Inn By the Sea

We have stayed here multiple times and in all seasons.
NEVER had a bad experience. Rooms and suites are all excellent.
The staff in all departments are extremely helpful. Even went out to replace ice cream and milk which mistakenly taken when they replaced our fridge.
Sea Glass is a fabulous place to eat.

From the first time we stepped out of the car we knew it was going to be a fabulous day. The grounds are beautiful the rooms are beautiful and most importantly the dogs felt comfortable the entire time we were there.

We had an amazing stay at Inn by the Sea. The suites were absolutely perfect for our family — having our own bedroom plus a pullout bed for the kids made everything so comfortable and easy. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming from the moment we arrived.

The beach was beautiful and so much fun for the kids, and the heated pool was a huge hit. The food was honestly some of the best we had during our trip to Maine. Every meal was fantastic. Overall, it was the perfect mix of relaxing, family-friendly, and upscale. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Portland/Cape Elizabeth area.

Fantastic time - great food service and amenities. The location is without compare, we hiked relaxed and explored the city. We will be back.

I wanted to treat my daughter to a spa experience at an upscale hotel that also had a restaurant on the premises. Inn by The Sea checked all boxes and was a total pleasure for all the reasons we went. We had a suite facing the water and enjoyed breakfast outside on our balcony each morning. The on-site restaurant was excellent and the spa treatment pure pleasure. I give the inn an A+

Beautiful setting and place. Wonderful, friendly staff and service. My wife and I went for a brief rest and some good time together. It was perfect. The azaleas and the view of the ocean and the cool breeze were beautiful.

Beautiful resort, staff was very attentive, loft suite was so nice and very clean. Property was very well maintained! Location was just right, not too far from many parks and lighthouses as well as Portland and Kennebunkport.

Wonderful escape. So nice to have the dog with the family. Brunch and walks along the beach road. Delicious food from sea glass.

This our 3rd return to Inn by the Sea and it will not be our last. We stayed in a Cove Suite again and it felt like a home away from home. The privacy of an Airbnb with the service and amenities of a fine hotel. Beautiful views, happy guests and a perfect Maine vacation.

Sadly, our arrival and check-in experience were among the worst parts of our most recent stay.

We arrived shortly after 3pm and were told our room was not yet ready, and that no upgrades were available, even as a Titanium iPrefer member. The front desk associate seemed bothered by our presence and told us someone would call before 4pm when the room became available. No call ever came, so we returned to the desk around 4:15 and were then told the room was ready. If it had already been ready, it’s unclear why we were never contacted.

After entering our room, we discovered the bedroom AC was not functioning properly. Although the thermostat was set to 68 degrees, the room temperature remained around 75. This should have been identified before the room was assigned to guests. It ultimately took multiple calls and visits to the front desk, along with more than three hours of maintenance work, to resolve the issue. The entire bedroom AC unit eventually had to be replaced. We even had to leave the maintenance staff alone in the room while we went to dinner.

During our stay, housekeeping came only once, the day before our departure. We vacated our room well before noon every day, making sure the do not disturb sign was removed. We alerted the front desk who acknowledged the room should've been cleaned.

The overall condition of the room was also somewhat disappointing, with several signs of wear and deferred maintenance. The rear screen door appeared to need repair or replacement, multiple floor planks looked damaged, and the bathroom shower glass seemed partially detached from the ceiling mount. In addition, the hair dryer and bathroom ceiling vents had a noticeable buildup of dust and dirt and could benefit from more thorough cleaning.

Wonderful experience at this hotel. Can’t say enough about the room, the staff, the food and the spa. The grounds were spectacular as well

This was our third visit there. Atmosphere and water view room is wonderful. So is their restaurant. It was chilly and we really enjoyed the fireplace.

Taking advantage of a generous off-season promotion, we enjoyed a two bedroom suite for 3 nights that allowed family members to visit us while there. Walking on the beach was a joy, the heated pool was briefly enjoyed by my husband and grandkids despite the ocean wind and the suite was beautiful. I enjoyed a scenic ride on one of the inn's bikes. The staff was welcoming and attentive. The inn's location is convenient to Portland but offers the peace of marsh and coastal views.

