1st time here and such a awesome place. Great renovatiin, attention to detail. Location is…read moreperfect. You have to be some type of person to come here and not just see simplicity, elogance and beauty in one space.

My wife and I just finished a wonderful winter escape at the Blue - Inn on the Beach for our…read moreanniversary. The drive to Plumb Island through Newburyport was the perfect introduction to our romantic, north shore getaway. Being from Phoenix, we look forward to our cold, winter adventure each year and neither of us had been anywhere north of Boston before. Before our arrival, communication with the Blue was informative and hand a personal feel. Obviously, the Blue caters to summer beach-goers, and the reserved parking area near the hotel would definitely be a huge plus for folks competing for parking spots, but in winter, there are very few people or cars on the entire island. The Blue is a quaint little hotel nestled on the beach in a neighborhood of New England beach homes. We were happily greeted at the front desk by Blue staff and the General Manager. They tendered to our every need and surprised us with a fabulous fruit and chocolate anniversary gift waiting for us in the room. The room was beautiful with a classic and modern beach feel. Sliding glass doors open up to a wooden deck with a fabulous view of the Atlantic Ocean. We could hear the crashing waves while sitting inside beside the gas fireplace to read. It was magical! Also magical was the bed! We haven't slept that well in years! The bed was so comfortable and my wife loved the pillows so much that she bought the very same ones for home the day we returned. And don't forget the two hot tubs! There is nothing quite as enjoyable as relaxing in a steaming, bubbling hot tub while it's snowing all around you. Honestly, the "hot tubs available" filter was probably what highlighted the Blue to me during my search for this trip. One hot tub is on the second floor deck, overlooking the beach and the second is hidden under the pine trees at the end of a short sidewalk across the street from the main building. Both were large enough for probably 6 people, clean and well maintained. Again, it was February so we had them all to our crazy selves the whole week. The beach is beautiful! There is direct, private access from the second floor of the Blue, via a wooden boardwalk. The beach is sandy with very few rocks. I didn't see any seaweed or anything washing up on shore, but it was February, so I didn't expect to see a whole lot of anything living coming out of the water. Every morning we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over the ocean while we drank some local coffee delivered direct to the room. Oh yeah, breakfast! Each morning the staff dropped off and adorable wicker basket with fresh, local breakfast offerings plus that wonderful carafe of coffee. We had different breakfast each day, to include quiche, overnight oats, fresh fruit, biscuits, and bacon. Just the right amount for the two of us and we couldn't wait to see what breakfast surprise would arrive each morning. Although Plumb Island may feel remote from the business of the Boston-metro area, the location was great for dipping down to Salem without hitting any traffic, or popping up to New Hampshire for a sleighride through the forest. One morning, after a small nor'easter blew through, our SUV got stuck in the parking lot snow. No worries! The General Manager of the Blue came out to hail down a plow and personally helped push us out. Now that's service! Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Blue -Inn on the Beach to anyone looking for a romantic beach getaway. If you're looking for a less Metropolitan vacation with the proximity to get to Boston in under an hour, the Blue can't be beat. We will definitely be coming back. Maybe even in the summer next time!

I'm not someone who rushes to Yelp, but this stay earned the effort…read more I recently stayed at The Merchant for the second time, and whatever magic existed during my first visit is gone. The biggest issue: the hotel hosted a large, ticketed public event that completely took over the main lobby--with zero advance notice to guests. I woke up to a lobby packed with strangers and nowhere to sit or gather with my family. I've never stayed at a hotel that allows a public event to fully overrun its only common area without warning paying guests. And no, "just go somewhere else" isn't an option--there is nowhere else. There are no additional common spaces and no elevator. Since we were meeting elderly family members, climbing three to four flights of stairs to our room wasn't possible. The lobby being unusable wasn't a minor inconvenience; it was a dealbreaker. Operationally, things only went downhill. Check-in is at 4pm, but arrive after 5pm and there's no one on-site to check you in. Checkout, however, is rigidly 11am. Our room was never cleaned during the stay, despite leaving the "please clean" tag on the door. Because of the limited staffing hours, we couldn't even get fresh towels. Then there's the mouse. I saw one in the common area and notified staff. Nothing was done. Food is left out uncovered for guests, which I promptly avoided--because "boutique hotel meets rodent buffet" isn't really my vibe. What's also new: some sort of train or underground rumbling that shakes the building roughly every hour, offering a front-row seat to what feels like an earthquake simulator. If this were a budget motel or a Holiday Inn, I might shrug and move on. But this is a $500-per-night hotel, and at that price point, these issues are unacceptable. Until these problems are addressed, I wouldn't recommend staying here--and I certainly won't be returning.

My stay was short but just divine, best sleep I had and the most delicious cookies! Thank you to…read morethe wonderful staff who shared instructions for my after hours check-in and made the entire process of navigating to the parking lot a breeze and ensuring I have all I need during my stay at this charming hotel that felt like home). I'll be returning :)

The rooms were adorable, the innkeeper friendly and gracious with us and went above and beyond to…read moremake our night there memorable. Highly recommend!

Classy and beautiful, great location. We stayed for two nights over Labor Day and really enjoyed…read morethe Inn. The room was well appointed, ac worked well. There was a wedding party there that weekend but the owners gave us a forewarning and also offered to accommodate us with breakfast elsewhere if needed. Luckily the wedding party was friendly and there was no need for that. The bed was comfortable, bathroom was huge. The location was nicely tucked away but right at the edge of downtown. Parking was easy and check in and checkout a breeze. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a quiet few nights of R&R!

