I booked a two bedroom cottage at the Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor for a quiet getaway with my partner and my brother and his fiance. The cottage was nestled in the woods, quiet, and serene. There were grounds which covered several cottages, the hotel, and the dock/harborside bar. We ate at the restaurant which was lovely and enjoyed cocktails at the dock for the sunset. There was also live jazz on Saturday evening at the Rouse House, croquet on the lawn, afternoon tea with freshly baked cookies, and the convenience of high speed wireless internet. Southwest Harbor was also a lovely little town and not too far from Thurston's Lobster Pound, views of the rocky shoreline, and getting over to the other side to bike or hike on the carriage roads. We were able to get everywhere we wished without much hassle at all and it was a relief to go back to the serene atmosphere of the Claremont at the end of the day. The staff was friendly and helpful and willing to make dinner reservations and recommendations, and accommodate special requests. I would highly recommend a stay here, especially for a special occasion. When I come back to Acadia, this is where I would stay.

we loved our stay at the claremont hotel!
the staff was so helpful, the ambiance relaxing and elegant in an old-world kind of way.
we so enjoyed not having a computer, tv and radio!! the food was excellent, and my husband is Italian and certainly picky about his food---he gave the claremont a big thumbs up!
and besides all that, this part of maine is just gorgeous!

Our stay at the Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor was nearly perfect. We knew going in that this is an old-style hotel and not a modern chain. That's why we picked it. I don't know if you could find a more perfect location. We spent our afternoons sitting on the back porch in rockers or on the lawn in adirondack chairs sipping wine and watching the boats in the sound. The same view awaits all guests for breakfast. It's stunning. We were also treated to a croquet tournament while we were there, so we watched the matches as we ate. (The Claremount's croquet courts and equipment are open to guests. They also have a private dock and rowboats for guest use.)

The rooms were small and simple, but very comfortable. We had a beautiful sleigh bed with exceedingly comfortable linens. Our windows caught the cool breezes at night. On cool nights and days, the staff keeps a fire burning in the lobby. The fireplace is flanked by comfortable reading chairs.

The staff at the Claremont is wonderful. The level of service is quite high and they go out of their way to ensure guests' comfort.

My only complaint/concern about the Claremont is the level of maintenance. The grounds are BEAUTIFULLY maintained, but our room and a few other spots inside the hotel could use some work. There were obvious signs of water damage in our room (patches, open holes in the bathroom ceiling, staining on the ceiling) and while we were there, there was one active leak. We reported this to the staff and hope that it's a case of needing to wait until the off season to undertake major repairs. Other small items, like a broken spindle on the stair rail, caught our attention, too. Even with these issues, I'd stay at the Claremont again in a heartbeat.

We simply love the Claremont and have been coming here for years. There just aren't many hotels left like it. The working elevator is 19th century! There isn't a more gorgeous view from any hotel in New England and the relaxed, personal and historic feel of the place just can't be matched. To our amazement, the food -- which for many years was only okay -- is suddenly a highlight -- the new chef is terrific and the view from the dining room is as beautiful as Maine gets. This is a special place.

The accomodations are simple but mostly charming and vary greatly -- it is worth asking lots of questions when you book .