This stay was okay. I don't think I would complain, but I also wouldn't go there again. I am glad we got to use the Habitat for Humanity promotion and only paid half price. I think if I had paid full price I would have been pretty upset. Not because it was bad, but because it was unremarkable. Even half price the cost was double what we would have paid for a two bedroom suite at the residence inn. I would say that the decor was much nicer than the residence inn, but there was only one bathroom in the two bedroom suite which was surprising and inconvenient. Usually when we get a two bedroom suite at the Residence Inn it has two bathrooms and still has a full kitchen and living room. The location was top notch. I don't think there could have been a better location. The staff were mediocre. There was one waitress that was absolutely phenomenal in the whole place. The amenities were okay. They have a very small steam shower in the Spa area, but they close it very early so the late night steam isn't going to happen. My husband and I booked a very expensive spa treatment. It was decent. I feel like it was pretty good value for the money, but there weren't a lot of details there that spoke to the type of Resort that they are trying to portray themselves as. For instance they have water and tea available in the spa, but in most of the nicer spas in Boston when you stay they bring you champagne before your treatment or after. Generally there's sparkling or bottled water available, but this Spa didn't have either of those things. It was very small and unremarkable. The gym was also small and not very useful. I much prefer the gyms at other hotels. I would say this Resort is more like a three-star hotel and the pricing should be half of what they charge at best. They certainly shouldn't be charging as much as they do considering the amenities. If you're going to pay $1,000 a night I think it's reasonable to expect certain amenities like a bottle of wine in my room or turn down service or laundry service. Overall this day was fine. I don't know that I have a lot of complaints other than the flashing smoke detector in our bedroom and the very noisy air conditioning unit. They do allow dogs, and it's highly encouraged so that's probably nice for some dog owners, but there were some fairly ill behaved dogs in the lounge area which was a bit of a turnoff when you hear whining, panting and barking while trying to enjoy a cocktail. So just small things that weren't very disruptive, but certainly weren't worth $1,000 a night. As far as atmosphere, the hotel is more like a mom and pop cabin feel. Certainly nicer bathrooms than a lot of places, but pretty on par with a Hyatt place, if a little dated

I'm a repeat customer. I first visited Inn by the Sea in September 2025 and loved it so much I was back again by March 2026. This property manages to feel both incredibly high-end and wonderfully welcoming.

The Location & Value
The location right on the coast is absolutely amazing. You get that perfect salt-air atmosphere without it feeling overly crowded. Given the prime coastal real estate and the level of service provided, I found the rooms to represent excellent value for money. It’s rare to find a place that feels this premium while still feeling like a smart investment for a vacation.

The Suites: Spotless & Scenic
I’ve stayed in two different room types, and the common thread was that both rooms were impeccably clean.

The Beach Suite (September): The views are breathtaking, but the soaking tub is the real winner here. It’s the ultimate way to end a day.

The Garden Suite (March): I loved this layout just as much. It felt private, cozy, and well maintained.

Dining: A Win for Allergy-Sufferers
The hotel restaurant is EXCELLENT. As someone who has to navigate food allergies, I was so impressed by how well the staff accommodated my needs. I felt completely safe and the quality of the food was top-tier. Even the room service was amazing.

Expert Event Management
I was initially worried that staying during a weekend with weddings or events might be a noise issue. However, the hotel does an AMAZING job at managing events for their other guests. Upon check-in, I was immediately alerted that my room was near an event space. They had a very reasonable noise curfew in place and, true to their word, the music stopped shortly before that curfew. It’s clear they respect the experience of every guest on the property.

Dog-Friendly & Community Vibes
The dog-friendly nature of the hotel is such a highlight. It creates a warm, relaxed environment that you just don't find at more "stuffy" resorts. During my stays, I talked with several other guests who return year-after-year, and after my two visits, I can see why.

Bottom Line: Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, this place delivers. Clean rooms, proactive management, and a stunning location. I can't wait to go back!

Pros: Cleanliness, allergy-aware dining, great value, dog-friendly.
Cons: None—a perfect stay twice over!

very satisfied with the value of this resort. room was big and clean. just steps away from the beach. staff was great and bonus points for the ev chargers!

Beautiful room and property! I was here for business but couldn’t wait to get back to the spacious room and beautiful views.

We lived the location - very private and surrounded by nature. We could hear the ocean wherever we were. The meals were outstanding. Great chef. We also loved the hospitality by everyone

It was so pretty, the view was amazing , the dining onsite was wonderful, the room was spacious and way better than I expected....way, way, waaaayyyyy better. I guess, since I travel with me dog, I've gotten used to sub-par spaces. The Inn by the Sea's room was perfect. I can't believe I got a room with carpeting! A room that didn't faintly smell like pee! And the bathroom was-WOW!!

The staff is the best of the best. In particular, Heidi and Catherine who called my children by their names and made them feel special.