This week, our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast received a great honor by the review website, TripAdvisor. We’re so honored to receive the 2013 Certificate of Excellence, and want to thank those of you who have shared your experiences at the Maine Stay Inn to help us achieve this award. We strive for excellence on a daily basis, so 
an honor such as this one means so much to each and every one of us at the Maine Stay. If only we could share those lovely notes you have left us in our guest book and your feedback on our comment cards! But in a time when people like to leave their experiences online, we still love to receive your handwritten comments. In fact, we learn so many important things from these cards – even when we find just a few words scrawled casually on the paper. Since we can’t be in every room every night (thank goodness, because that would be super awkward!), it’s important for us to learn things like where you’d like an extra hook or shelf. Or that we need to explain how to use the two-in-one black out shades on many of the windows so you don’t have to use the bathrobes. Or that you wanted bathrobes in the first place! Over the last few months, though, we’ve noticed that more and more people are concerned about the environment, leaving our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast a review about our recycling. Not to worry, though – the housekeepers and staff are all diligent about recycling as much as possible. And while we haven’t found an aesthetically pleasing way to show you that we’re eco-friendly, we really are hand sorting all of the waste left in guest rooms. So keep those comment cards coming, because we’d love an attractive way to provide recycling bins – we could use some suggestions! We’re so honored that our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast has been awarded a 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and we couldn’t have done it without you.
Posts Tagged ‘about our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast’
Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast Receives Review Award
May 24th, 2013 by mainestayinn
So How Can A Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast Lose a Toilet?
November 28th, 2012 by mainestayinn
Check out our shiny new toilet!
If someone told you that our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast lost a toilet, you wouldn’t believe them, right? Well, that was my reaction. Actually, to be completely honest, I figured that we somehow must have broken it. Given our track record, that’s a distinct possibility. You have heard about the head of lettuce we found in the toilet, right? Or about the time that Walter decided to fix one by taking it out of the floor and working on it in the front yard (but you know Judi put the kibosh on that pretty quickly!)? Or when a flushed stick of deodorant produced a geyser in one of the bathrooms? Yep, we really have great luck with toilets… But no, this one was actually lost. As in missing, vanished, or nowhere to be found. How is that possible, you ask? Here goes!
As many of you know, we are busy beavers working to complete a large re-design of Deluxe Fireplace Suite 12 in the main house, including the bathroom. So as the bathroom walls were painted and dry, and the tile grouted and sealed, it came time to hook up the toilet again. The plumber arrived, and a short while later, emerges and asks where the toilet is. Well, it was in the corner, right where we left it, of course! But, after poking our heads in, it was clear the toilet was not where it had been stored. So we searched high and low (which is quite a feat, given how many great hiding spots there are at the Maine Stay Inn), and the toilet was absolutely nowhere to be seen. So we finally we discovered that a workman thought he was being helpful and brought our toilet to the dump. A very sweet gesture, but not exactly what we needed when we were just hours away from visitors checking in. So he went back to find it, and the missing toilet had gone missing again! Fortunately he understood that you can’t really have a Kennebunkport bed and breakfast without a toilet, so he brought us a new one. In the meantime, if you find a bright white toilet somewhere strange in southern Maine, it’s probably ours – hope you get as good a laugh out of this one as we did!
Our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast’s New Look!
August 5th, 2012 by mainestayinn
We were pleased to welcome back photographer Christian Giannelli to our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfastto check out our newest renovations. It’s been like torture to wait and show all of our friends and visitors the changes we worked so hard on this spring and summer. But the wait has finally ended! So while we haven’t quite gotten the chance to update the pictures on our
Out with the old…
website, we’re proud to show you the fruits of our labor.
So here’s the story: This spring, as we walked in the front door, my mother and I commented on the fact that, despite renovating every guest room, the kitchen, dining room, and hallways over the last four years, the very first impression (the living room) has maintained much of its previous character. It needed to change. So we discussed it and decided that the best time for a big-time overhaul like this one would be after Christmas Preludein December. Well, as you know, once we get an idea in our heads, we’re just not very good at waiting! So as soon as we finished serving breakfast, the ladders came out and the wallpaper came down. Poor Walter just didn’t know what hit him. We had to scrape his jaw off the floor when he saw the bare walls and said
And in with the new!
