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    The Merchant

    4.7 (76 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
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    View from room 4 out the front of the hotel toward Washington street.
    D T.

    We loved our stay. We stayed in room 4 on the 2nd floor. We loved the view out the front window and we were across the hall from room 3, which is the George Washington room with a view out the front. Hotel is close to everything. Staff is very accommodating. Our flight arrived really early and we were able to drop off our luggage and go out to enjoy the town until our room was available. Attention to detail- my sister and I went to celebrate my birthday and they left a hand written note. So sweet. They even text you when your room is available and to check in with you during your stay if you need anything. Comfort & cleanliness- Very clean and comfortable rooms. Coffee bar- Lovely and well stocked.

    The gorgeous front entrance.
    Natalie S.

    Well, this is the best hotel I've ever stayed in. We had a late check-in and the process was seamless and the entire property was beautiful, clean, and safe. There is some road noise (Washington is a thoroughfare) but the windows are double-paned and even the road-facing rooms are quiet. I'm a light sleeper and the noise didn't bother me - more like a gentle hum. In our one-night stay, I received several text messages (my preferred way of communicating) from the staff, checking in and giving me pertinent info about check-in, check out, etc. The room doors are very secure, and even though the property is old, it was incredibly clean and felt very sturdy and safe. This place is a wonderful bolthole from which to explore Salem, and The Merchant is a destination in itself - we'll definitely be back! Thank you to the wonderful staff!

    Alison K.

    currently staying at the merchant ~ above and beyond impressed with the communication of the staff - the condition of the hotel - and the unique and special details. everything you could want in a hotel. from the coffee maker to the bathrooms - to the beds - it's immaculate - everything is literally perfect. we will absolutely be back.

    Absolutely loved it! It's exceeded all our expectations. Room was beautiful and the staff was friendly and helpful! Highly recommend!
    MIa D.

    Absolutely loves staying here! We come to Salem every year and looked forward to staying in this historic home. The property is beautiful! We were greeted by warm and friendly staff that were extremely helpful. The Washington room was stunning! The decor was incredible and the gas fireplace and heated floors made it extra special. It's totally exceeded our expectations! We also loved the complementary coffee in the morning and cookies at night!!! Their attention to every detail made our stay one of the most memorable yet. We are already planning next year!!! Highly recommend!!!!

    Sitting room.
    Jennifer G.

    A great place to stay right in the heart of Salem. The hotel is close to everything you could possibly want to see while in town. Our room was number one on the first level. It was incredibly spacious, had a nice seating area, and a gas fireplace. Parking is either on-site for a fee, or short walk away for free. There is a lovely main seating area where you can enjoy a boardgame, have a beverage or snack from the snack area, or just relax and chat with your friends. Breakfast was included and was delightful. It consisted of several small plate choices from avocado toast, to overnight yogurt, to mini quiches. My only two critiques were that every staff member was warm and friendly except one older female manager who seemed very unfriendly and smug each time she interacted with guests. The other would be that the snack area could use a bit of variety. Each time we checked it out the snacks were oranges, 100 calorie pretzel packs, seltzer water, and plain popcorn. Sometimes guests may want to cheat a bit on their diets while on vacation....

    Fireplace in the King Suite --guitar not included with the room!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Merchant

    I would like to know how much a room for 4 adults for october 31, to love. 1, 2018?

    Hi Ann, For the most up-to-date availability and rates, please call the hotel directly at (978)… Read more

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Merchant

    We're super history buffs so we stayed in the George Washington room, this is where he slept while visiting Salem back in the day.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Hawthorne Hotel - Outside of hotel

    Hawthorne Hotel

    (379 reviews)

