Coastal trip-Maine
 

Hello,

I know it's very late to post but I would like to take a trip to the ocean Oct 11-13 and am having a hard time given the dates (I think)

I have spent a long time looking at the Ogunquit-York-Kennebunkport areas and would like to stay as inexpensively as possible. I had thought the rates would be cheaper than "in season" but seems I have miscalculated.

I have even used Priceline.com and put several bids out and have been declined.

Any other less touristy areas I could look at?

Thanks for any help.

I think Columbus weekend is the problem, sort of a last hurrah for the area.

~Liz

Columbus Day is the "official" last day of summer in NE, plus it is leaf-peeping season.

Everyone goes for one last blast until ski season in December or to close their cottage for the winter or both.

The good news is that nothing is very far apart, so you can enjoy the coast from pretty much anywhere you can find lodging from Wiscasset to Portsmouth, NH.

I think the Saturday night check-in is probably the biggest problem. Log on late Friday night or very early Saturday morning to see if something has opened up. Meadowmere and The Mariner Resort are two showing openings for 3-night-stays, and might clear some rooms for Saturday arrival eventually. Also try the little Blue Horizon motel between Ogunquit and Kennebunkport if you really want "as inexpensive as possible" and don't mind being just a block off route one with just a room/ no pool or amenities. (very clean)

Fontenay Terrace in Kennebunkport has Sunday night rooms @ $99 and is a terrific place to stay. I'd call them and ask them to give you a ring if they happen to have a cancellation for Saturday.

If not, you'd probably have to drive up and stay out by Interstate 95 (Sanford? Biddeford? Saco Motel? Tallwood Motel?) for Saturday night and then switch-in on Sunday.

Try airb&b. A fodorite liked her Portland choice very much. I have only been to one in VT but would try one in Maine. Try looking further north or south. I think the Wells/Ogunquit area is a little too popular. I love the Wiscasset area but we camped when visiting there. You might find some good options in Brunswick. It's not on the coast but a good base. DH found a cheap rate last year at a little cottage colony in Bath on the river. Very clean but terrible location. Again, if you only need a place to sleep, it would be ok (but bathroom is very small).