“But…but I thought you said after Christmas!” He got over it pretty quickly, though, as he welcomed our color change, but he certainly was skeptical that we could pull off a change with so little preparation. It took some creative thinking when it came to furniture, but we carried off the swap in stages. That said, it has been fully complete for a while now. Recent visitors to our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast have really enjoyed our new look, and are really utilizing the new space to lounge and watch the Olympic Games. Overall, it seems like this is a great new look for the Maine Stay Inn, but you’ll just have to weigh in and let us know!
Summertime Improvements at a Maine Bed and Breakfast
July 18th, 2012 by mainestayinn
At your average Maine Bed and Breakfast, summertime doesn’t bring much in terms of changes – trimming bushes, touching up paint, or fixing those problems that just crop up now and then – but the Maine Stay Inn is no average B&B! We’re working on projects daily and, of course, keeping on top of those daily issues (think a rattling air conditioner or a loose toilet seat). This
We’ve been working on the gardens, and the day lillies are loving it!
summer we’ve debuted some great new lawn and porch furniture, with more to arrive shortly – absolutely fantastic for soaking up some sun in our wonderful backyard. The gardens have seen some major overhauls and expansions, with a host of new plants that should bring some great color and texture to the landscape. And as we speak, we’re in the middle of two sizable projects in the yard – creating a peaceful retreat in the side yard between cottage suites 5 and 6 and removing the old foundation and “sunken garden” from the backyard. Trying to save the existing perennials while leveling the area is proving to be a fun adventure!
Inside our Maine Bed and Breakfast, too, the changes keep coming! The living room renovation is finally complete, and we’ve even brought in a flat panel TV so that we have a good spot for casual Olympics watching. Can you believe the Opening Ceremonies are just days away?! Even the kitchen has seen some big changes, with new cabinets, a fresh color scheme, and a brand new ceiling! Of course, we couldn’t stop there, could we? Of course not! So with tech-friendly changes in mind, we’ve added iPad docking stations to more rooms and even brought a bigger flat screen to Captain Walker’s Suite 16. So now you can flip on your favorite station in the morning and brew yourself a cup ‘o joe, because we’ve even brought in your very own Keurig coffee brewer.
But as you know, we’re not a Maine bed and breakfast known for sitting on our laurels, so stay tuned for more changes inside and out as the summer progresses. Stay cool!
Finding the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages
July 5th, 2012 by mainestayinn
It turns out that finding the Maine Stay Inn is a pretty easy task, but things like smart phones, navigation systems, MapQuest, and GPS have made it even easier! Visiting us from the south is very straightforward, with I-95 cutting a path not far from Kennebunkport. The best route into town is actually to take exit 19 and hop off in Wells. No, I’m not crazy! It actually is easier and faster to not get off on the exit labelled Kennebunk/Kennebunkport (that would just be too easy, right?). So once you’re off the highway, follow the signs to Route 1 (these ones actually are correct), where you will want to go north. After a few miles laced with
Finding the Maine Stay Inn is a breeze!
ice cream shops and restaurants (hungry, anyone?), Route 9 East bears off to the right. Here you’ll want to take note of the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, the Wells Reserve, and Riverhurst Farm – all must see spots for your trip to the Maine Stay Inn and Kennebunkport. After a few more scenic miles, Route 9 takes you right through the heart of Kennebunkport and appears to come to a halt at a stop sign directly in front of the Nott House, home to the Kennebunkport Historical Society. Turn right and travel just 8 houses further, where you will find us on your left.
For guests visiting from the north, the Biddeford exit will give you the most direct path, where you will again look for Route 1. This time, though, you’ll want to head south. After a rather unexciting drive, you’ll come to a stoplight surrounded by antique stores on the corners of Log Cabin Road. A left turn puts you on a direct trajectory toward the Maine Stay Inn. 6.2 miles further and you’ll find yourself home sweet home!
