I am aghast at any bad reviews or negative ratings of the Stepping Stone Inn. I really am.
My husband and I stayed for several nights in late October for our honeymoon. When I called to inquire in the summer, John was friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, he was full for two nights of our stay, but recommended a great place in the neighboring town of Swampscott. He told us where they were and how to get ahold of them, which made planning our stay so much easier!
When we arrived, John was helpful and nice. He answered all of our questions, showed us to our room, and recommended several great places to eat, great attractions, and gave fantastic directions to anywhere we asked about.
Our room was lovely. Yes, the rooms are small, but ALL rooms in inns/bed and breakfasts are small. Who cares about the size of your room? All we needed was a place to sleep! The bed was large and comfortable, and the entire inn is flawlessly clean. We were always stocked with towels, soap and toilet paper. The shower in our room was perfectly fine, with good pressure and temperature - if my 6 foot 4 husband can take a fairly comfortable shower here, anyone can. You can smell the fresh laundry every time you open your door.
The breakfast he provides is tasty and filling. The people who complain about it - I just don't know what kind of seven-course gourmet breakfast you're expecting. John serves coffee, tea, and juice.. you have your choice of cereal, tasty bread (sliced no thinner than any other bakery), hard boiled eggs, cheese, and fresh fruit. Dennis and I ate free every morning and were never hungry until normal lunch time. The serving time is generous - 8:30 to 10am. If you can't wake up to get to breakfast by 10am, don't blame the inn! Set your alarm! Picky reviewers should remember that John runs this place on his own - you can smell him cooking your FREE breakfast during the evening, and watch him run around to clean your room in the mornings! His hard work was definitely appreciated by us.
Stepping Stone could not be in a more perfect place. We walked everywhere, and were never more than a few minutes from "home" which was perfect if we needed umbrellas, bathroom breaks, or to grab a jacket. John provides free passes to the Salem Witch Museum, located right next door, which was a happy surprise to us. He has an extensive knowledge of the city and gives great directions or suggestions for food or fun.
I know I probably sound unreasonably defensive, but honestly, our choice to stay here was what made our honeymoon in Salem as amazing as it was. We already plan to come back for our anniversary, and maybe every anniversary, and we will never stay anywhere else. Fantastic location, clean rooms, good breakfast, and a helpful, friendly innkeeper are hard to find in one place. For Salem, that place is Stepping Stone.
We had an absolute blast. Thank you, John!
-Chelsea and Dennis

My husband and I stayed at the Stepping Stone Inn on the weekend of my birthday and we loved it! Perfect location, we walked everywhere. Every time we walked in the room we could smell the clean sheets. The owner was also extremely nice. Highly recommend it!

We spent four days at the Inn, John was great, wi fi was excellent, breakfast was simple but good.room was clean, warm and we slept like a rock, loved the bowl of candy john kept by front door, use of parking garage was a BIG plus, and location was out standing.

When I think of a bed and breakfast inn, I think of warmth and hospitality, and this inn doesn’t really have those qualities. It’s clean and located in an ideal spot for walking to everything in historic Salem, but those are the only real pros. The wireless signal was also very good, contrary to what another review said. Everything else – service, décor, breakfast, and use of facilities – is minimal. The inn is not inviting; lights in the sitting room are on timers, so you can’t read or hang out before/after certain hours, discouraging you from spending time in them. Breakfast offerings are scant (cereal, one type of fruit, and thinly sliced cake plus coffee/tea are your only options), served strictly from 8:30am to 10am (if you come down at 8:25, for example, coffee is NOT being served yet). If you’re traveling in the summer, rooms with central AC are very hot and uncomfortable (AC is not used unless you ask for it). The bedrooms are quite small (understandable, as it is an old house), but they are also very plain, and the pillows/bedding are hard and flat as wood. Essentially, you are expected to abide by the owner’s personal preferences and schedule, which does NOT make me feel like a guest. Overall, I suppose it was an okay experience; it was definitely the most affordable hotel in the area, though not the most bang for your buck. If I return to Salem, I would not stay here.