Ramada Bangor

I chose this place for my birthday because I'd heard the breakfast was amazing, so that part left me really disappointed. The eggs were cold and wet, the sausage was cheap and nasty, and there was only a little cereal and bread. The pool was great, heated, and went from 4 ft to 9 ft. Staff were super friendly, and the beds were comfy.

The pool area was quite nice, and the staff were friendly and very helpful. They also let us park our motorcycles off to the side under the front overhang, which we appreciated. On weekdays there was a complimentary USA Today. The building is older, with no elevator and some long hallways, so hauling bags to your room can take extra effort. Our rooms were reasonably well kept, though housekeeping fell short of what we expect from a major chain. The shampoo bottles weren't full, perhaps reused? Breakfast was a hot buffet, but the scrambled eggs were tasteless both mornings. One day there were pancakes, not much better, and the other day French toast, which was slightly better.

Since the new ownership took over, I've noticed improvements every time I've stayed over the past year and a half. It's now called the Bangor Grande. The previous owners seemed to let the quality slide, though I don't know why. I'd stayed here for years and enjoyed it until those last few years. I recommend it to anyone wanting an affordable stay in Bangor. It also has the best pool in Bangor.

The place is a little odd, but it's alright, and my room, 209, was fairly clean and okay. It wasn't smoky, so the reviews I'd read were off on that. The bathtub and carpet were older, though with slides it was fine. I'm pretty sensitive to textures, so that may just be me. Breakfast was my biggest letdown: scrambled eggs, sausage patties, a little bread, cereal, and oatmeal, not the warm, inviting spread I'd expected. The gym is just two machines in a mirrored room, and the pool was pretty full, with people using it even when they weren't staying here. My room felt cold, and the heater was blowing cold air, though maybe I just didn't know how to use it. The coffee newspaper by the door and the candy machine with Skittles, Mike and Ike's, Jelly Beans, and maybe more were the funniest touches. Not bad, but not the best.