But many of you will choose to let TomTom or Siri guide you, but to make them happy, you can plug in our GPS coordinates for the most accurate results. So while roads may change and routes may be constantly “recalculating”, you’ll always find the Maine Stay Inn at 43°21′35.7582″N 70°28′22.965″W – see you in Kennebunkport!
The Front Porch of Kennebunkport is Now Open!
May 22nd, 2012 by mainestayinn
Considered by many to be the “front porch” of Kennebunkport, the Maine Stay Inn‘s grand wraparound has been a feature of town for well over 150 years. And for at least the past several decades, visitors have enjoyed breakfast outside during the warmer
Be sure to check out or new porch dining sets!
months. Each year around this time, we hang the spherical planters of coral impatiens. They start the size of basketballs and with tender, loving care from innkeepers and staff (okay, mostly Walter), they nearly fill the entire space between the support columns. They’re finally up and don’t provide an ounce of shade, but the bright flowers give off such cheer that their dinky-ness isn’t quite so noticeable!
At the end of last year, we decided to retire the porch furniture, in favor of sturdier and infinitely more comfortable dining sets. And although the dining tables are just slightly larger, they now can comfortably seat a group of three. They arrived a short while later, but until the weather warmed, they stayed right in their boxes. Finally the time has come! We unboxed the order in April, but had to wait for warm enough mornings to ensure that no one would be chilled. So we waited. And waited. And waited.
And this week the morning temps were finally warm enough, so we cleaned and prepped, making sure that visitors to our Kennebunkport Hotel would enjoy a clean and comfortable dining experience. So it’s official - the Maine Stay Inn porch is finally open for breakfast!
Kennebunkport Luxury Hotels Don’t Have to be Stuffy
May 17th, 2012 by mainestayinn
For many people, Kennebunkport luxury hotels conjure up the image of a stuffy and pretentious environment, but that is definitely not the case at the Maine Stay Inn. A “look but don’t touch” kind of place is really no fun and certainly doesn’t promote relaxation or enjoyment, which is what we’re all looking for when on vacation or even a quick weekend getaway. I mean, I certainly
Relax and lean back - our lawn loungers will help you soak up the sunshine!
remember going into high end shops, galleries, and the like as a child and was warned to keep my hands to myself, which just filled me with anxiety. And that feeling comes right back the instant I set foot in a “fancy” and oh-so-stiff setting. But since our entire purpose is to ensure that visitors to Kennebunkport and the Maine Stay Inn enjoy their experience to the fullest and depart feeling renewed and refreshed, every change is made with your comfort in mind.
Upgrades and renovations over the last four years, in guest rooms and all across the property, have planted the Maine Stay firmly in the Kennebunkport Luxury Hotels category, with things like fine linens, gourmet cuisine, and lavish bathrooms. But because we believe that sophisticated does not have to mean stuffy, every change has been aimed to help you relax just a bit more. We’ve swapped out perfectly good mattresses for something thicker, larger, and more plush (though that doesn’t mean squishy – we’ve got your backs in mind too!). We added bathrobes, then changed them to ones you’ll slide into one with a sigh. Yes, we want you to sprawl out and unwind, whether that’s in your room, in the lounge or dining room, or even in our expansive backyard. So lay back in our zero-gravity loungers, soak up the sunshine, and listen to the birds chirping, because at the Maine Stay you can. But if there is something we can do to make your Maine vacation even better, let us know, because your comfort is our top priority!
Kennebunkport Hotels Prepare for Summer Season
May 15th, 2012 by mainestayinn
Kennebunkport hotels like the Maine Stay Innare preparing for the summertime, and all around town you’ll see signs of people hard at work. Even the town of Kennebunkport is making preparations. While it was a bit of a hassle for a few days, they’ve repaved all of the streets from the Maine Stay to the Dock Square bridge! Great gardens are springing up all over the community,
A bold blue replaces toile wallpaper in this dramatic renovation
gracing private homes, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and even schools. But the most prolific of all have to be the fields and gardens at Patten’s Berry Farm, although it will likely be another few months before we get to enjoy their crops.
