Lodging in Ogunquit, Maine

Sometimes in the northeast we feel as if the word ‘vacation’ is literally defined by going south. Unfortunately, with the price of gas skyrocketing this can sometimes mean a very expensive car trip. Further, many of us take our vacations in the summer, a time when the southeastern coasts of Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia are hotter than. . .

Well, you know.

So what’s the alternative? If a long car trip or very hot summertime weather isn’t for you, where do you go to relax?

How about a trip north to Maine’s southern shores? Specifically, why not try Ogunquit Beach, a place sure to please beach- goers looking for soft sands, blue surf, and beautiful scenery (especially along the Marginal Way).

And if you’re wondering where to stay, here are some options, starting first and foremost with a place I got to know very well.

The Mariner Resort

Location: Though not directly on the water, The Mariner is only a couple of blocks away from Ogunquit’s beautiful Footbridge Beach (Ã?½ mile). The hotel is situated close to everything but not right in the middle of town. Thus, it allows the opportunity to feel part of the bustle (it’s only about 1.5 miles from the center of town), if you want to, but doesn’t force this upon you. Across the street is a mini- plaza with a pizza restaurant and other shops.

The View: Each hotel room has a gated porch/ balcony in front of it. Over the marsh and river, on a sunny day, a very nice view of the beach is available (see the attached picture). Further, these balconies were quite clean, current, and furnished with outdoor chairs and a small table. Funny that when we first showed up the fog was pea soup thick, hiding the ocean view until the next sunny morning. If you’ve never been to Maine then you may not understand just how fast and all encompassing the fog can be. Still, there’s a beauty to even that.

Each room also overlooked the courtyard where the pools were housed. This was nice because you could see what you were getting into before leaving to swim (in terms of the crowd, children, and such).

The Pools: The Mariner Resort’s outdoor in-ground pool was spacious and quite nice. Lawn and lounge chairs surround the swimming area, all tastefully done with no frills. However, we spent most of our time in the indoor heated pool right next to it. Why? Because that’s where most of the families with children decided to venture. The enclosure made most of us feel as if we didn’t have to keep “shushing” them to allow pool loungers their peace and quite. Further, it became a place where families in the same predicament came to meet and talk. The hotel’s decision to leave water toys out for the children, including floats, was a nice added touch.

The Rooms: Perhaps the best part of the hotel. We stayed in a suite of sorts (separated by hallway, not a door). The area was spacious, immaculate, and current. Further, the walls at The Mariner Resort in Ogunquit seemed as sound proof as any I’ve recently come across. Again, with young children that’s a sought after commodity.

Beyond the aforementioned, the accommodations were air conditioned (single air conditioning units, not central air). Though these units were somewhat noisy, they did the job (and the constant drone helped our children to fall asleep).

The Staff: The maid and front desk staff were all very pleasant and helpful. Some examples- when we asked our maid to come and clean up at a certain time to allow our children their normal nap time, she agreed with a smile and did a bang up job. Further, the front desk person offered to allow me to use his own internet account to check my mail when their computer was temporarily down.

The Only Thing Missing: An on- premises restaurant. However, this can also be viewed as a plus if you don’t want hordes of people overtaking your hotel every night.

In Sum: The Mariner Resort in Ogunquit, Maine comes highly recommended from this reviewer. Whether you have children or not, The Mariner is the place for you when traveling in southern Maine (it’s also highly ranked at TripAdvisor.com).

OTHER LODGING IN OGUNQUIT, MAINE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION

Georges Grant Hotel: Here’s what vacationers are saying about this place- convenient location, nice breakfast (in their Raspberri’s Restaurant), and the rooms are well laid out. Georges was also ranked well on TripAdvisor at the time this article was written.

The Norseman: If you want to stay directly on the beach- and most of us do, do we not?- then try the Norseman. At the time this review was written, The Norseman was also highly ranked at TripAdvisor.com. Of course, the best thing I’ve heard about it is its location (it’s also near many of the restaurants). The outside looked a bit worn in my opinion, but that’s to be expected near the water.

Pink Blossoms Resorts (Family Suites): Near the bustle (though not on the beach), the staff are friendly, and everything is very, very clean according to the majority of customer comments I’ve come across. One problem- Pink Blossoms apparently does not have parking of its own (you have to park across the street).

Contacts:

Georges Grant Hotel
449 Main Street
P.O. Box 2240
Ogunquit, ME 03907-2240
(800) 646-5001

The Mariner Resort Motel
734 Main Street
P.O. Box 2056
Ogunquit, ME 03907
(207) 646-5931

The Norseman
P.O. Box 896
Ogunquit, ME 03906
(207) 646-7024

Pink Blossoms Resort (Family Suites)
P.O. Box 763
154 Shore Road
Ogunquit, ME 03907
(800) 228-PINK