The Best Holiday Apartments in Maine

A historic beauty built in 1895, the Main House of Cape Arundel Inn & Resort was once a summer “cottage.” There’s a maritime feel to many of the rooms, from subtle nods, such as a blue, green and white color palette, to bolder statements, such as scatter cushions featuring a ship’s wheel design. The views aren’t too bad either – think craggy coastline lapped by the North Atlantic.

A more befitting name for this thoughtfully organised uber-luxe lodge might be “Sanctuary by the Sea.” All the lodgings at this seaside retreat are artfully designed, featuring nautical accessories, such as bookshelves arranged with glass fishing floats and seashell stands. Beyond the inn’s impressive environmental initiatives and foster dog program, a stay at this Cape Elizabeth property promises easy access to a sweeping lick of sand and wooded trails.

This family- and pet-friendly York Harbor inn wins enthusiastic reviews for its American buffet breakfast, large outdoor pool overlooking the ocean, spa therapists and plum location. Set on a peninsula, the inn is surrounded by water on almost every side. Each guest room boasts its own private outdoor space, and there’s a wide range of room options too, from a standard Lower Beach Deluxe to an Ocean Front Luxury suite.

A rustic backcountry hideaway, Big Moose Inn Cabins & Campground is sandwiched between the vast Ambajejus and Millinocket lakes. Choose from a lakeside or trailside cabin, camping sites, and even inn suites and rooms here. The latter option is arguably the pick of the bunch, with wildly cosy rooms and period features and furnishings – there’s almost an American frontier feel about them.

Tuck into a meal by the lodge fireplace. Sink a sundowner on the lodge deck that overlooks the Dead River. Even after a long day spent exploring the verdant playground that is the Kennebec Valley, there’s still plenty to do back at this homely lodge, where owners Sarah and Pete Dostie – and their dog Kaboom – will take good care of you.

There are plenty of special touches at this storied Kennebunkport mansion. From the hand-sewn window drapes that feature in every room, to the fresh iced tea and lemonade that await thirsty guests in the heat of summer, or the non-alcoholic Swedish glögg that simmers in a kitchen crock-pot ready to warm up guests come winter. The unique, elaborately decorated rooms are sure to become one of your fondest vacation memories.

Hidden away in the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Kennebunkport, this quaint collection of cottages is easily overlooked, especially if you have your foot on the gas driving along State Route 9. Perhaps that’s just part of the draw. Shorelands’ fully self-contained cottages have all the basic mod cons you could need, not to mention a comfy, welcoming feel.

Location, location, location – it’s one of this seaside motel’s most indisputable draws. Old Orchard Beach is less than a minute’s walk away, yet the quiet side street that Moontide is located on affords guests a little serenity. The property’s modest and reasonably priced apartments provide the perfect base for a beach break, including a full kitchen with utensils.