Hotels near Gallery at The Grand, Kennebunk

Although we did not actually stay here, I want to explain why to warn others about what can potentially happen. I booked our two rooms way back in April 2024 for this week in October. Exactly 7 days before our anticipated arrival, the hotel contacted me to offer me our two rooms at one of their sister properties because they are overbooked. I quickly researched their other two properties and they are both small older motels that I would never want to stay at. So, I declined being moved and asked how this could happen to someone that booked 6 months ago. After I knew she was just making excuses, I told her that my job is a motorcoach driver and I know how these sales with groups can push individuals out and that point, she did admit that “sales had booked two bus loads in and her at home online sales program apparently wasn’t connected with their in house program”. Knowing that we would not want to be put in a crowded hotel situation with two bus loads in that breakfast room every morning, I decided to find us two rooms elsewhere of which was difficult to do at a weeks notice in Ogunquit during Fall foliage season. However, it worked out for us and I am writing this only to advise others what can happen at this property. Because of this situation we were put in, I would NEVER book at this Holiday Inn Express property ever again.

The room is bigger than expected, cost-effective

Pros: Everyone who works there is polite and friendly. The second room they put us in was clean. Cons: A little too laid back, IMHO, when major inconveniences occur to the guests. My husband and I took a last-minute trip up to Ogunquit hoping to mix work with a romantic few days. We booked a queen suite with a jacuzzi. There was some odd, sticky substance on the painted rail of the jacuzzi. Not a big deal, but it looked like something someone might get charged for doing so we told the office. They did offer to clean it up. It was a beautiful room beyond that, so we weren't too bothered. We turned on the water -- and it was brown. We ran it for a long time and it lightened to a light brown, but bathing in it wasn't tempting so we filmed it and called the office again. They moved us to essentially the same room but with a king bed. This room was also nice. The problem? No hot water. They offered to move us again, but to a room without a jacuzzi in a building that did have hot water, but they said the water issue was being worked on and would hopefully be resolved quickly. Since we'd already moved once and were only staying two nights, we stayed in the second room. The hot water returned by our second night at the hotel so we were able to finally use the jacuzzi and shower. We did talk to the manager about our experience, but my husband and I didn't get angry or complain loudly because that would have ruined the vibe of our romantic getaway. This isn't a hotel I'd return to, however, since they don't step up when things go wrong to ensure guests are happy. We probably could have made a real stink and had some money taken off the bill, but when customer service is good you don't have to. A free dessert from the bar. Something small sent to the room. Or a discount for the inconvenience of not being able to use the jacuzzi or take anything but a cold shower. These things make a difference. My husband and I travel frequently and realize that things go wrong that are often out of the control of the hotel staff. When that does happen, it's a chance to show guests they're valued. OR show them that they aren't. We didn't come across anyone who was rude and luckily there were empty rooms we could move into when we had brown water. However, if there hadn't been empty rooms, I doubt the hotel would have done much for us. Maybe that's why there are empty rooms.

To be honest, the environment of the hotel is really quite good. The sea view of the hotel is very shocking. It is also a good place to escape the heat in the hot summer. You can also see the sunrise and the moonlight at night is also very beautiful; but it is indeed not cost-effective. It is not worth it at this price. The room is very small. Moreover, the down quilt in the room will drop feathers, and you will sneeze when you sleep and always feel that you have inhaled a little and it is very uncomfortable. Service: For a hotel at this price, it is also average, mediocre. If it were not for the beautiful scenery, it might be bad. The phone in the room I stayed in was also broken, and I couldn’t get through to the room service and couldn’t order food in the room. Facilities: There is no buffet breakfast in the hotel. The single-order breakfast is not cost-effective and not delicious; but the coffee, tea, soda and fresh milk in the self-service area are still good. The lobster is delicious. I ordered two two-pound ones, 66 dollars each, which is very big. As for the swimming pool, there is a hot spring, and you should be able to see the small pool with a sea view, but the swimming pool is not open until after nine o'clock, which feels a bit too late. It closes at ten o'clock in the evening. Also the check in time was too late at 4pm and the check out time was too early at 11am.

They gave us a handicap or assessable room which r not the nicest. N I don’t think they were sold out?? I’m not so old I need the grab bars! Anyways in addition the blinds n blackout shades did not close because they were improperly installed. I got on the chair n fixed them but my wife thought I was nuts n should have called the desk! But I know then I would have been up for 2 more hrs til it got resolved so I fixed it myself! Entrance to bldg was blocked for cars Br a cow gate! Not sure what that was about but if temporary then there should be a very apparent sign saying so! Staff was great!!