My husband and I would like to spend a long weekend in Portland, ME .. hopefully mid August .. with a side trip to Freeport .. We are looking for a hotel or B&B .. with a good location .. Am hoping to get dinner reservations at Fore Street .. not sure that will be possible .. but we would appreciate any and all input ..

The Harbor, The Regency, The Hilton Waterfront, even the Holiday Inn By the Bay....just hurry up! It's Maine, it's August and it's BUSY!

And there are two new hotels on fore street overlooking the harbor. one is called the portland. i'll have to call my mother to see what the other one is named.

For a different setting, you could check out Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth; right on the beach...its beautiful and near Portland Headlight (lighthouse). It would give you the best of the both worlds being on the beach yet just a few minutes (15-20?) from downtown Portland.

i am pretty sure timamidon meant to say that inn-by-the-sea in cape elizabeth is near two lights, the other light house in cape. it has a lobster shack with a great setting (crashing surf on steep ledges). inn by the sea is at cresent beach off rt 77, which takes you directly into portland. portland headlight, the most photographed lighthouse in the nation, is in fort willliams on shore road in cape eilizabeth, situated a mite closer to downtown portland than two lights (not that either is far away from portland).

sorry, for spelling your name wrong tinamidon!

We just came back from a four night trip to the Portland area. We stayed at the Black Point Inn in Scarborough. The location was to die for. The inn is an old rambling seaside hotel. It is slated to undergo a major reconstruction at the end of the year wherein all the cottages will be removed and the rooms in the main part of the inn will be redone. Right now the furniture is worn but the rooms are clean and the staff is pleasant and helpful. The view of the water is exceptional; the sunsets are beautiful. The inn is about thirty minutes from Portland. Within ten minutes is the clam shack at Two Lights. Baylees is about ten minutes in the other direction. LL Bean is an easy drive up the interstate. We also hit some of the outlet stores around LL. Bean. We ate at the following restaurants - The first night at the clam shack at Two Lights. The view is of the crashing water hitting the rocks. The lobster roll was okay (the lobster didn't have any sweetness to it); the clam chowder was good; the lobster chowder was very good; the fried shrimp was also good. The coleslaw was exceptional. I tried to figure out what was in it and decided it was apple juice. Someone told me it is crushed pineapple. After thinking about it, I think she is right. The second night we ate at Baylees. Oh my goodness. The lobster roll was very, very good. Cold lobster meat on a toasted roll with lemon. The onion rings were thick and juicy and I couldn't stop until I ate them all. My husband got the clam chowder and the deep fried scallops along with his own plate of onion rings. We ate it all. We then walked next door to the ice cream place and got cones. Needless to say, I couldn't sleep because I was so full I though I was going to die. The third night we ate at Harasseekets (sp) at Freeport. Again, you have a view of the water. We both got the lobster dinners with lobster chowder. The chowder had big chunks of lobster in it. It was delicious. We also got the blueberry pie for dessert. Again excellant. The fourth day we went into Portland. The Old Port area has lots of shops and boat rides around the bay or out to see seals and eagles. We did the duckie ride and then did a boat ride around the bay. The boat ride was really good with loads of information about the area. In between the duckie ride and the boat ride, we went to Loster Company to eat. Once again, we ate lobster rolls. Well, they were the best of any we ate. Huge chunks of lobster on toasted rolls with butter and lemon. That night we ate at the Black Point Inn. It was the best of the best. The clam chowder was so good that I would have licked the bowl if I had been home. The crab cakes had a nice kick to them. I got the lobster dinner and my husband got the fried lobster dinner. Both were very good. The wine list was extensive and the prices were reasonable. The next day we got lobster rolls at Amatos. Save your money; they were made with shredded lobster and tons of mayonnaise. And finally we got lobster rolls at the Portland airport. Again save your money. The lobster had no taste. It was like eating cardboard. All in all, it was a great short vacation and we still aren't sick of lobster.

Thank you so much ... We will definitely head to the Lobster Company .. after reading your post .. I want lobster for sure and some clam and lobster chowder ... ! Will contact the Black Point Inn today for info .. again .. thank you .. thank you ! !

This is from this weeks's travelzoo deals. I know NOTHING about this hotel, but it seems like a good deal for August in ME. Have fun and eat some lobster for me!

$99 -- Portland (ME) Hotel in Late Summer w/$30 in Extras
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=114249395
Source: Eastland Park Hotel

Hi,
I recommend the Pomegranate Inn in Portland. Tastefully decorated, great location & delicious breakfast.

Thank you .. I tried to get reservations at the Black Point Inn and the only rooms available were between $400 and $500 plus per night .. A bit pricey ... but this Pomegranate Inn looks wonderful and rates seem a less pricey .. but the inn looks so lovely ... Thank you .. any restaurant recommendations you would share ....

http://www.eastlandparkhotel.com/virtual-tour.htm

We stayed here in 2004. At the time I believe they were renovated the rooms....

The staff here were sooo helpful. I even felt to write them a letter saying as much.

Right in Portland, there are several inns/B & B's in beautiful old houses. They are within walking distance to the Old Port. The only name I can recall is the Danforth House, but I'm sure you could find the others on a website about Portland

Thank you .. the Danforth looks lovely on line ... any restaurant advice ?

We had a summer weekend at the Regency, which we chose because it is right downtown, walking distance to all those wonderful restaurants and to the harbor. Had a great time!