I stayed at this cozy inn with my 80 year old Mom and 60-something Aunt. We also attended a delightful family wedding that took place on sight, both ceremony and reception.

I do not know that I will have need to stay in the Rochester area again, but I would stay here in a heartbeat if I did. The front desk staff, Paula M in particular, were so very nice and helpful. Paula even assisted me in the morning in bringing coffee and breakfast snacks from the continental buffet set up, back to the room, which was across the way and over a cute little bridge that crossed a babbling brook, and then up one flight of stairs. That kind of service is customer service at its best!

The room itself was very clean, and I need to use the word "cozy" again, because it just says it all. We had two double beds, and there was a long comfortable couch also. There was plenty of lighting around the room and the decor was cheerful. When we arrived on a very hot day, the room ac was running and set at a delightful 66 degrees. This was a great help because both my mother and aunt have breathing difficulties. After walking the stairs, which they were prepared for, it was very nice for them to walk into a well cooled and conditioned room. There was also a very nice ceiling fan running to spread the cool around. A full private bath was attached, again it was very clean and nicely appointed.

The wedding was held on the very pretty grounds outside and following the short ceremony, we had cocktails and delicious, well presented appetizers on a covered patio. This was lovely. The ballroom was quite nice also, overlooking the same patio, and the sit down plated meal was scrumptious. I told the chef that I even ate my vegetables, usually at banquets they are under or overcooked and inedible, these were perfect. There was some sort of sauce on the fish that was fantastic tasting. The only mishap occured during dinner, we were the last table served and then they turned the lights down. Well, I was seated with three elderly women (my aunts) and they have a hard enough time seeing their meal when the lights are high! So I must say they could've enjoyed their meal had they not been fighting to see what it was. I don't know if there was a room captain running the event, but if there was, it should be taken into consideration during events, no matter how anxious the kids are to start the party, that people should be given chance to eat properly first.

The wedding cake was delicious. We were not offered coffee, I do not know if it was available.

The continental breakfast was quite plentiful with fresh fruit, sweet breads and muffins, granola, coffee, teas and orange juice. The coffee was HOT, love that!

There are several comfortable sitting areas throughout the two buildings we were in on the property, with cookbooks and other books around on bookcases for your perusal, and another small patio in addition to the large one used during the wedding. I can see where people would make the Goveronor's Inn a destination for a peaceful, country getaway. I just may do that someday myself!

Midway through a four night stay, we thought we'd get the word out. If you're thinking of booking here, be sure to ask what room you'll be in. Their descriptor says there's an on-site tavern and music.... they don't tell you that if you're in one of the front rooms, you will be listening to it at full volume until closing (which, as was described to us, is when there is no longer a crowd.) So, Thursday night, even after the band stopped playing... the squealing woman with the crowd of guys shouting "OOOOHHHH!" every few minutes didn't stop until midnight. We asked to be moved as we were heading out for the day to avoid listening to all that again. When we got back last night, that was news to anyone at the desk. So, back to room 215 in the front, where...

Nothing had been touched in any way, no cleaning-bed making-replacing the used towels we needed. Had to go back down and ask for washcloths & hand towels. But it was quieter (since there was no one in the bar)....

Until seven this morning, when the alarm in the unoccupied room behind us turned on and there was no one there to turn it off. A call to the front desk got no response. It says there's an on-site innkeeper but they don't make any means of getting hold of them apparent. The woman who came in to set up breakfast said the innkeeper goes off duty about 1:00 am, so what's the point in their advertising of saying there's an "on-site" innkeeper. We listened to it for over 45 minutes, until she got a key and turned it off at 7:50. We assume we should consider ourselves fortunate that it didn't go off at 5:00 am or earlier (as 911 is your only option for assistance.)

We're leaving for the day, (state forest to get some quiet) wondering what we'll come back to. Will update.

We needed to stay one night in the Rochester area and picked this hotel after reading the positive reviews. I feel like we stayed at a totally different establishment than the other reviewers.

We were given a room in the original part of the Inn, in the front of the building at the top of the grand staircase. The room was quite big, had a hardwood floor, fireplace mantle, hammered iron hinges on all the doors and old fashioned door latches. While the Inn has some charming period details, if our room was indicative of the other older rooms, they're in need of a major overhaul. The room contained a hodge podge of furniture but no dresser to store clothing (good thing we were staying only one night) and a big tv in front of a window.

The glass in one of the windows was broken in several places, the wallpaper was outdated and dirty in spots, the painted trim was chipped, the floor needed refinishing or at least a bigger rug, the antique bathroom sink top was cracked as well as many of the floor tiles. Tab curtains were hung on cheap white utility rods (which really aren't meant to be seen), and the hem on the bathroom valance (which needed a wash) had fallen out. The lighting in the bathroom consisted of a single bulb antique fixture over the sink. Our bathroom window also provided a view of the kitchen's back door and the dumpster.

We called it a night at 10 p.m. only to be awakened by a group of rowdy dinner guests taking photos for 15 minutes at the base of the grand staircase. (The staircase is only a few feet front the front desk- where was management?) We were awakened at 5:45 a.m. by the sprinkler system hammering (like someone was pressure washing) tables and chairs set up on the front lawn (the front lawn is used for dinner/music on weekend nights). The "hammering" lasted for at least 45 minutes during which it was impossible to sleep.

At 8:30 we went down to breakfast which is set up in the foyer. Breakfast consisted of sliced fruit, banana muffins, granola, milk and oj but NO coffee or hot water. When we went looking for a staff member to help us out we discovered both the kitchen and office were dark. There wasn't a staff member to be found and the phones at the front desk were now ringing constantly. We grabbed some fruit and discovered that the fruit had been cut on a surface last used to cut onion! Yuck!! About 20 minutes later, a staff member appeared. When we asked about the coffee, he apologized and explained that the front desk person had not shown up for work. (Someone obviously set out the breakfast items - shouldn't they have made the coffee?) When we checked out a short while later, he did reduce our room bill by $40 to make amends for the breakfast snafu.

Overall, we were very unimpressed. If you do decide to stay there and you like your quiet time, make sure you ask for a back room in the main inn or a room in Rolland house.

We spent two nights at the Governor's Inn and found it to be a charming old New England Inn. The staff was extremely courteous, friendly and helpful. Even though our room was directly over the ballroom where a wedding was in progress our room was very quiet. We have family in the area and plan to stay at the Governor's Inn on our visits to the area. Anyone who wants a central location to visit both Portsmouth and the White Mountains on daytrips would find this an excellent location for both price and convenience.