We arrived on a Friday and spent 5 nights in this story book setting! There were 12 of us who traveled to Maine to celebrate New Years . Darlene the inn keeper greeted us with an amazing Lasagna dinner, a comfy Warm bed, and everything we needed to enjoy our stay . We had delicious breakfasts each morning, and several dinners that hit the spot. Darlene and her partner Jena were lovely to talk to, and We really enjoyed their company, they shared many stories about the Inn, area, and Maine in general.The hot tub was a welcome amenity after a big snowstorm and a day of skiing. We spent time seeing the 5 week old puppies, and all the other farm animals. Darlene gave us the run of the kitchen to make our New Years Eve Dinner and we left hoping to return back soon. We had fun nights playing games , sitting by the fire and relaxing in this charming Inn!…
We arrived on the 19th of January. It was late in the afternoon and the biggest now storm of the season was arriving the same time. We were greeted by Jaylyn, the Inn keeper. She wasn't very welcoming. Not what we expected after driving 3 hours to get there! We sensed we were putting her out. Once we were shown the layout of the Inn and returned to HER RECLINER in the living room with the woodstove. After settling in we wanted to prepare dinner. We were told before hand that the kitchen would be available to us. There was a total of thirteen of us. We rented the entire Inn from the 19th to the 21st. We were abruptly told by Jaylyn we would not be able to use the kitchen. She told us perhaps tomorrow. At this point it was snowing to beat the band and we needed to feed the kids. My family agreed we would venture out to find a place to eat. All the food we brought was placed out on the front porch to keep. We were told there was no room in the refrigerator. Everyone braved the snow to get something to eat. I decided to stay at the Inn. I rested for a while before I went downstairs to see if I could get a cup of hot tea. Jaylyn and her assistant was sitting down to a nice hot meal they prepared for themselves in the living room in front of the cozy fire. I asked if I could get a tea bag. Jaylyn in here unfriendly style pointed to a table. Told me to check the tin can. I found some tea bags that were obviously from a Chinese restaurant. Then I needed help figuring out how to heat the water in the electric dispenser. They seemed to really put Jaylyn out. I finally got me tea. Not sure what happen to the HOSPITALITY we were promised. When me family returned they found Jaylyn and her assistant all cozy in the warmest room in the house. They were watching a movie That had strong language, sex and nudity! You would have thought they would have enough sense to turn it off when my three grandson arrived back at the Inn. We had to tell them they needed to turn it off. We quickly discovered the downstairs bedrooms were freezing. My daughter asked for an extra blanket. She was asked why she wanted one!! We had to go outside to the truck to get her a blanket I always have in the truck. With no where to gather we decided to go to our rooms hoping things were going to get better in the morning...WRONG! We woke to a blanket of snow. We decided at this point we would make ourselves comfortable in the living room with the woodstove, even though Jaylyn was still in her recliner with the only tv in the house fixed on the weather station. She was conducting business on the phone with some other Inns she obviously was involved with. This made it difficult for us to play games of even carry on a conversation, Every time she got up out her chair she was sure to place her pocketbook on it so no one would take her spot. My son in law got a bowl to put some chips on. He was abruptly told he would have to wash the bowl when he was done with it.....good ole hospitality!!! We were growing concerned with the weather outside. Jaylyn went out to clear the stairs off. The guys were playing cribbage at the table when she announced that we would need to get our vehicles cleaned off and prepare for the plow truck to come. Now mind you, we were waiting for the Saints and Rams game to start. Five of us went out to assess the situation. There was a good 12-15 inches of snow. We asked Jaylyn if she had a snow blower, she did.. We spent the next two hours working to clear the cars and maneuver them in the parking lot to allow the plow driver to get in and out quickly. When asked, "what if we wanted to go out somewhere today?" We were told, "you wouldn't go out in this weather." At this point Jaylyn was back in her chair while we cleared 40% of the driveway. My son in law asked to put the football game on and she said she had to watch the weather report. All this while she was making calls on her cellphone and working on her laptop. It wasn't until halftime that we were allowed to use the TV to watch the