Seaside Inn

The view was beautiful, the room looked pristine, and the furniture was very comfortable. But we came for a quiet break with our dog and left feeling misled and short on privacy. We were staying the week before Memorial Day, and only after booking did I learn that the nearby store, restaurant, the Cafe next door owned by the Inn’s owner, and many other local businesses were closed until then. We had to drive to find food. The fire across the street had also taken out the store and restaurant, and I’d been told a food truck was there, but not that it wouldn’t solve the problem while we were visiting. At bedtime we noticed some windows had no blinds, and none had curtains. It seemed the room had been rented before it was finished. During our stay, workers installed window boxes just outside the reading nook, drilling and banging above us each morning. Two nook windows had no coverings, and the nook faced the bed, the main entrance walkway, and a bathroom that could be seen from outside. The first morning, after the noise woke me, I was walking back from the bathroom in my pajamas when I came face to face with a workman on a ladder who could see me clearly. I improvised curtains with the bathrobes. My husband kept asking for more robes to cover the gaps, since workers could still see in, and the Innkeeper and owners offered no other fix. We had no sense of privacy. When we complained about the noise, we were told it was outside quiet hours, which run from 9 to 9. On vacation, I don’t want to be woken early for work hours. There was construction on the dock across the street all day, too. It seemed they knew the work would happen while we were there and that our window coverings hadn’t arrived, but rented the room without warning us. I texted the Innkeeper about all of this, and they passed it along to the owners. They refunded $75.00 from our $1,200.00 stay, which felt insulting given the lost privacy and rest. The website suggests a 50% payment at booking, but they charged the full amount. That was okay for us because we booked close to the trip, but the website is still misleading. Also, policies only appeared after booking and payment: guests must strip their own beds and gather their garbage. I usually keep a room clean and put garbage together, but I’ve never had to remove my own linens. I was glad I’d brought garbage bags, since none were supplied and the room had only a small, heavy marble can in the bathroom. The bed felt like sleeping on a cloud, and the view is stunning, so I can see why some guests had a better stay, perhaps after the yearly work was done and businesses reopened. I also expect the view to change when the burned buildings across the street are rebuilt. We won’t return, and I’d advise others to look elsewhere for owners who are more transparent and less focused on money. From the other reviews, I suppose I was lucky to get any refund from this flash in the pan. See photos for my makeshift interior design.

We drove a few miles to a free public beach in mid-August, and it wasn’t crowded at all. Closer by, we were within walking distance of Tenants Harbor, Port Clyde pier, shops, and museums. We also booked a charter boat just down the road from our hotel and went to Monhegan Island. It was a beautiful place to visit, with shops, beaches, restaurants, and hiking trails, and I highly recommend it as a side trip. Sadly, the Port Clyde General Store, nearby restaurant, and boat house burned to the ground in a 2023 fire.

The historic Inn has been renovated with exceptional quality and taste. It made for a memorable stay in a Maine lobster village, and it’s a remarkable place to stay in Port Clyde before taking the boat to Monhegan Island. Best place in all of Maine for that.

The views are charming, and check-in was easy. There are a handful of dining options and plenty of places to take in the coast. Our private-bath room was immaculate and great, and the on-site service was excellent for directions, suggestions, and laundry. Kudos to Naomi. It’s a charming place, with L. L. Bean stuff throughout our room. The inn and other local buildings are owned by Linda Bean. It was comfortable and suited an inn in a classic coastal village.