At the Maine Stay, though, we are just getting to our gardens (unlike some other small Kennebunkport hotels), because we have been busy finishing up the renovations throughout the property. The classic cottage suites got new bathrooms, and iPad docks have cropped up all across the inn. Our impossibly tiny kitchen has even gotten a facelift. Romantic Cottage Suite #1 has been experiencing a transformation, with new furniture, bold paint colors, and soft, white linens and draperies. And while our largest and most time consuming project happened in Romantic Cottage Suite 5, it was not, in fact, our most noticeable change. Yes, this suite bears no resemblance to its former self – the two beds are gone, as is the kitchen. But you’ll have to wait for pictures of our most striking update – partially because we don’t yet have great photos (see you soon, Christian Giannelli!) and partially because we’re not quite finished yet! Some of the new furniture arrives arrives tomorrow, but some is still a little ways out. It was a sudden decision to change our small Kennebunkport hotels entire entry, but it has been unquestionably correct, bringing a light and airy feeling to the inn. We can’t wait to show you!
Maine Bed and Breakfast Gets a Facelift
April 14th, 2012 by mainestayinn
It’s not too often that you walk into a Maine Bed and Breakfast and see a “please excuse our appearance – we’re under construction (to improve your experience, of course!)” sign in the entryway, but at the Maine Stay, there have been a few times in the past few
Bye-bye old living room!
years. Frankly, with all of the massive changes and improvements, that experience could certainly have happened much more often. Fortunately, most of our changes have gone according to plan, and unlike typical home renovations, our timeframes haven’t gotten too stretched out. But then we decide to do something crazy – like totally overhaul the living room at the spur of the moment. As in right now. Yes, I said it. And this living room is going to change, so say bye-bye cranberry red and forest green entry, because the wallpaper is comin’ down (actually it came down on Friday morning, hence the “under construction” note our current visitors are really taking in stride). Starting right after breakfast on Monday morning, it’s going to be replaced with a soothing blue. Now, I am not going to leak too many details of our new design plan for several reasons: 1) not everything has arrived, so some of the details aren’t quite ironed out (hey, I have always been one for honesty!), 2) photographer Christian Giannelli will return to our Maine Bed and Breakfast later this spring and do it far more justice than I can with my dinky iPhone camera, and 3) we want you to come enjoy it yourself! But the main goal of this latest project (which should be mostly completed and totally functional by the end of this week) is to lighten things up and make the living room a bit more relaxed. So stay tuned, because our new living room is sure to become one of your new favorite rooms at the Maine Stay – we can’t wait to share the updates!
Maine Bed and Breakfast’s Good Samaritan
March 24th, 2012 by mainestayinn
A few weeks ago one of the newest members of our Maine Bed and Breakfast staff arrived late to cook breakfast. Oh boy, we all thought. What’s going on with her? Is she going to show up? Breakfast is, after all, kind of a big deal at the Maine Stay. A multi-
course gourmet breakfast doesn’t just cook itself, let alone serve itself to hungry visitors. But before we could get too worried, Ashley hurried in, explaining that she had just witnessed a car accident and got out to help the driver. Now who could find fault with that? Not us! Throughout the day, Ashley seemed a bit distracted, but given our early start, her jam-packed college course load, and two young (and very active) boys at home, we chalked it up to “life.”
We know Ashley to be a great mom, diligent student, and team player in this Maine Bed and Breakfast, but we hadn’t quite yet realized what bravery she possessed and strength in a traumatic situation. But a reporter at the Portland Press Herald helped bring it to our attention and we couldn’t be more proud! For the full story and pictures of the emotional reunion between Ashley and the accident victim, click here. Nevertheless, we’re so pleased that Ashley acted on her instincts and reached out to a person in need. Others would surely (and a fair many did) drive right past the scene, hurrying toward their jobs, but instead of worrying about serving up breakfast at a Maine Bed and Breakfast, Ashley reached out and touched another person. This story has brought all of us such joy, so we wanted to share this great tale with you.
