Freeport, Maine, and Portland....
 

<BR>I chose the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine and the Portland Regency in Portland....<BR>we are traveling the coast.... <BR>are these good choices???<BR>thank you for advises....<BR>

Marta, the Harraseeket Inn is a very good choice. A friend of mind meets up with a dozen or so of her family and friends and stays there every year for a weekend.

Marta, don't expect to find any bargains at the outlet shops in Freeport. If you do buy anything of any value at LL Bean or any of the other stores, have them ship it to your home. LL Bean also has a large outlet store in the big parking lot behind the outlet stores. It might be less to pay the FEDEX fees than the sales tax, as Maine charges sales tax on clothes. <BR><BR>Make sure you stop at Ben & Jerry's for ice cream, but it's not cheap, but the ice cream is yummy especially in the waffle cones.<BR><BR>Oh, and the Portland Regency is the right choice. And, if you want the best bagel in Portland, go to On The Go on Middle Street, just at the top of the Old Town and next door to the police station. I'm very biased, but my brother owns On The Go. The shop also sells excellent soups, sandwiches and Green Mountain coffee.

The Harraseeket is worth every dollar you will pay for it. It is a great new england hotel and well located in Freeport; you'll rarely have to drive if you go anywhere! My father would take my brother and I there every fall when we were in high school and I always looked forward to it.<BR><BR>I do have to disagree with the poster who said there are no bargains in Freeport! There are tons of outlet stores to choose from; it's almost overwhelming. Of course, the deals aren't any better there than at any other outlet center, but they're better than at Macy's and Bloomingdale's! <BR><BR>Have fun...and don't forget that while there are some great restaurants in teh area, some of the best meals to be had in Maine are at lobster shacks.

Just chiming in to agree with everyone on the Harraseeket. It is a very nice inn, I think you'll be pleased.

I would not go to the Regency - I would check out the Eastland. It is up on the corner of Congress and High, and is across from the Portland Museum of Art. Within walking distance to downtown, and supposedly has just been redone. The Top of The East has also been redone - which is a good place to go get a drink and a great view of the city. Just a thought.

Thank you for your comments.... I am<BR>very happy with the choices..Leslie I will definetely go to On The Go....<BR>and wft. I saw the photos of the Regency<BR>and the Eastland, and the Regency rooms<BR>are nicer, and the decoration is prettier.<BR>thanks for every advise.

Marta, have a great time in Maine. Just to clarify what I meant about the outlet stores, you can find items on sale, but since most of the outlet stores are named-brand outlets you can usually find the same item on sale at a better price at Macy's or a similar store. Also, watch out for seconds and prior season items, as you will find a lot of those in the outlet stores too. An item is only a bargain if you think its a bargain.<BR><BR>Also when you get into Portland go up to the Eastern Promenade and you can sit by the ocean's edge, and if you go the opposite direction to the Western Promenade, you'll have beautiful views of the White Mountains. You might also wander around the different streets in the Western Promenade, there are some beautiful Victorian homes and brownstones. And have fun in the Old Port, there are a lot of unique boutique stores there and loads of restaurants. There's also an LL Bean outlet shop on Congress Street.