PsiFighter37

Looking at taking the July 4th weekend up in Bar Harbor and doing some hiking in Acadia. Given there are minimum booking constraints (we will only be in town for 2 nights - so no Harborside Hotel), are there any particular spots that folks find appealing? It looks like the Bayview Inn is really nice, but I am loathe to book it given that I wouldn't earn any sort of rewards on it. The Hampton is also well-rated and is pretty new, but it seems like it is also on the pricier side.

I guess what it boils down to - is it worth it to spend a little premium on a nicer place or a spot with a great view? And would folks recommend staying right next to downtown Bar Harbor or a little outside of it?

ibor132

The Hampton Inn is brand new and very nice, but it's also very much a Hampton Inn. If you don't look out the window, it's totally indistinguishable from any other recently renovated Hampton Inn anywhere (though the views are lovely if you do). There is a pool and hot tub but both are the typical small Hampton Inn size. Everything was clean and well kept (though it had only been open a few months when we visited).
I'd stay there again if there was no price premium, or if I really wanted the points for some reason, but it's not a hotel I'd go out of my way to visit.

BTW, the Hampton is on an Island Explorer stop, so it's fairly easy to get into and out of downtown Bar Harbor (and transfer to the other Island Explorer buses) without driving yourself, finding parking, etc if that is a factor for you.

Location is totally down to personal preference and what you want to do. My personal preference is to stay close (walking distance) to downtown Bar Harbor so I can walk to/from town for meals/drinks/whatever. I figure I'm going to have to drive to most other things anyway (Acadia, etc) so I might as well be walking distance to town.

My personal favorite hotel in Bar Harbor is the Quality Inn on Kebo St. Obviously being a Quality Inn it's a fairly no frills property, but I've found it to be clean, comfortable and reasonably priced. I consider the location to be unbeatable - it's only five minutes walk from the heart of downtown Bar Harbor, and right on the junction of ME3 and ME233, perhaps ten minutes drive from the Eagle Lake Rd entrance to Acadia. Just avoid the (paid) breakfast they offer in the cafe across the street - it's unremarkable at best and they charge just as much as better restaurants in town.

Analise

On the long holiday weekend, Bar Harbor will be full of traffic. If you want a premium experience, the Asticou in Northeast Harbor (still on Mt Desert Island) is absolutely lovely. Kinder to your wallet is the Kimball Terrace Inn also in Northeast Harbor.

PsiFighter37

I get the sense that most spots in Bar Harbor are overpriced relative to the value offered at the hotel amenities, and that you're not going to find 5-star luxury hotels (e.g. Four Seasons) here...so I understand that a Hampton Inn is what it is, but ultimately what I'm looking for is a place to decompress after hiking in Acadia that has a great view and won't require me to drive too far to downtown. What I'm asking is - is the $300+/night that is offered for the Hampton worth the premium vs. some of the 2-star inns in the area that don't seem to have much in terms of amenities or views?

FWIW, I have zero interest being right in 'downtown' Bar Harbor - being a 10-15 minute walk away, or a 5-10 minute drive, is no sweat off my back.