game. The plow truck didn't show up to the Inn until 8:30 that evening!!! I wonder what would have happened if we had a emergency or worse a fire. Our stay at the Inn was a nightmare, I would urge anyone looking at this in for a romantic weekend should consider putting up a tent in the woods. Darlene is going to respond that she was on vacation when we came for a stay. She'll blame Jaylyn for all that occurred. But I can assure you she OWNS THIS! Take ownership and admit you did not deliver any of what you promise on your web page. We asked for half of out cost back. We paid $2,000.00 to freeze and clear the yard of snow. You would think Darlene would DO THE RIGHT THING and meet us half way! NOPE! She invited us up for another stay. No thanks, I'm not going back to a place I had a horrible experience at. I hope you enjoyed your vacation. Regardless of Darlene's response do not by it. Stay clear of this Inn. Stay tuned for a few more reviews from some other members of my family. I couldn't have possibly remembered everything the happened. Beware, John Waters…
An amazingly beautiful inn!! It felt like we were right at home which is our goal anytime traveling for work! The Inn owner (Darlene) was an awesome host and terrific cook. From before the time we arrived, Darlene was flexible and understanding. In the morning we had to leave early for work, and she always had fruit, yogurt and bread out as well as coffee available 24/7. We did get to enjoy breakfast one morning which consisted of home cooked eggs, sausage, banana bread and fruit, delicious breakfast! Upon returning from work each night were brownies, which were also delicious. It also boasts beautiful views of the mountains in the area. Visit this Inn, you won't want to leave, but you'll certainly go back!
We stayed here one night, and on arrival were greeted by the owner, Darlene. Our room was quite nice, with a bathroom with bath and shower. The towels were lovely and white. The sink is in the room. There is a tiny TV, but a larger one resides in the sitting room. Breakfast was home made baked goods, which was nice. The only tiny niggle I have is that Darlene was rather scathing. I had never heard of her breed of dog.....she was horrified, and exclaimed loudly at my ignorance. Not nice. Ditto Blueberry French Toast, when I asked what it was. I had to remind her that as Brits, there are some things we don't know. But again, i felt that was impolite to her guests, almost showing us up in front of the other guests. She would do well to remember that even though we are in her home, we are paying guests, and paying a lot too for one night, so basic courtesy is required in any hospitality situation, be it a B&B like this, or a major hotel chain. This can be a problem when staying in people's homes: We thought because it had 'Inn' in the name, it was a hotel. Staying in people's homes can bring about issues that you don't find in an impersonal hotel. But it's horses for courses: Some Folk would love her jocular manner. I didn't particularly!…
An amazingly beautiful inn!! It felt like we were in Old New England and yet right at home! The Inn owner/ ooperator (Darlene) was an awesome host and terrific cook. From before the time we arrived, Darlene was flexible and understanding. She had no problem with us arriving at our Leisure (we arrived at 1AM). In the morning, and each subsequent morning, we were warmly welcomed by Darlene who served us breakfast. Honestly, I could write an entire review just about the breakfast, which consisted of home cooked egg frittatas, french toast, peppered Bacon, banana bread, fruit, juice, and Coffee. Upon returning from skiing we found coffee and baileys, as well as brownies waiting for us. We enjoyed a late night dip in the outdoor hot tub, played pool, and sat around the warm wood stove (enjoying complimentary beer and treats left out for a late night snack). The farm has very friendly Labradors, two horses, and chickens. It also boasts beautiful views of the mountains in the area. Visit this Inn, you won't want to leave, but you'll certainly go back! Thank you again Darlene, Jon & Kelly…
We checked in to pumpkin pie and greetings from the owner. We were shown to our room and told that the water shortage rendered our claw foot tub useless as we were asked not to use it. Being as this was one of our main selling points, I was disheartened to hear this to say the least. The bed was very comfortable and had clean linens. There was an odd flying insect issue, there were at least a dozen lady bugs( which we left alone) and dozens of persistent flies in the room, we killed them and went out, when we came back more flies. It made it hard to rest with them buzzing around us. Then the television, the screen was 10-12 inches across. After a long day we like to hook up the laptop and stream Netflix, this was not an option. The unusable