“Wonder View Inn”, Bar Harbor (Acadia), Maine: Hard To Beat For Value, Service & Upbeat Atmosphere.
We spotted this deer, right outside our room, the first evening we were there. That was an unexpected bonus.
The “Wonder View Inn”, at 50 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, minutes from the Acadia National Park eastside Route 3 & 233 entrances will most likely, in the foreseeable future, be our base whenever we go to ‘The Park‘ — we already having made a reservation for later in the summer within 30 minutes of getting there last Saturday, June 27, 2015.
When you factor it all in, and some of the synergies that ensue, the “Wonder View Inn” is hard to beat in terms of value for money, location, views, SERVICE and overall ‘you are here to have fun‘, holiday camp atmosphere.
Yes, I am kind of sure we lucked out (but I can sure do with some luck these days). Last June I didn’t have much trouble getting a reservation in Bar Harbor, at the Cromwell Harbor Motel, for late June. So I had been lulled into a sense of complacency. This year I waited until a month ahead of our departure date to start calling. The difference between last year and this year was that last year we went mid-week. Ah! That, of course, makes all the difference when you are talking about the last weekend of June. The the ‘suite’ at the Cromwell we wanted (i.e., the one we stayed in last year) was booked. So I started dialing around. Teischan over the last 2 years has become very fussy as to where and how she will sleep when we travel. She has to have her own ‘big’ bed. She refuses to share with Devanee. So we have to find rooms that have (at least) a queen (ideally a king), another bed plus a third sleeping surface for Devanee — though to her credit she is not fussy and will sleep on a couch even if it is not a pull-out bed.
I called the “Wonder View Inn” mid-afternoon on May 26. I happened to get ‘Nate’, the HR Manager for both the “Wonder View” and the very fancy “Bluenose Inn” next door, since nobody else was picking up the calls. He was great. He understood exactly what I needed and said he had the perfect room for us — the “BIG room, with two brand new King beds and a couch, with a view — under the office”. We discovered that this room is “B3”. We got it for $99 a day (plus taxes). That was one heck of a great rate.
>> Room was indeed huge. Plenty of space to stretch out.
>> Two new HUGE King beds which were super comfortable.
>> HUGE flat panel TV, the biggest I have ever seen in a hotel room.
>> Microwave, coffeemaker, fridge, iron and ironing board.
>> Deer outside the window.
>> View of Frenchman Bay across the trees.
>> Good coffee, hot water, orange juice and cranberry juice, in the lobby, all day & (I think) all night.
>> Decent, FREE, continental breakfast with boiled eggs and breakfast sandwiches.
>> Access (at least when we were there because their pool was not fully operational) to the ‘fancy’ HEATED pool at the adjoining “Bluenose Inn” — which is owned by the same family. Teischan and I used the pool and the very hot jacuzzi, with relish and delight, on two evenings, before dinner. Perfect way to get ready for a meal out.
>> Access to the bar and lounges at the “Bluenose Inn” (though we never got a chance to avail ourselves to this).
>> Beautiful views from the lobby area where you get breakfast and beverages. Well tended lawns.
>> Wonderfully friendly and helpful staff. WOW. Bravo. What a great bunch. Everybody is upbeat, huge smile on their faces and happy to help. It was a delight. Somebody, most likely I, left some lights on in the Jaguar XJ8. So we needed a jump start Monday morning. No problemo. “Brian” and one of the maids came rushing to our assistance. I was so impressed.
Yes, it is old and shows its age. Yes, of course, it could do with some major refurbishing and some heavy-duty cleaning. Teischan liked the room so much that she did NOT subject it to her Anthony Melchiorri, as in “Hotel Impossible”, test — as she did at the Wyndham in Philadelphia (to their chagrin). Yes, the housekeeping could be better! When housekeeping does not empty the coffeemaker filter and rinse out the coffee it always makes me cringe — but in this case I cut them slack. If you need to stay in an immaculate 3-star (or greater) hotel this is NOT for you. Try the “Bluenose Inn” next door — roughly $100+ more a night.
We are going back. We liked it. Hope you do too.