The Tides Beach Club — Hotel in Kennebunkport

Overall, decent experience. Hotel was wonderful and charming, but service had some meaningful gaps.

Pros: Hotel is quaint and old school, one of the only (if not the only!) on a private stretch of beach. Beach service is great with chairs and umbrellas and rooms are cute and passable — albeit small, what you would expect from a beach spot! Bikes are a nice touch.

The porch is amazing — nice breeze by the water. Service on the porch. And no real issues finding space. Although it’s all shaded and the seating in the yard in front you’re not allowed to drink in (I heard from another guest something to do with a pending settlement with the city). So not their fault likely.

Cons: Service was the real letdown. Wasn’t expecting anything off the charts, but even the basics were tough. Eg, put up the “service” sign both days around 10am and were gone til 4pm. Neither day did anyone touch the room. When I asked the first day, someone dropped off towels. The second day, they asked me to bring the dirty ones out and they’d place a clean set outside.

The food service was also tough. In the morning I had a burnt omelette sitting between two unbussed tables the entire time (we were the only table there, so this was surprising!) They also didn’t have enough water to fill up our glasses the first time and never came back. In the evening, service was better albeit slow. And they had no butter, but season is getting started so I’m sure they’re figuring it out. Placing a drink order at any time of the day is typically a 30 min+ ask.

Two other nits: (a) walls are super thin, was next to a family that was having a gathering til 11pm and could hear the whole thing (again, somewhat expected for a little inn) and (b) parking in their lot was tough during lunch / dinner time. Even though they try their best to protect for guests only.

Overall, if you’re looking for beach access in Kennebunkport, there’s probably no better spot. But don’t be surprised from middle of the...

I have lived here my whole life, I have seen ever permutation of the Tide Inn over the years.

Here is all you need to know about the Tides Inn in 2023. Tonight (August 28, 2023) we went to Tides for Happy Hour. We ordered chicken wings for $12 and got three really sad wings. We all had one drink two other hors doevure, the bill was over $100.

All you need to know about the Tides Inn is the place is a rip off. It has gotten way to big for its britches. The rooms are way over priced. The drinks and the food are the same, unless you are a bird. If you have to tell your friends you stayed in Goose Rocks then go ahead and over pay.

Reality is, go stay some where else in Maine, many places hat are way better quality, and nicer experience for less. Tides Inn is not worth it in 2023.

My response to the feedback that charging $18 for three chicken wings at happy hour is ok because it is Goose Rocks and there is no other place to go is this, that is baloney.

You are part of the problem here at GRB. When did you first come here? 2015?

I started coming to this beach in 1973. It was always a really sweet place. All Mainers, and visitors could come and enjoy.

You are a robber, and that is all. Clearly you do not understand what happy hour is, or the simple fact that $18 for three wings is a crime (look up the cost of chicken wings). It doesn't matter how much you pay for your house, car or if you pay $500, $600/night to stay on Goose Rocks. We don't need to pay that to stay here and pay that, we live here and you need to be called out.

Get yourself a real happy hour and we will come check it out. Look up happy hour in your hospitality services manual. You guys have played us (locals, natives, and smart consumers) for chumps for that last time unless you...

I hesitated writing this review due to being June and the world trying to put the pandemic behind us, but I chose to do so and will be honest and fair. To start, the 6 person round table we reserved for dinner one month in advance was not available, so the reservation apparently wasn't made. No big deal I thought. Instead we were seated at a table for 6 next to the kitchen. In and of itself, no big deal I thought. Until we heard waitstaff bellowing "order" everytime they entered that area..at least 100 times we heard that. Menu was limited, perhaps getting up and running post-pandemic is hindering supply? No big deal I thought. Keep in mind we have been frequenting the Tides Inn for years so we knew, or thought we knew, what to expect. The few appetizers we ordered were disappointingly deep fried, not what we expected at all and we did not enjoy them. The meal choices, while limited, were absolutley delicious..chicken, filet, halibut, scrod.....everyone loved their meals! The table service was ok, not poor by any means nor great..never were asked how out meals were, never asked for a second drink, never offered more water...kind of a drop the food and then disappear.but was polite and knew the ins and outs if the menu when asked questions up front. So I guess the bottom line is we didnt hate it, nor were we "wowed" with our visit. We will return to eat there next year with high hope's, but for the remainder of this years vacation we'll be exploring other...