Homewood Suites by Hilton Portland

We keep coming back here when we want a nice stay in Portland, Maine, and have never had a bad experience. The rooms are clean and roomy, and breakfast has plenty to choose from. We also enjoy the pool and hot tub, and the gym has a lot of equipment. There’s coin laundry on site, plus an airport shuttle. Guests get discounts when dining at Sebago restaurant in the connected parking lot. Good to know if you’re bringing pets: cats and medium-sized dogs are welcome.

We stayed here for the Maine Marathon weekend to keep costs down, even though the hotel is about 15 minutes south of downtown Portland and not the handiest base for exploring the city. It’s around five miles from the jetport, so we heard no plane noise, and it sits in a quiet, fairly remote spot, with a large mall and shopping area less than a mile away. The price, peaceful setting, and condition of the property made it a good choice. Our room was very clean and had no flaws we could see. The indoor pool and hot tub were clean and well looked after, too. Most staff were helpful. The late-night desk clerk was the one exception, though everyone can have an off shift. The daytime and kitchen staff were wonderful throughout our stay.

I’ve been here six days, and the grounds, room, pool, hot tub, and laundry have all impressed me. When my dishwasher stopped draining, I told the desk and a tech was at my door an hour later. It works great now. I also get refrigerated medication deliveries every three days, and the staff promptly bring them up to my room. Signing up for Hilton Honors seems like a good deal, too.

Sally deserves a special mention for being so courteous, kind, and good at her job. She went out of her way to help us, and we had an exceptional stay.