Sally Webster Inn — Hotel in Rockport

Oh, how I'd love to write a stellar review for the Sally Webster. But alas, I can't. It feels like a passion project for its owners who have another Rockport B&B-love has clearly gone into it. And the sister property is truly amazing. But some aspects at Sally really left us feeling underwhelmed. But first the positives: good location, well within easy walking distance of Dock Square, Bearskin Neck, etcetera. (Make sure you don't mind walking up a fairly steep hill on your way to the inn-we didn't mind it at all, but some might.) Nice stroll nearby down Atlantic Avenue takes you by Old Garden Beach and the Headlands. The decor is attractive and the bed/bedding some of the coziest ever. The room is sparkling clean. Their method of handling breakfast-a door card that you fill out and place on your door the night before is convenient and full of choices. Breakfast food is bagged and available for pickup at 0830, simple but good, accompanied by small coffee/teapots. Now for the down side-there is no one in residence or even on duty at the building, which gives an odd feel. Our bathroom/shower very small (not unexpected for an older home-but shower closet small) and no hot water. My shower barely edged from really cold to tepid-not great in December-with water pressure so strong it was literally uncomfortable. Oddly, there is no trash can in the bathroom-so if you use a Kleenex or a q tip for makeup, you've got to leave the bathroom, cross the room to discard it. Our room had no bedside tables or chargers-just a small metal plate screwed to the wall on which you could place your cell, with the sole charging bank in the room secured to the fridge a small distance away. No instructions in the room (key codes and internet access were texted) for the limited cable service or anything else. If you are expecting typical B&B amenities (snacks/baked goods, toiletries if you're missing something, live advice on anything Rockport) you will not find them here. There is only one very small common living room and no dining space. When we stayed, a second group comprising the rest of the guests that weekend complained it was difficult for them to breakfast together-required rearranging what little eligible area was in this main room. One guest remarked on the lack of board games, etcetera in the common space. This also impacts a pleasant aspect of staying in this type of lodging-the option of meeting/chatting with other guests, often at breakfast. Perhaps in the future the owners might open up what seems to be a room behind the living room-there are two doorways, one clearly a door, a second a "bookcase" but framed like a door-to provide more common space or a dining area for guests. Parking is available behind the building-tight but well-marked and adequate. Would we return? probably not in its current iteration. But knowing how well run and comfortable the sister property is, I'm in great hopes that the owners can bring the Sally Webster up to speed in a way that would...

Certainly a beautiful building, lovely rooms and very conveniently located, but if you're looking for the classic, hosted Bed and Breakfast experience, this is not it. The bed was comfortable and everything was clean, but:|- There are no people there. It's self check-in and you are given a phone number to text if you have any questions, but the response to our questions after we settled in came 8 hours later.|- There were no instructions in the room on how to use the heat, the TV, the unfamiliar coffee maker, or anything else.|- The shower was torturous. A cheap, unadjustable showerhead with very high pressure such that it felt like needles on your body. The (cheap) control handle only adjusted temperature, not volume, and it was a very small stall, so you could not avoid the painful spray.|- On the website they show a picture of a lovely breakfast of fried eggs on a bagel with fresh fruit. The reality is a bag of food left outside your door with tiny boxes of cereal, a cold, hardboiled egg, and no plates or bowls to eat it from.|- This was October, but the window A/C unit was still there. It was in the 40s that night and cold air was pouring in. No thermostat, just a big steam radiator with a handle that did nothing.|We expected so much more, based on...

Very nice and quaint room and inn. This is an old home from 1800s very well refurbished. Original exposed beams makes you wonder what life was|like in the house back then. We stayed in the Sadie the Goat room for 2 nights inJune. Bed was incredibly comfortable!!! (We contacted the owners and found out the make and model and plan to by one.) Most comfortable bed we’ve ever slept in - anywhere!|Inn has about 6 rooms. It was mostly occupied and very quiet. Although we did not meet the hosts/owners (self check-in), they were very responsive via text before and during our stay. We were greeted with champagne and balloons for our 40th anniversary. What a wonderful gesture on their part. Great coffee, moist scones, yogurt, fresh plump blueberries, and charcuterie dropped off each morning outside the room. Short walk to restaurants and shops around the Bearskin Neck area. This was our first stop on a 2 week trip from here along the Maine coast. What a...