THE CHILTERN INN

We traveled for 3 weeks through New England, which charmed us enormously. We stayed mainly in high-end guesthouses (7/8), but unfortunately always with access via a keypad (except 1 time). However, we met the owners and hosts 3/8 times, but only once was the relationship with our hosts personal and rich. It was at Chiltern Inn, an old century-old house, spacious and full of charm! Thank you Joan and Dan! Thank you Joan for those late afternoons in one of the lounges over a glass of wine and cheese, you at the piano and on the microphone for such an unexpected and warm musical moment. Thank you Joan and Dan for your breakfasts in the beautiful dining room, Dan at the stove for a delicious specialty different every morning and Joan available to give us all her precious "tips" on the best way to discover Mount Desert Island and the famous Acadia National Park! The house is very close to Main Street, restaurants, the harbor, and the bay of Bar Harbor.

Firstly, let me say that our room in the Chiltern Inn was well arranged and our hosts were lovely. The wine and cheese get-together was welcoming. Unfortunately, that is where it ends. One of the reasons for choosing the Inn, despite its high price, was the availability of a pool/spa. They were not operational and probably had not been so for some time. The breakfast, which is normally the backstay of any Bed and Breakfast, was meager. An ‘owner’s choice’ medium size omelet shared between two people and a small fruit cup was woefully inadequate: No sides, toast, bagels, muffins or even cereal. The limiting breakfast time of just 8-9am made it impossible to get out early and avoid the Acadia crowds. But the pivotal moment of our four-day stay, happened on the first day when a “homeless” man burst into our room. The front door of the Inn is not kept locked, and the only security is the room’s door locks, which are grossly inadequate (the door-lock to the garden was made for a closet) We managed to get our ‘visitor’ into the hallway, and we conversed for ten minutes, before he agreed to us calling the police. Who arrived twenty minutes later. Hopefully he got the help he so desperately needed. There were clear signs that the Inn was in a state of disrepair. The shower had standing water and there were leaks from above and the floor showed signs of water damage underneath. We also found the numerous signs ‘begging for substantial tips, which was tacky, considering how underwhelming the Chiltern Inn was for the price. Overall, we felt uncomfortable with what happened and would not stay there again.

Recently visited the Chiltern Inn for my boyfriend's birthday and we had an excellent stay and will be back. The guest room including a spacious bathroom, jacuzzi and reading nook was absolutely beautiful and felt like an escape to the past. We appreciate our hosts Dan and Joan for their personable hospitality and providing warm amenities (such as a spectacular homemade omelet for breakfast) and assisting us with any questions about the reason for our visit, the hiking at Acadia National Park. We received great advice and directions. Thank you again!