Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay, an IHG Hotel

Perfect location - close to the port, restaurants. The Arts museum is just on another side of the street. Parking is convenient - there is an indoor 2-level parking (with the direct elevator to your floor) and a big parking next door. So if there is no place in indoor - you could go to the next door parking. Gates are operated by the room card. The indoor pool is nice , quite deep on one end (2 m) and rather shallow on another (1.4 m). There are saunas in the shower rooms at the Pool/Gym. The staff is very welcoming. Beds are comfortable (while the pillows are quite small and soft).

We loved the corner room with king bed and sofa. Great view from the 6th floor. The room was spacious, clean and had a refridgerator and coffee maker. The bed was comfortable. The bathroom was nice (lotion pump was empty though). Overall great accomodations. We were super close to the Cross arena for our show so we could just walk there. We also took advantage of the shuttle to a local breakfast spot (Becky's) with driver 'Halzy', who was wonderful giving recomendations, providing friendly, prompt service. He is an asset to the hotel staff. We would definitely stay again.

My traveling companion swims for exercise. She said the pool was very large and nicely appointed. This property appears to have been redecorated fairly recently, Furnishings were comfortable though not lavish, plastic finishes, not wood. The TV was huge. The room was large enough that a single king bed left empty space. The bay view was definitely worth the extra cost. The refurbished bathroom was cleverly designed with the vanity angled in a corner to give good clearance. Because parking is not included, you only pay for what you need which at $15 per night is reasonable enough. The garage under the building is tight but easy enough in a small car such as mine. The parking ramp next door looked more normal. In-and-out using the room key was easy enough once I figured out which side the magnetic strip should be on. The location is outstanding easy walking distance to the old houses of the West End, to the so-called Arts district with its restaurants and local shops, and to the Commercial and Free Street area of the Old Port. The arena is just down the block, if you were there for a sport or entertainment event. Unlike hotels facing Commercial Street, there is no traffic or truck noise. The lobby was pleasant. I did not tour the function rooms which appear quite extensive.

The breakfast was the most disappointing experience of our stay. We waited one and one-half hours for breakfast, there was one wait staff that had only been there for three days, she was doing her best, very polite, but she was overwhelmed. The food was so bad I couldn’t eat it, and it was of very poor quality. If you served toasted bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, English muffins, cereal and muffins and pastries, you wouldn’t need wait staff, you could have it Buffett style. Go to the Camden Inn for some ideas! Best breakfast I’ve had at a hotel!! I would choose to stay at another hotel because the breakfast was so bad. I mean really bad.

I've given reviews about this property many times. With one rare exception, I have always received amazing Customer Service,Quiet and Relaxing Stays and The Port of Call Food is amazing. I'm a Local who stays here a few times a year as a treat to my children. Won't stay anywhere else...EVER!