Very nice little apartment. Walking distance to shops, restaurants, waterfront. Management is not…read moreon-site but responded quickly to the couple of small concerns I had during my visit. Would definitely stay here again if in the area.

Adorable apartment style hotel. Close to everything. Very reasonably priced and very clean.read more

This was not the best Hampton inn in terms of cleanliness…read more There were stain in the sheets. Bathroom doors kept sliding open while taking shower. Pillow were all yellow. Pools were not great temperature. Kind of cold. Many kids in the pool and parents not very thoughtful filming with their phones while we were in the pools. You never know nowadays "  strange perverts! " However, staff was super nice!

How in this day and age could Hilton endorse such a maintenance disaster as this! Toilet…read moremalfunction as well as bathroom sink drain was a pain to open. I should not have to open the toilet tank to stop the water running all night. I should also not fight to get the drain to open when brushing my teeth. Should I go on with the tv selection! Let me just say garbage. For every good thing I found in this 200+ per night room there were 2 things that didn't work. The staff were very friendly and helpful so big shout out to them. Breakfast provided had a nice selection that was better than most.

This is a wonderful New England inn in a perfect location when visiting Newburyport…read more , From their website: The Essex Street Inn was originally built as the "Lucky Livery Stable" in the early 1800's. In 1880, the stable was razed, and in its place, the present Essex Street Inn was built in a conservative version of the style known as Victorian eclectic. To set expectations, the rooms are cozy. The suites are larger, but since we were only here for one night, we opted for a standard room. Luckily, we were on the first floor, as there are no elevators and steep stairs. They do have a parking lot, which is key during the high season. Our room was very comfortable, and our bed was perfectly plush. There is a K-Cup coffee maker and cable TV in the room. Breakfast is OK and should satisfy most. There is a Starbucks a short walk away and plenty of other coffee shops and breakfast venues in the area. The location is perfect, on a side street, walking distance from shopping, bars, and restaurants. Plum Island is also a short ride away.

As a Choice Rewards member, it is nice to be able to use points for the higher end unique…read moredestinations with character and unique features while avoiding the resort fees that often get tacked on at places like this. Going in the office seasion this cozy gem gives great holiday vibes with some of the rooms (suites) having fireplaces, rooftop patios, and even jacuzzis. Most of the rooms are not well suited to people with mobility challenges due to stairs. The decor is homey and feels like a throwback to colonial New England.

The view is phenomenal, location is ideal (5 minute walk to Good Harbor Beach), the staff is beyond…read morefantastic (accommodating to a high maintenance person - ahhh -- how rare is that?), the guests are friendly, the pool is clean, each room is unique .......when will summer come back so I can return??? This is by far not high end.....but it is as close as I get to camping.

Great view, clean room, accessible to all of Gloucester's sites without being on top of anyone…read moreelse. My only wish was that they had a closet for hanging more delicate clothes but the door racks served the purpose just fine! Would definitely come back again!!

DoubleTree Northshore isn't a bad pick IF and only IF you get a good deal for it. If you pay full…read moreprice, I reckon it's not worth it. The staff is nice and they do their job. The hotel however is very old and has lots of not-so-enjoyable quirks as a result... While our room was clean for the most part, the shower was difficult to operate (defective more like) and the showerhead had mold growing on it. The bed sheets were clean EXCEPT for that one corner with a smear of something red (blood? raspberry jam? take your pick!) and the bed itself was so soft I thought it would swallow me whole. I could barely move. The pillows were soft beyond what's reasonable for a human head. Noise from other hotel guests was by far the biggest issue. Paper thin walls meant I could hear the TV and guests speaking next door. Across the hallway, another guest was playing music SO loud that hotel staff came to knock on his door to warn him to keep it down. They had to knock 10 times for the guy to hear them and answer the door. Gives you an idea! At least the staff was proactive... Oh did I mention there's a crack under the room door that is almost an inch high? All sounds from the hallway will echo inside your room as a result. Nice... said no one ever. So, as I said in my intro, if you get a good deal like we did, all these issues might be worth putting up with. Otherwise, stay away if you value good sleep.

Stayed here a few days on a North Shore vacation…read more Excellent place to stay at the North Shore of Massachusetts. You can get to any town or beach within 30-45 minutes. We used this as our home base and saved money by not staying at a more expensive place on the beach. Parking was easy, the room was terrific and we had a fun vacation because of it!

Really cool and well restored historical building. The wide berth room was super comfortable. Lobby…read moreis the former living room and dinning room - played their vinyl classics on the turntable and played cards with a fire I made going in the fire place. Walk to great restaurants coffee shops and shop in Rockport center. Walk to beach. Way cool place to stay any time of year.

We just LOVE this place! Not only are the rooms beautiful and luxuriously comfortable, the service…read morefrom the owners , Marshall & Courtney, and the hospitality is beyond gracious, fun and lovely! Not a stone is left unturned. My husband and I live in Boston area, but love staycations, as New England has so many amazing places to visit and overnight. Addison Choate is on our very favorites list. And I don't mean to jump on another posters review, but Rita, your story sounds like you wrote in the heat of the moment. Don't be that person who can destroy someone's business and livelihood because you're angry.