Friendship Oceanfront Suites

The front desk staff were exceedingly helpful and cordial, and there was free coffee and packaged muffins in the morning. The bed was large and very comfortable, and the two-room setup included a loveseat, stove, refrigerator, and kitchen table. Everything was very clean, but the carpets were stained. The bathroom seemed to have been renovated recently, yet the modular tub had red and black mold between all the joints. The walls were so thin that we heard the next room’s TV all night, a girl coughing and sneezing on the other side, and someone apparently tapping or dancing back and forth to the bathroom upstairs around three in the morning. The room was small, and I felt the price was high for what we got. My front room was advertised as having an ocean view, but you could only see it by sticking your head out the door and craning your neck. Friendship oceanfront suites in old Orchard Beach Maine turned out to be disappointing.

We’d stay again. The ocean view was great, and it was a very short walk to the beach, which you could see from the room window or outside the door. We had the ground-floor room nearest the beach at Friendship Oceanfront Suites. The room itself was underwhelming and lacked many of the small things you expect, especially with a kitchenette. The king bedroom stayed cool, but the fold-out couch and living area had no AC unless we left the door open. The large grassy area and enclosed heated pool are great for kids, and they loved when the ice cream truck came by each day. The shower by the pool was handy, and there’s free laundry, though I didn’t use it. Parking is scarce and an extra vehicle costs money overnight. Our charge seemed random: $15 one day, then $25 the next. The guy gave me a $20-per-vehicle discount, but with a $500 room, I’d have expected an extra car to park across the street for free. The ocean location is great, but the pier is far away and it would be quite a walk if you want to visit the boardwalk often.

It was very quiet, though we were there after Labor Day. The hotel is also conveniently close to popular area spots like Portland and Oguinquit/Wells. From our second-floor balcony, we could see the pool, which is bigger than the usual hotel pool, and the ocean. This unassuming place is right on the beach, about a minute from the water.

It’s a decent place, and I’d book again. The beds were comfortable, and the hotel felt a little dated but was simple and very clean. The booking mentioned ocean views, but I hadn’t realized they were side views, with a direct view of the pool instead. There was some noticeable noise from outside; I would have preferred hearing more ocean. We barely watched the roughly 24-inch TV, only turning it on when we got back at night, but a bigger screen still would have been nice. You need to pick up K-cups for the in-room Keurig at the office while it’s open.