claw foot tub was badly in need of a new coat of enamel paint, the large chunks of paint missing made standing in it to shower unpleasant. Next, the shower was little more than a drizzle, I never felt clean after washing and the water temp was very uneven. The breakfast food that was provided was of good quality, but one needs to coordinate with the innkeeper and other guests to acquire a hot meal. Tea, coffee and cocoa are available at any time by the door via Keurig machine. There are also s'mores kits available free of charge along with access to the outdoor fire pit that they will gladly light for you, only feet from the outdoor jacuzzi. The animals on the grounds are all friendly and mostly available for interaction. However the scents from the cat box can be detected at the breakfast table and the scent of wet dog with a meal is unappetizing. Overall the selling point is the quaint farm setting, the quiet, clean bedding and rooms, and the low price point. That being said, we might come back for a night, but not a long stay. …
This historic home was decorated beautifully, with a large yard, horses to watch, a hot tub and fire pit, and wine and delicious pie waiting for us when we arrived. The breakfast was delicious as well. Loved talking to the innkeeper about the house and her travels, and her restaurant suggestions were perfect. This is a place to relax and get away from the world. Nearby Grafton Notch State Park was also a good experience, easy to see all the sights and waterfalls in an afternoon and take some short hikes.
From start to finish, we had a great time at the Perennial Inn -- with these disclaimers: we only stayed one night, and we never got to meet Darlene. We did communicate with her via phone, both during the reservation process and on the day of arrival, in addition to her extremely helpful email regarding beautiful routes to take through Western Maine on the way to the inn. She is so helpful. We found this place via researching places to stay in Maine and near Bethel, reviewed by popular Moon Maine author Hilary Nangle. So, we thought we would be arriving late (and we did) -- not a problem for Perennial -- we placed the call, and Darlene was cool as heck about it and suggested that we go to an excellent bistro by the nearby paper mill before we rolled in. Now THAT was a great idea, considering it was after dark, and it's virtually impossible to find anything in Maine once the sun sets -- few overhead street/highway lights, and people roll up the sidewalks at about 5pm (seriously, it's not just a stereotype). When we finally did arrive (way after sunset), Jenna was there to greet us, take us on a tour, give us a little history about the inn and get us situated. She greeted us with brownies and a bottle of red wine. She solved our most immediate concern: thermostat problem (bad battery) in our room (the Rose -- beautifully appointed room with a King bed on the second floor). We settled in, had some wine, did a bit of exploring (they have a really cool billiards room), hung out on the porch and eventually tucked in for the night. Darlene's not just good at being helpful and informative: she's also as spot-on chef. The breakfast we were served was amazing. On the menu were: from-scratch banana bread, fresh fruit, an amazing Egg Florentine Souffle, and thick slabs of crispy bacon (and let's not forget the fact that the inn-keepers leave little treats though-out the inn, in case you're getting peckish). They provide a mini-fridge on the first floor that contains waters, sodas, and, you guessed it, BEER! We were the only guests at the inn that one night, so, along with Jenna, we had the place to ourselves. Made for an excellent sleeping atmosphere -- nice and quiet. Although we had driven in on an overcast day (night), the following day proved to be glorious. Jenna said she was cool with us walking around the grounds and taking pics. And we took advantage.They have the cutest, friendliest ponies in their pen. According to Jenna, unfortunately, some of their livestock got taken by native predators, so we only saw Guinea Hens along with the ponies. Not a problem -- their grounds are still beautiful. All in all, this inn is a bit off the beaten path -- and according to some not-so positive reviews, not the best, but I'll have to disagree -- but we had a very nice stay here. I mean, c'mon, it's a Maine BnB -- you know you're going to get old and quaint. I frankly loved the fact that our room had an actual WC thing going on. (I will admit, though, that claw-foot tubs are a bit difficult to get in and out of -- but again -- that's the charm -- just watch your feet.) Double plus plus -- this inn is very close the the Sunday River Covered Bridge. Do go there if you can.…
