can't open until at least July, with more information forthcoming. As far as I know, campgrounds can open July 1 (might be June) but with the same quarantine restrictions as hotels. Not sure what is up with Acadia National Park, but many beaches remain closed even if inland parks are open. There is no indication as to when or if the southern Maine beaches will be open this summer.

PORTLAND has been on tighter restrictions than the rest of the state since mid-March. I love Portland; I actually like it much better than Bar Harbor, which is pretty touristy. Portland is a great little city with incredible bars, restaurants, museums, breweries, concerts and festivals, etc. Of course, all of that is closed right now. Not sure what the restrictions on museums, galleries, etc. are, but many/most of the concerts and festivals in the entire state have been canceled for this summer, and I outlined the restaurant and hotel restrictions already.

Man, I love Maine, love living here, but this virus is going to devastate the economy. I still believe that wearing masks, social distancing, and limiting group/crowd sizes are key to keeping the infection rate manageable, but it's going to wreak havoc on us this summer. I think it's just too risky to plan ANY travel this summer that isn't 100% refundable.

Thanks for all your great info!
I know this covid is just nuts!

I think gonna have to just really visit my backyard in NY
Thanks
Kerri