Samoset Resort — Hotel in Rockport

Just got back yesterday.Arrived 8/24 and left 8/30 ( the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.)|The best thing about Samoset is the beautiful property, which offers spectacular views that never get old. |But I was disappointed by a few things given the cost of the stay. (We had two rooms, a King Oceanfront Superior and a King + bunkbeds with garden view. Rates on the King Oceanfront ranged roughly from $700-900 per night, before taxes and fees. The King bunkbed rate ranged roughly from $600-$799, before taxes and fees.) |-We arrived on a Sunday afternoon at 4 pm (check in time) and there was no Bellman in sight. We grabbed a cart and loaded our bags and headed to the front desk. The desk staff never mentioned a bellman or asked if we wanted assistance getting to our room. So we did it ourselves. Thought this was odd. When we were leaving, we just got our bags to the car ourselves. |- There really isn't a Concierge. When we decided we wanted to eat off-property, I got a list of restaurants from the front desk and the staff highlighted a few of their favorites. While I appreciated this, it wasn't the same as having someone call around and find reservations for you, which is what most resorts would do. Ditto for activities in the area.|-As another reviewer mentioned, the dinner dining options are limited.Bella Vita and Enoteca Wine Bar are part of the same big space - with just the bar between them. A number of the menu items are the same at both restaurants. So it's hard for me to think of them as 2 different dining options. Offering dinner at the golf course restaurant would be a plus, for example. There is a porch where you can eat outside and that could be very nice.|- Once we realized that eating at Samoset every night would be pretty boring, it was hard to get a reservation elsewhere. So I would definitely recommend working this out ahead of time. The hotel manager recommended 13 Oak, a small local restaurant, and we did like it a lot. Primo is another well known place,and the manager tried to help us with that, but we couldn't get in earlier than 8 p.m. by the time we called. Again,having a concierge available would have been helpful.|-The pool and golf course only offer lunch and except for the really good burger at the pool, we thought the food at both locations was just OK. The best experience was the buffet breakfast at $25. We were impressed by the fresh fruit selection, etc. so we went that route. |-The gym is a decent size but was always warm as if the AC wasn't up to the task. It needs spiffing up. |-The decor of the large lobby reminded me of a dated ski resort. It wasn't the kind of place where you'd enjoy finding a comfy chair and reading, or meeting for a drink before dinner. It's a big space that could be so much more inviting. |On the positive side:|-Our King room on the second floor seemed recently re-decorated, and was very comfortable. Had a sofa, reading chair, desk area, etc. We had robes, toiletries, magnifying make- up mirror (a plus), safe, iron, microwave, refrigerator/freezer drawers, and Keurig coffee maker (yay - hate Espresso)|--The pool area is nice and we never felt a need to stake out lounge chairs. Of course, there are a lot of small kids but that is to be expected this time of year. Pool staff circulate frequently to ask if you want something to drink or eat. |-Reasonable cancellation policy - I think we had until the week before our arrival date to cancel.|- The staff for the most part is really nice and tries to be helpful. I agree with another reviewer who mentioned Shari at the front desk. Restaurant servers were also all very pleasant.|-We had a great housekeeping experience, thanks to Natalie.|-The golf course staff was also pleasant and helpful. They have 9- hole and afternoon discounts which were a plus.|-There was a coffee station set up in the morning at the Enoteca.||All in all, Samoset offers a lot, but given the prices, it should be...

