Merrill Farm Inn

The best part was the private access to the saco river behind the inn. The fall foliage was beautiful, and walking there at sunset was lovely. The breakfast was cooked fresh from an à la carte menu, though it took a while. Dinner at the Barn wasn’t impressive. Our Inn King room with fireplace was upstairs on the second floor, and with no elevator, we had to carry our big luggage up many flights of stairs. The inn’s many doors, turns, and steps made getting around inconvenient. We could hear footsteps and movement from the room above, which was annoying, and the air conditioner was loud. A small sink outside the small bathroom had hardly any room for toiletries. The dim hallways made the place feel like a historical museum. We tried the laundry, but the washing machine stopped partway through with our clothes still wet. Staff took them to another building to finish washing and drying them, so we had to wait longer than expected. At $300+ a night, it wasn’t worth it.

The coffee was disgusting, and the breakfast was horrible. It was meant to be made to order, but came out cold and tasted like it had been sitting around all morning. Service was ridiculously slow, and tables who arrived later got food before us. A buffet would at least get people fed on time. They may as well be serving food from kitchen vats anyway. The rooms were dated, with stained carpets that need replacing. Charging an extra $30 per adult per night is robbery when you book a loft that sleeps up to eight, but they count it as a two-person room. The place is horribly run. Do better.

The friendly staff and daily housekeeping were the best parts. Our room was decent and fairly clean, and I appreciated the jacuzzi tub even though it was dated. The bed, though, was painful to sleep on. The mattress had springs and felt like it could be over 30 years old. The merrill Inn is a typical, outdated stop on a busy road along the saco, with easy access and some quaint country charm, but it’s no resort or hotel. It is what you pay for, and nothing to write home about. The restaurant was a disaster. We waited over an hour and a half for breakfast, then got soggy “gluten free” pancakes and microwaved bacon. The restaurant is run by young adults who hardly speak English, and dinner wasn’t better. They advertise upscale dishes like ratatouille and prime rib, but my ratatouille was just fried eggplant slices with pasta sauce over it, instead of garden vegetables over rice. They charge over $30 a plate. My husband and I couldn’t believe it. We paid $100 for two meals I’d give zero stars, plus two alcoholic drinks. Bring your own food, there are better restaurants around. The pool looked decades out of date, with paint chipping inside, so we didn’t try the amenities. The “farm” stay wasn’t what I’d hoped for or what was advertised online, but we still enjoyed our weekend. Maybe I’d return, but I’d book a better room and wouldn’t eat there, even if breakfast were free.

The included made-to-order breakfast was delicious, and the staff were so nice. The rooms were very clean. There’s a river view, plus snacks and tea in the lobby. I’ll stay here again.