I stayed at The Inn at St. John in Portland, Maine. The inn felt historic yet updated.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I recently stayed at The Inn at St. John, a historic hotel in Portland, Maine.
The hotel was cozy, comfortable, and rich with history.
We stayed at the inn during one of the busiest Portland weekends, making the cost higher.
I pulled my suitcase through the elegant front doors of The Inn at St. John, weary from hours of travel from Connecticut to Portland, Maine.
It was one of the busiest — and most expensive — August weekends in Portland, and I felt relief as I dropped my bags at one of the city's most historic hotels.
Described on the hotel's website as a charming Victorian-era inn, The Inn at St. John was established by railroad tycoon John Deering in 1897, toward the end of the Gilded Age.
It was originally built to accommodate travelers passing through a railway station that used to be located across the street. Now, the hotel claims the title of being the oldest continually operating hotel in Portland.
However, the inn's rich history is only one of the reasons I would return to this cozy hotel.
Here's what it was like to stay at The Inn at St. John in Portland, Maine.
I arrived at The Inn at St. John on a warm Saturday afternoon in early August.
I stayed at The Inn at St. John in Portland, Maine. The inn felt historic yet updated.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The inn's exterior was covered in stone, and bright-red awnings and patio tables made it elegant and inviting.
I booked the hotel about a month before the night I would be staying, which was during the first weekend in August.
This is known for being one of the busiest weekends to visit Maine thanks to the local blueberry festivals during the height of the summer tourism season. Therefore, I expected to pay a little bit more to stay here.
There was plenty of on-site parking available when we arrived.
The inn had a larger parking lot for guests to park their cars.
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The parking lot was around the corner from the main check-in entrance, but there was also a second entrance that made it easy to get in and out of the building to our car.
Parking was free, though the lot filled up on a busy weekend, we noticed. After checking in, we drove to lunch and returned later that night to find a full parking lot.
We were able to park in the overflow lot at a nearby shopping center, but that felt less secure than parking right next to the inn. Business Insider reached out to The Inn at St. John for comment about the busy parking lot but did not receive a response.
While the inn itself was quaint and cozy, the surrounding area had a slightly less inviting feel. It is close to a busy street with fast-food chains and is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Portland.
The inn's design style felt cozy with nods to the hotel's Victorian roots.
A custom welcome mat was placed at the entrance to The Inn at St. John.
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The front door had a stained-glass design that complemented some of the decor inside, like a Tiffany-style lamp on a table in the lobby.
We checked in without any issues.
The lobby had a computer area with a printer for guests to use.
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Despite checking in about two hours early, we had no issues getting the keys to our room, which was located on the first floor.
Unlike more modern hotels I've stayed at, The Inn at St. John gives out traditional keys to each room. This little touch made our stay feel much more quaint.
The lobby had red walls and printed carpeting throughout.
The hotel had bright red walls and ornate decor pieces throughout.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The interior design was definitely busier than other more modern hotels I've stayed in, but the color palette and antique furnishings went with the overall historic feel of the inn.
The inn offers a continental breakfast each morning.
The area for the continental breakfast was clean and spacious.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The breakfast includes items like bagels, pastries, yogurt, oatmeal, and cereal. There was also a convenient water dispenser that guests could use during their stay.
However, the breakfast station was so busy the morning we left that we decided to skip it and grab breakfast out, instead.
There was also a fully stocked coffee station with different brews.
There was a coffee station with four different kinds of coffee.
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The coffee station had four different brews: a breakfast blend, hazelnut créme, a local Maine brew called "Jamaican Me Crazy" with notes of caramel and brandy, and a decaf breakfast blend.
We found the coffee station really helpful as we were rushing out the door to see the sights of Portland.
The entrance to our room was brightly lit and featured a large exposed brick wall.
The entrance to our room had a brick wall.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
We were located on the first floor right next to the lobby, and we were concerned we'd hear noise throughout our stay. However, either the other guests were really quiet, or the walls were exceptionally well-insulated because we rarely heard a peep.
The room was spacious and offered a good balance between modern and historic.
The walls of the room were painted a light teal color.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Unlike the bright red walls of the lobby, the walls in our room were painted a much more serene and calming light-teal color. The room also had a king-size bed, a vanity with drawers, and a small dining table with two chairs.
For a standard room, we found it very spacious.
The only downside to the room was the cost. We assumed that since we booked on a very busy weekend in Portland, we would be paying a premium, and this turned out to be true.
We paid $439.00, plus tax, for the room, bringing the grand total to $478.51. However, rooms typically range from $85 to $125, depending on when you book and the season during which you plan your stay.
There was an antique-looking vanity with a mirror in the room.
There was a vanity table with drawers and a full-length mirror.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The drawers had white marble tops, which added to the elegant, historic feel of the room. There was also a landline phone and a small vase with flowers.
The moldings above the door to the bathroom also made the room feel more historic.
The door to the bathroom had molding around it.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Other details throughout the room added a quaint, old-fashioned feel, like the printed curtains covering the window overlooking the parking lot.
There was also a small coffee station with a microwave, a mini fridge, and comfortable robes.
The robes were very soft and luxurious.
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The room had everything to make us feel right at home.
The bathroom was a step down from the bedroom in terms of elegance.
The bathroom had brown carpeted stairs.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The same brown carpeting that was used in the bedroom was also used on the stairs that led down to the bathroom. This design choice just felt a little dated, as did the overall aesthetic of the bathroom.
But the bathroom was exceptionally clean.
The bathroom had a floral shower curtain and colorful decorative touches.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The blue floral shower curtain was bright and colorful, matching the fanned-out tissues and folded bow placed on top of the toilet paper.
It was a cheery presentation, but I felt it was slightly out of place compared to the vibe of the bedroom.
It was neither elevated and modern nor the historic, antique feel of the bedroom. It just felt random, considering the aesthetic of the inn.
There was an assortment of complimentary products for guests to use.
The sink had more of an antique feel.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
While they weren't necessarily the most high-end beauty brands, it was nice to have shampoo, conditioner, and other necessities to use during our stay.
The sink itself also had a more historic vibe, thanks to the marble top and wood, embossed base.
A large window let in a lot of natural light.
There was a large window in the bathroom.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The bathroom was a little tight for two people to get ready in at once, but the window made it feel a touch more spacious.
There were a few imperfections in the room that made us wonder if it was worth the high price.
There was a small crack in the floor of the bathroom.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
For a hotel that's over 120 years old, it was in remarkably good condition. However, things like this crack in the bathroom tiling stood out to us.
We were paying over $450 a night, which we felt was a little overpriced, even at the height of the summer tourist season.
The Inn at St. John did not respond to a request for comment.
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at The Inn at St. John, but would come back when it's less expensive.
There was a custom embroidered blanket on the bed.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The room was clean, cozy, and comfortable, and we slept exceptionally well. It also felt private and secure, and everyone who worked in the inn couldn't have been more friendly, professional, and welcoming.
The only downside was the price. However, if we could book further in advance or stay on a less busy weekend when prices are lower, we would definitely come back for another charming weekend in Portland.