This is a luxury resort on the coast of Maine. One of the prettiest spots on the coast of Maine. The rooms have been remodeled and are lovely. The |photos especially are great. Nice bathrooms, nice bath mats, nice shower curtains, towels, pressure, drains, vent. The linens are super soft and comfortable, beds dreamy. We were in a double queen/ bedroom/ pull out in the separate living room/ deck/ ocean view and kitchenette. The kitchen was insanely poorly equipped. I don’t know if people steal everything so they don’t stock it…. But it was a real bummer. No wine glasses, no cutting board, no knife, no salt and pepper,no actual coffee mugs. I did request wine glasses and they were supplied. Some basic things are needed in the kitchens. The pools are wonderful and all the varied sports equipment, tennis courts, horse shoe pits, disc golf, play ground…. All the options at this place are stellar and fun. It never feels crowded because there are so many things to do and it’s such a large property. The spa is amazing, spa shop has great things. So why the average review? They don’t have nearly enough staff. Is that on them? I don’t know. But something has to be done or guests will not return. This is my third stay and I spend quite a bit and again this is a luxury resort, and service is actually less than average. Dirty dishes sit in the hallways for hours. When tables are cleaned, not all the dishes get cleared. I was spending close to $1k a night and I had someone else’s left, dirty drink glasses next to my wine glass all night. Getting service is nearly impossible at times. I gave up at one point and ate popcorn in my room…. For the money I am spending that’s not acceptable. It was so bad, it was the topic of conversation among guests, I understand a lot of student help probably just left as it was Labor Day weekend, but at this point I will never return on Labor Day weekend. The menu is the menu, even though there are a few different places to eat. Breakfast buffet is worth it!! It’s great. Food is good but not stellar. Again, at the price point it should be better. Medium rare steak, was rare. Lobster ravioli, lobster inside dry. Waitstaff is so understaffed you can’t enjoy your meal. You feel the anxiety they have. The inside wood fireplace and outside gas fireplaces help make the ambience of this place amazing. Did I have a good time, I did, but again for it to be luxury, I should not be eating a bag of microwaved popcorn in my room because I could not get service. The gift shop is great, needs more snack/ candy/ food options and to be opened a bit later, especially since service to get food and drink is so difficult. The service by the pool is good, but they need to be trained better, if there is a wet towel on a seat and no belongings at the seat, the person left, pick up the towel so someone else can use the seat. I spent 20 minutes looking for a chair near an umbrella but could not find one because they all had dirty towels. I go on vacation so I don’t have to pick up my kids dirty towels, I am not picking up others while on vacation. The pool bar menu for food and drink very good. Ample parking. Amazing golf course, I did hear not for novices, even if no one is behind you, if you are more slow than they want you to be, they harass you to move along. That sounds fun! Not. I hope the service issues can be remedied because this really is an amazing property. The outside deck needed a good mopping and tables wiped down. I paid a lot extra for the amazing deck and view, it should be as clean as the room. The room...

We have been owners and have enjoyed coming to our Samoset timeshare condo for a few decades. The setting is storybook – viewing the whole breakwater, it’s lighthouse, Owls Head lighthouse, the ferries traversing the bay, seals hauled out on the rocks, and lobster boats heading out to fetch a favorite dinner. To own this timeshare is all about location, location, and location. We have loved coming every year and intend to continue for many more. Rockland has great restaurants (especially Archers) and a number of inviting shops and museums. The unit itself has a comfortable bed, ample storage, and nice furniture.

That being said, we sadly report the decline in the units themselves. It seems like each year, the assessments increase and the quality decreases. When we arrived this year, a lightbulb flickered and needed replacement. Next morning, the tub was clogged and needed maintenance. When we took out the trash, there were no extra trash bags. The kitchen takes the prize for the worst designed kitchen ever. Apparently they installed refrigerators that were too large and the door could not open, so they put the doors on backwards. They the microwave doors could not open without hitting the refrigerator, so it is impossible to open a microwave door fully – which leads to a terribly dangerous situation taking out microwaved hot dishes sideways and spilling. I presume their kitchen designer has by now been fired. WIFI is slow to non-existent, blinking off and on at whim. If you are dependent upon WIFI during your stay at the Samoset, do not come. It is worthless. Fortunately, I could use a mobile hotspot, but anyone with a normal laptop is doomed to spend hours trying to make it work. I wanted to set up my Alexa, so I could enjoy my music. Neither the front desk nor the tech support could get it working, so I endured a week without music. I have never had this problem at any hotel or motel, but somehow the Samoset WIFI had a virus – and by the way, it’s the only time in years my email got hacked. The heater, which sounds like a motorcycle racing uphill at high speed, goes through a vent in the bedroom which is poorly finished to a tiny vent in the Living area which looked like it was installed by the bottom of the class of a tech school – crooked, unfinished, and sloppy to look at. Very amateurish. In the bedroom, try to plug in a power strip and you will see a single plug with multiple boxes plugged into each – a dangerous and even dramatic safety concern. There are insufficient outlets in all rooms and some are overloaded with three in one plug adapters. The toilet works ok, but flushing is a fine art. Hold down once, and it won’t go. Hold down ten seconds, and it doesn’t go. The secret seems to be to flush the handle for 3.5 seconds, and it will finally flush. And then, there is the rug. Ugh. Ugly. Awful.

And so, as an owner for many decades, I would still return, for the location and view is unbeatable, but the units themselves have declined to the point that the Samoset is no longer worthy to be considered a Gold Crown resort, by a longshot. It has become, sadly, in the words of the...