    $$

    I had my wedding here in May, so this will be a long but all encompassing review of all different…read moreaspects of the Hawthorne. When I was looking for venues, I wanted all inclusive and one location. I spoke with Christine Madigan via email and then over the phone. She assured me that the Hawthorne did weddings well. We booked, signed contracts, set up a room block and everything. The room block: 3/5 stars I originally worked with Beth who set everything up for me and then was transferred to Rob as positions changed. I initially had 15 rooms in my block which we filled pretty quickly, but I saved one for my husbands grandmother so she could stay onsite. She called to book a room and was told there were no rooms. There were rooms so I called and spoke with Rob because she was pretty upset. He assured me we had rooms and for grandma to call him directly. Evidently the folks at the front desk didn't understand how the room block was intended to work. This happened over and over and over again. I really wish they would have set it up so my guests could book online because I heard from nearly half of my guests that either they couldn't get the days we were promised or the room type they wanted. I even had 3 couples stay at another hotel because of this so Hawthorne lost out on money because they couldn't get their booking system organized. One of my couples ended up in a room with a TWIN BED for 2 people. How is that even possible? Meanwhile I had a single person in a room with 2 queen beds and 2 bathrooms? Like I get accommodating people's requests, but a little critical thinking and communication would have gone a long way for comfort here. I doubt those people will come back to this hotel for this reason, which is sad because its such a lovely place. The menu tasting: 5/5 stars We were invited to a tasting of hors d'oeuvres, dinner selections, wine, cocktails and wedding cake. It was amazing to be able to sample items we wanted to serve without doing so blindly. Their food is phenomenal so we were excited to be able to share this with our guests. Wedding planning: 5/5 stars I received packets of information before booking Hawthorne as my venue, so I was aware of the pricing up front. I was even able to create a quote using their pricing sheet so nothing was a surprise. Christine was available to answer all of my questions throughout the process. As we got closer, she gave us homework to complete so we were ready for our big day. We created a signature mocktail, filled out place cards, went over our timeline, dropped off welcome bags, etc. Everything leading up to our wedding day (outside of booking guest rooms) was super smooth and easy. Pretty much everything was provided by the venue. I only had to book a photographer, content creator, photo booth, DJ and HMU on my own. The rest was handled for me which really made things so much smoother. We ended up well under budget, too! Wedding day: 3.5/5 stars If I could go back, I would hire a dedicated day of coordinator who worked specifically for me and not the venue. Christine was great, and did her job well, but she wasn't dedicated to me the entirety of the evening. And she and my mom were butting heads over things we were promised and not delivered. My mom did my wedding florals. We asked in advance if we could have refrigerator space and a private room to set up in. We were told we could have both, and on the day of, there was magically no fridge space, access to water, or a secure room to work in. It was extremely frustrating to be promised things and then not have those promises fulfilled. We were able to pivot and adapt, but that added so much stress to me on a day where I should not have added stress. The room she was working in was also being used as storage for a wedding the following weekend. The hotel has tons of space so I'm not sure why it had to be there but it seemed at that point it was a battle of wills more than anything. My photo booth company arrived right at the time we were about to start our ceremony, which was planned in advance, but the way the rooms were set up he ended up being in the lobby. This turned out to be really fun for wedding guests and random hotel guests to watch, but it was a bit awkward at first. Some of the items we brought for our reception were not brought down and we had to track people down to retrieve those. There was a room upstairs that was dedicated for us to hide away in and eat our appetizers, but I wanted to be with my guests and the appetizers never made it to me and my husband so I was told they were good but I didn't get to try them all. Dinner was absolutely amazing. However, I heard SO MANY complaints afterward about our bartender. I guess he was rude, and terrible at making drinks and when people tried to go to the other bar they got turned away. Overall I had the best day ever and would do it over again with a few tweaks :)

    My boyfriend and I recently stayed at the Hawthorne Hotel for a short staycation. We live nearby…read moreand chose the hotel specifically for its history, haunted reputation, and because the price point included what we were told would be complimentary breakfast. The room itself was nice and comfortable, and we were surprised (in a good way) to find that it was a double room. In terms of the "haunted" experience, we did hear some tapping noises coming from the closet shortly after settling in. It was definitely spooky, and my boyfriend barely slept, hoping it would happen again--but it didn't. Still, it added to the atmosphere we were looking for. Unfortunately, the experience took a turn the next morning. When we went down for breakfast, we were informed that we needed a voucher or token that we were never given. I went back to the room to call the front desk for clarification and was told that breakfast was only included if you were given a "certificate," which was never explained at booking. My boyfriend then went to speak to the front desk himself, since he made the reservation (even though I was present when it was booked). He was told that no one ever told him breakfast was included, and the interaction felt accusatory--as though he was being accused of lying. This was uncomfortable and disappointing, especially since we booked the stay based on that information. Adding to that discomfort, as we exited the elevator to head to breakfast, we could hear two front desk staff members chatting enthusiastically. When they noticed us, the conversation abruptly stopped, and they stared as we walked by. It created an awkward and unwelcoming feeling. One was a gentleman with longer hair, and the other was a woman with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The manager was also involved in the conversation with my boyfriend. I do want to highlight the positives: The server at Nathaniel's was extremely kind and pleasant, and another woman working in the restaurant was also warm and helpful. The room itself was nice, and the restaurant service was genuinely the best part of our stay. That said, due to the front desk and management experience, this is not a hotel we would choose to stay at again--neither for the haunted experience nor for the treatment we received. Salem has many hotel options, and while we wanted this stay to be something special, it fell short. We were hoping to leave a glowing review, but aside from the room and restaurant staff, the overall experience left us disappointed.

