Don't come here expecting the 4 seasons. It's a motel at best but there are some frills that come…read morewith it that make it very pleasant. First of all, the view, if you manage to get a room from the water view side is SPECTACULAR. You just get a gorgeous view of the bay. The rooms are clean enough and they all have balconies so perfect for an afternoon coffee/tea/soda break. I found the staff to be very friendly except for this one older lady who sits in the back and just gives everyone the mean eye. Perhaps she treats people of non-caucasian ethnicities, OR younger people differently? I didn't really see her give the same stink eye to older white people who were in line ahead of me. Didn't matter, she was a fright for the eye but the front staff whom we had to deal with were ALWAYS pleasant and accommodating. The nice thing about the lounge/front desk area is that there is always coffee and tea and if you get it before 4pm, cookies! The snickerdoodles seem to get picked up the quickest.
The cleaning staff were pleasant enough. We only had a single cleaning during our 5 day visit and it was fine.
The daily breakfast is one of the best parts of this lodge. You get a hot continental that always has eggs and then some sort of meat like bacon or sausage and a grain staple like pancakes or pancake dunkers. They have fruit and yogurt cups up for grabs. You can get cereal, granola, coffee, tea, juice, milk on your own and they always have a nice selection of small pastries like muffins, croissants, and bagels. I really have to give the kitchen staff credit, they work SO HARD. Like, literally way harder than what I expect they are being paid at a place like this. They are constantly wiping things down, refilling the buffet and stocking up the packaged options. They are answering questions from staff, helping them get utensils, helping them clear tables and cleaning the floors. I truly wish I had workers in my job site that worked as hard as they do. Seriously big props for an impressive group!
Finally, you really can't beat the distance. It is a really short drive into Bar Harbor and to Acadia as well as to multiple shops. For the price, for the view, for the breakfast, it was well worth it.
Cons: one extremely slow elevator and whether you use the stairs or the elevator, you may still have a bit of a trek to your room as the building is more horizontal than vertical.
Also, you literally have to ask for new towels and coffee and tea, every day. Yikes, It gets to be a bit of a pain. At least, if you ask for more up front because you say you will be staying for x # of days, usually I have seen that they will just grab a bunch for you.
The mean old lady as noted above.
Despite those cons, I would absolutely stay here again. Just be wary of coming back late. While you will find parking, you'll have to park further away in their large lot. Not a big deal, just adds 3 minutes walking time.