As Portland's popularity as a vacation destination has increased, so has its options for overnight visitors. Though several large hotels—geared toward high-tech, amenity-obsessed guests—have been built in the Old Port, they have in no way diminished the success of smaller, more intimate lodgings, of which there are plenty. Inns and B&Bs have taken up residence throughout the city, often giving new life to the grand mansions of Portland's 19th-century wealthy businessmen. A few chain hotels have also slipped in; most are near the interstate and the airport.
You can expect to pay from about $70 a night for a pleasant room (often with complimentary breakfast), up to more than $400 for the most luxurious of suites. In the height of the summer season, many places have minimum-stay requirements for weekends and holidays; make reservations well in advance and inquire about off-season specials.
John Blodgett Writer and Maine native