Germaine Inn South Portland

The beds were comfortable, though they’re quite tall, so getting in and out may be tricky for some. That was about the best part. The staff seemed to be trying, but most of the experience just wasn’t great. We didn’t realize when booking that the hotel had changed names and management from Howard Johnson. Arriving at the Germaine Inn was confusing. There were booking problems, and I still don’t know if the hotel or the online agency was responsible. They didn’t have the king bed we booked, so we got two queens. During the hour we spent in the lobby, a guest said she’d been moved because of noise, then got a dirty room and cleaned it herself. The next day, while her daughter was changing after the pool, a couple entered their room with a key. We also heard everything in the hall. At 11:45 pm, a couple were fighting at soap opera volume, which I guess is standard hotel drama. There were no washcloths, only hand towels. The little toiletries were already half used. The shower was fiddly: the drain stayed shut unless you held the lever, and the knob fell off twice. The free hot breakfast was the worst. I was hungry but didn’t eat, especially since we’d picked this place over a hotel that was $20 cheaper and had better breakfast reviews. The juice was basically water, there was no milk for cereal or bagels to go with the cream cheese, and the waffle maker barely worked. My husband spent a long time cleaning off the stuck batter, sprayed it well, and still had batter stick when he used it. Someone else told us, “Don’t even bother, worst waffle maker ever.” The boiled eggs were burnt? By then, only round egg, sausage patties, bread, apples, oranges, and dry cereal were available.

I had a lovely two-night stay at Clarion Pointe South Portland. The room was clean and spacious, with good furnishings and a comfortable bed that made for restful nights. Staff welcomed me with warm smiles, gave useful local recommendations, and made check-in easy. The location made it simple to get to the attractions and places to eat that I wanted to explore. A welcoming atmosphere, great service, and a convenient spot made this a delightful stay. Highly recommended!

The deep bathtub in my room was beautiful, so I was crushed to find there was no way to fill it because the tubs have no stoppers. The room itself was nice, and I liked the fake ocean painted on the wall. It reminded me of odd old hotel rooms I’ve loved before. I hate rooms that could be anywhere on earth. Only half the outlets worked, though I appreciated that the TV wasn’t turned on and the room was mostly quiet. A child screamed for about an hour between 10:30 and 11:30, but a man came to check on her, so I guess nobody was hauling her out in bloody sheets. Check-in took about 20 minutes. Hotels in New England seem to act like they might not give you the room you booked online for twenty minutes, but this time the front desk associate didn’t ask me any weird questions. It’s probably the nicest hotel I’ve been to here. I haven’t tried breakfast yet.

I’ve stayed here several times this winter and love the heated indoor pool, though it hasn’t been available to use for the last couple of weeks. The staff are all friendly and helpful. The woman at the desk last Sunday morning had a really vibrant, uplifting attitude.