Historic Winter Harbor Cottage w/ Waterfront Views

Reviews

• Beautiful spot in lovely location

  5/5

  Loved the mesmerizing flow of the tide washing in and out. Whole place like a picture postcard of Maine coastal life.

  Highly recommend for relaxing and being close enough to Acadia.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• More than a place to sleep

  5/5

  Staying at Winter Harbor was fun. Much quieter than Bar Harbor and still close enough to things. The house is very close to the quiet side of Acadia. The house was fun to stay in. Right on the water. Able to watch the tide move in and out and the boats in the bay. Kitchen was well stocked. Still some finishing touches to complete on the rebuild of the house, but such a cool history. Owner was very responsive. House was comfortable and kid’s loved the upstairs. Totally recommend staying here.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Perfect place to relax!

  5/5

  The house is a slice of heaven. Waking up to the tide waters and sea life was amazing. Perfectly situated on the cove. The home is welcoming and well equipped. We hope to return for another fabulous vacation!

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Cute, historic cottage, but some issues

  3/5

  Our family of 6 stayed for 3 nights. We've rented many VRBOs. Our expectations are high, but reasonable, yet an honest review involves some criticism. To start with the pros, the house is in the quaint Winter Harbor, it felt safe, and is right across from a small grocery. We did the drive to Mt. Desert Island/Bar Harbor and enjoyed our time, but the slow pace on Henry's Cove was lovely, as was the easy access to the beautiful Schoodic Point area of Acadia. Also, the house is cute and historic (from 1860!) so it was cozy for our large family but ok because it was unique. However, the communication with management was a bit strained (had still not received the entry code about an hour before check in, instructions for the code/alarm were incorrect so had to figure that out, and we were told more washcloths were to be delivered and someone would contact us but never did). But the biggest issue is that, as of this authoring date at least, the exterior photos on VRBO are NOT representative. There was flooding in Jan 2024 and the house had to be rebuilt (as much as we respect the effort to do so, this was unwelcome news to us upon arrival). It now sits up on higher posts with stairs up to the front door (plus VERY steep stairs to the loft - guests with mobility issues/small children beware). Also, the water level is NOT as shown, even at high tide (maybe the storm's impact?) Regardless, the view is not as waterfront as pictured. It is a cute place, but we suggest more transparency.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Tracy, we truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts about your recent stay. We followed up with the homeowner after reading your feedback, and they wanted to share the following:
  
  - We’re glad you enjoyed the quaint charm and historic nature of our home, as well as its prime location in Winter Harbor
  - The property was indeed elevated due to a major storm in January 2024, following new FEMA regulations. This was necessary to ensure the safety of our guests
  - We are currently updating the exterior photos to reflect the recent changes
  - We completely rebuilt and updated the exterior with brand new everything, including shingles, walls, insulation, electric and heating
  - The waterfront view is the same, but from 5 feet higher due to the storm. The tides are a natural part of living on the waterfront, and seasonally lower or higher tides are to be expected
  - The entry code is provided well before your arrival to maintain security, and we’re sorry to hear you had issues with the instructions
  - The stairs to the loft and entrance are built to regulation standards, but, of course, we understand they might be challenging for guests with mobility issues
  
  Thanks for taking the time to leave your review. We appreciate your feedback so that this homeowner can continue to provide guests with the 5-star service they are known for!

• Heaven in Winter Harbor

  5/5

  Everything was great. Best & unique location. We used our e-scooters and e-bikes. Host was top notch with easy communication. We are going back!

  Positive:

  Negative:

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo