Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a mint on your pillow. You might want to give the room a close inspection
before flashing your plastic.
The national “no smoking” trend has been quickly adopted in Maine and
most places either ban smoking entirely or have non-smoking rooms.
WISE WORDS:
If you are a non-smoker and decide to
settle for a smoking room, especially in an older motel,
check it out first. In one establishment in Greenville
the smoking room had seen heavy use by multi-pack-
a-day smokers, leaving it distinctively odorous.
Among the questions to ask in addition to amenities are polices on depos-
its (most are non-refundable if a cancellation is not made by a certain
date), views, pets, and smoking. Also, standards for what is considered
“private” change. Along the beaches of Old Orchard, most motels and cot-
tages are barely two feet apart. And that wonderful room with an ocean
view may indeed have one, as do your 120 new closest friends on the bal-
conies surrounding you on all sides. In fact, many seasoned travelers find
that paying extra for an ocean view, unless it is a special occasion, is a
waste of money. With all there is to do in Maine, what makes you think
you'll be spending that much time just sitting around indoors looking out
the window?
Check on proximity to the water, downtown, and other attractions. As
comedian Stephen Wright once noted “Everywhere in the world is within
walking distance if you have the time.” Ask for specifics.
One odious practice that is beginning to permeate the state is charging
people's credit cards when the reservation is made, even if it is weeks
away from the actual visit. This seems to be standard practice at the
larger ski resorts.
Every place takes cash and most will accept traveler's checks and major
credit and debit cards. Most larger towns have at least one or two ATMs,
but don't figure on finding one at every corner. On one canoe trip to
Northern Maine some years back, we were on a very long dirt road north
of Patten with only miles and miles of trees in any direction and with util-
ity poles a distant memory when someone in the car said “Let me know if
anyone sees a cash machine.” We had passed the last chance to find one
about an hour earlier. To again paraphrase the late Karl Malden: “Cash;
don't leave a paved road without it.”
Another practice to watch for is sweeping through some of the more popu-
lar inns in Southern Maine. They often require a minimum three-night