    Hampton Inn Salem Boston - Guest room

    Hampton Inn Salem Boston

    (45 reviews)

    Great location -- very walkable to many of the attractions in Salem, easy to drive elsewhere, and…read morevery close to the train/T if you're coming in that way or want to take it into Boston for a day. We did have a car, and while the attached garage made things convenient, the daily parking fee felt high for what it is (almost $30 a day). Just a heads-up. Also, there is self-park, and at risk of sounding cheap, here's a tip to save you on some tips... valet is optional, and I don't think I've ever been in a hotel where it's less necessary. Self-park is the same price, but you spare yourself the constant tipping, which feels like one more tiny cash grab unless maybe the garage fills up at certain times and they have to move cars elsewhere. The room was nice enough for a short stay, though some acceptable / common deficiencies are starting to show -- scuffed walls, certain outlets loosening up so the prongs don't stay in well, one bulb burned out, etc. But the beds were comfortable enough, the bedding seemed clean, the bathroom was also clean and the shower worked well, and the room overall still had a reasonably new look and style to it. The pool was also clean, warm, and the overall pool area looked well maintained with plenty of clean towels available and a good amount of seating. The pool deck definitely gets a little slick when wet, so watch your step. Breakfast was almost exactly what you'd expect from similar U.S. chain hotels -- pre-made omelets or scrambled eggs depending on the day, home fries, paper-thin bacon or sausage patties, a few cereals and yogurts, a make-your-own waffle station, a couple fruit options, a push-button juice machine, instant oatmeal, etc. There's a good amount of seating, and a handful of tables have their own TVs (though you may have to hunt for a remote, and you might get some cross-room interference if someone else points theirs the wrong way). One interesting detail: breakfast isn't on the ground floor, and you can't reach it via the elevator without a keycard. I assume that's intentional to reduce non-guest walk-ins. Overall, I'd stay here again for the location and reasonable price -- just with the caveat to budget for the nearly $30/day parking or have a workaround ready. The convenience makes it tolerable, but it's definitely something to be aware of.

    Great location within walking distance of downtown Salem, shops, restaurants, action. Pool was…read morenice. Breakfast was edible, coffee was delish. Love the parking garage but the added cost per day was $$$. The two waters on check-in were a nice touch but the one bag of chips was confusing to us. It did make us laugh though. I'd recommend either two bags of chips or cookies (one per guest) or none. Lobby was comfortable and staff were nice. I'd stay here again.

    Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites

    Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites

    (209 reviews)

    $$$

    I had a five star stay at the Salem Waterfront! This is one of my favorite hotels I've ever stayed…read moreat in my entire life and that's why I continue to come here! I had not been here in about three years, and apparently the hotel went through a major renovation. It was really nice back then, but I think it looks even better now! The artwork, the decor, the wonderful nautical charm about this place is really awesome! Our room was an imperial king suite and I absolutely recommend this if you are a couple looking to have a nice relaxing stay or if you just want a spacious room with a separate bedroom, living room room and a wonderful bathroom! The bathroom itself had twin sinks, a smart toilet and a shower big enough to fit four people plus a gigantic tub. I felt so pampered and had a wonderful relaxing time here! The restaurant downstairs has wonderful food where they serve breakfast and dinner. They also offer a Tesla shuttle service, which will take you pretty much within the historical sections of Salem. Behind the Salem Waterfront are a collection of really awesome stores and seafood restaurants right within walking distance. I had such a wonderful time and experience here and I will be making a second trip later on for the fall! Thank you so much waterfront for doing an amazing job and making my stay worth it!

    Stayed here while on vacation after looking at many other hotels. This place was perfect! Plus the…read moreindoor pool was perfect in the winter which my son enjoyed. Loved the decor. Great location!

    The Hotel Salem

    The Hotel Salem

    (161 reviews)

    $$$

    My first stay at The Hotel Salem was a mixed bag. Three and half stars, if that were possible…read more Somethings that detracted from my experience were beyond the control of the hotel (e.g., loud, belligerent drunks on the street waking us up), but some could be amended in the future. The central location makes it easy to walk to restaurants, shops, and musems. That central location in mind, parking is going to cost you as it isn't available on the hotel property. You're going to have to carry your luggage from wherever you find parking, which wasn't a problem for a short stay. We ponied up for a king suite and a private bathroom. That bathroom, however, has a floating barn door so you better be really comfortable with your travel companion because you're going to hear everything. Speaking of hearing everything, the walls are kinda thin (despite the being in a corner room). The bed was comfortable but some of the furniture in our room was looking pretty worn, particularly the wood on the side tables. It was nice to have a fridge, but the lack of a coffee maker in the room is a bit perplexing. My husband and I found the TV system annoying. There wasn't traditional cable and multiple possible past guests left their streaming services connected to the TV. The TV would pick up on anyone trying to connect via their iPhone in other rooms, interrupting whatever we were watching. We now have an inside joke about Vanessa's iPhone. Sorry about your connection issues, Vanessa. Over all, it was a comfortable, safe place to lay our heads. Staff were very friendly and helpful. I'm not sure if we'll be back.

    The bright, airy space with big windows looking out on to the pedestrian plaza makes the…read morebar-and-restaurant area an easy option to select on a recent stroll through the area. The seating definitely has a hotel-lobby vibe to it (unsurprisingly, since it is, in fact, a hotel lobby) but it is both comfortable and chic. That's not an easy combination! Our server forgot my kid's drink but quickly rectified the situation when asked. We ordered pizza, and it was fresh, hot and delicious! The beer on tap was also very good. We'd be back!

    The Merchant - hotels - Updated May 2026

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