I'm hoping folks who've stayed there (and elsewhere in the area) can comment on whether the extremely high room rates seem merited. We'll be on the coast in early June and are looking for great places to stay-- but the rates (for king bed) of close to $700 seemed breathtakingly steep. Thanks for in-put.

Obviously, you could economize significantly if you book a room with a Queen bed, rather than King (even stay twice as long!) bedded room.

You're wise to be thinking about this now, as they will be booked solid in June. The inn and accomodations are among the finest we've ever seen, anywhere. Definitely worth that once in a great while splurge if you're in the mood. Dinner (also pricey) in the restaurant is definitely one of the most magnificent dining experiences imaginable.

That check-in is 3PM and check-out is 11AM, you almost need to stay two nights to really relax and enjoy your room and the place.

We stayed there some years ago, when the rates were quite a bit more reasonable. To their credit, as the word has gotten around, they have continued to further embellish the rooms (flat screen TV's, fancier bathtubs, gorgeous lighting, etc.).

You could always stay elsewhere and just have dinner at the White Barn Inn. Note that there are many gorgeous (and way less pricey) places to stay with ocean views, whereas the White Barn Inn is "secluded".

Despite the lofty prices and formal atmosphere, the entire experience is very relaxed and friendly. Wandering through the gardens in the moonlight to our amazing room after an incredible dinner was surely one of our most unforgettable experiences.

It's not one we'd repeat, but only because the breakfast is now continental rather than full, there's an additional 5.35% housekeeping charge, and they actually recommend a specific travel insurance company (along with notice that they stick to their cancellation policies) - and the rates have skyrocketed over the years.

Thanks enormously for your terrifically detailed response. Alas, we'd not sleep if we tried to do a queen bed (have tried the trick and always fail; we're not such great sleepers even at best....) Your last paragraph in particular really gives me pause: the "tone" of that kind of forwarning is so unpleasant. (I don't mean your tone, I mean the Inn's.) Do you know Capt Jefferds and Capt Lord well enough to recommend one over the other? Thanks again for such a thorough reply.

Love dining every few years at WBI. Have not stayed there, although it is gorgeous. We consider doing their New Years Eve party, but never have.

For that price in June, however, I think I would prefer to spend less and have an ocean view place. WBI is blocks from the ocean. Regardless of what you decide to do accomadationwise, do splurge and dine there.

Whenever we head to Maine, we drive as far north as we care to go, then work our way south. We've found that we enjoy it more when we have a day to drive, check in, enjoy a nice dinner, then a leisurely breakfast and explore the next day, enjoy another nice dinner, spend another night, then continue on. We'd much rather stay two nights in each destination and drive all about that unpack and repack and worry about check-in/check-out times.

My "quibbles" regarding the White Barn Inn are a personal thing. Given their extraordinary, and well deserved, reputation, I wouldn't necessarily fault them for any of that, it's just offputting - to me. I am just suspect of a place (probably with an exceptional business manager/accountant) with such blatant economical endeavors for themselves - AT THOSE RATES!!!

We stayed at a magnificent inn/B&B in Lenox. Rate included "full" breakfast. Small children, pets, and smoking were NOT allowed. We were greated upon arrival by a HUGE, very scary, slobbery, DOG belonging to the owners. As we headed out for dinner, they were parading their two (very sticky) toddlers in pajamas around and climbing all over everyone for all to admire. Breakfast turned out to be "continental". Single sized boxes of cereal. Dry donuts and muffins. No butter. Coffee served (half filled) in tiny china tea cups. Requests for refills ignored. You couldn't even help yourself because the pots were carried back into the kitchen. The very worst was the overwhelming aroma of eggs and bacon cooking in the kitchen. Not once did we see either the husband or wife (owners) without a cigarette.

There are fabulous places, with ocean views, to stay in Ogunquit and Kennebunkport. All are different. Best is to check options on their websites and then reviews on TripAdvisor to determine those most appealing to you.

"Maine, An Explorer's Guide" is a magnificent resource for visiting Maine. Incredibly thorough and comprehensive - more so than another other printed tour guide or the web.

I stated in your other post that we have stayed there, maybe 10 times. I consider the Queen rooms in the main house too small for the price, but the King rooms in May's Annex are worth the money, as they have huge jacuzzi bathrooms and a fireplace. Sometimes that $700 dollar price includes your dinner. Don't know about June. We always go in Oct. for fall foliage.

However, we like the Beach House better now, with the view of the ocean. Owned by the same person as WBI. Same Continental staff.

MBNancy: Since you know these places so well, I hope you can give me more information. When I spoke with someone at White Barn about which accommodations would be most quiet (very impt to us), she said Breakwater Inn (Riverside bujilding). How does that compare to the Beach House? King bed at White Barn is too costly for us, so we'll choose one of the others. Which would you suggest? Thanks much!

Ooh, that is pricey.

All I can say is that my 2-night stay (and dinner) at the Inn was one of the best stays I've had anywhere.

This past Oct. we had the opportunity to stay at the Breakwater Inn, because we decided to make the trip east a little late this year, and all the view rooms were reserved at the Beach House.

We loved our room at the Breakwater. It was updated and quiet, and we had an end room. The bathroom was tiny. It did however have a 2nd sink/mirror and frig. in the entryway, so one could blowdry hair if the bath was being used, etc.

We were on 2nd of three floors, and had a large deck off our room. Third floor does not have decks. View was very nice of boats in the water, trees and the ocean to the side.

The breakfast is continental buffet, so if full breakfast is important to you as another poster pointed out, the Breakwater may not work. They have a very good bar and restaurant in the main building, same Continental staff.

We took advantage of the Spa next door, very convenient.

Be sure and make reservations for dinner at the White Barn Inn in advance. We have dined there 15 times, and love it just as much each time.