The innkeeper emailed us that she would be away during our 5 night stay but said her assistant would take good care of us. When we arrived there were two notes on the unlocked, side entrance door; one addressed to us signed by her assistant; and the other for another guest couple from WI who arrived at the same time. Our note: gave directions to our room, mentioned available snacks in the common areas, said that breakfast would be at 8am, asked us to let her know if we needed anything but didn't say how to reach her. We found our room key in its door. We didn't meet the assistant until the next morning. After returning from dinner out that evening the inn was cold; there was no fire burning in the wood stove; no way to adjust the digital thermostat in our room (set at 60); and no extra blanket either. The place would've been deserted but for the two of us, the other couple downstairs, the dogs in the kennel and the horses in the barn. The next morning we met the assistant, a polite young woman. Unbeknownst to us, we would barely see thereafter but for breakfast. That evening there was a frost and again, no fire in the woodstove and nobody else in sight. We took it upon ourselves to pull a blanket from one of the empty guest rooms to get warm. The following morning at breakfast when we did see the assistant, we mentioned how cold it was inside the inn. She told us she tried to light a fire in the wood stove but there was no kindling and therefore she was unable to get one going. Small consolation to us. On the positive side, breakfast was plentiful, on time, and filling. Also, the inn is located close to the riding trails which is why we chose it over others in the first place. Late one afternoon a couple from Quebec knocked on our room door wondering where to find the proprietor in order to check in. They explained they had booked online the night before and received an emailed confirmation. They didn't know which room was theirs. We said, pick one. No one is here to check you in. On the 2nd to last day of our trip we returned to the inn from trail riding tired and dirty. I went straight to our room to take a shower only to find there was no water! I made my companion aware of it. We were the only two people on site. We made the best of this bad situation by getting in the hot tub. While there wondering who would fix this lack of water problem, an employee of the innkeeper, in a different capacity, happened to drive in on his way to New Hampshire. We asked him to call the innkeeper for us and he was able to reach her in Las Vegas. She instructed him on what to do. He told us that it would take a couple hours for the water to return to pressure. Another assistant came on scene afterward to apologize and offer us brownies. The next morning there was a fire in the woodstove. A little too little; a little too late as we were checking out that morning. Aside from these drawbacks there were others. The place is old and run down. Too few electrical sockets for many appliances. For example, in the hallway there was a mini fridge and atop it was a microwave and a hall lamp. The fridge was plugged in as was the hall lamp but there was no third socket to plug in the microwave. In order for me to warm up my coffee and quiche, I had to pull the fridge out from the wall (as it was blocking access to the outlet), unplug the lamp so that I could plug in the microwave. A power strip could solve this problem easily. In addition to this annoyance was another in our room. The top drawer of our dresser had a left handle but was missing the right. Also, the bottom of the 2nd drawer had a large gap between the wood. Period furniture may look nice but what good is it if it doesn't function properly? Our TV was tiny and clear across the room. The water pressure from the shower head in our room wasn't good to begin with. The outdoor side entrance to the inn has no lock and anyone can enter through it day or night. This didn't give us a secure feeling about staying there especially considering management is not on the premises 24/7. I expressed my disappointment to the innkeeper. She gave an apology for the lack of water along with excuses and an offer of a complimentary weekend stay in the future. Given the circumstances we chose to decline her offer.…
We just returned from a weekend at The Perennial Inn. We were very happy with our experience at this farmhouse inn. We were looking for a place that was quaint with character, in close proximity to Sunday River, and that was pet friendly. We found all of this at The Perennial Inn. Darlene was very hospitable, breakfast was delicious, and our room was very nice. It was definitely an added bonus that she is a dog lover and she was very kind to our yellow lab Charlie. As some reviewers noted, the inn is in need of some TLC, but in our opinion, this, along with the farm animals, just added to the character of the experience. We will definitely return again.
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