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The Thistle Inn

2.0 star property

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Sherman Zwicker
Sherman Zwicker | Bathroom
Appledore
Heritage
Heritage | Bathroom

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View in a map
55 Oak St, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538
  • Place, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Boothbay Harbor Marina
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Carousel Music Theater
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Rockland, ME (RKD-Knox County Regional)
    ‪67 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Superior Room, 1 King Bed

Superior Room, 1 King Bed

Superior Room, 1 King Bed

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Appledore

Appledore

Appledore

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Victory Chimes

Victory Chimes

Victory Chimes

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Heritage

Heritage

Heritage

7.0 out of 10
Good
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Sherman Zwicker

Sherman Zwicker

Sherman Zwicker

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Superior Suite, Multiple Beds

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed, 2 Twin Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

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About this property

The Thistle Inn

Hotel in Boothbay Harbor with a restaurant and a bar
A restaurant, a bar/lounge, and free self parking are available at this smoke-free hotel.
The Thistle Inn offers 6 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels.

Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers and complimentary toiletries. This Boothbay Harbor hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices).

During your stay at The Thistle Inn, you're just a quick walk from Boothbay Region Historical Society Museum. You'll find features like free self parking, plus a restaurant and a bar.
  • Free WiFi (speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices))
  • Free self parking
  • Grab something to eat at the restaurant or stop for a drink at the bar/lounge
  • Steps from Boothbay Region Historical Society Museum and Opera House at Boothbay Harbor
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Self parking is free.

This Boothbay Harbor hotel is smoke free.

The Thistle Inn has a restaurant on site.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)

Parking and transport

  • Free offsite parking within 30 metres
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • Mini-fridge

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Mobile key entry

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 72 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and smart lock details; access will be through a private entrance
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
Guests are recommended to download the property's ResNexus mobile app before check-in

Access methods

Private entrance, smart lock

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
This property does not have a front desk. Prior to arrival, guests must complete online registration with the property via a secure link. Guests will receive an email 72 hours before arrival with check-in information and smart lock details. Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance. Guests are recommended to download the property's ResNexus mobile app before check-in.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

Property is also known as

The Thistle Inn Hotel
The Thistle Inn Boothbay Harbor
The Thistle Inn Hotel Boothbay Harbor

The Thistle Inn Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 20 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 85 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

6.4/10

Staff & service

6.6/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Deb

Travelled with family
We liked that it was close to shops and restaurants and it was a nice size. Not having to check in in person worked well. There was a window ac that you couldn't run at night because the curtains were blocking the air flow. Open curtains meant no privacy in the bedroom with restsurant guests on the porch. Couldn't run ac and microwave at the same time. As far as wifi, your better off using your cellular data.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Bobbi

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Ann

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service
We were stunned that no staff was available to answer questions either in person or on line. I don’t recall if the initial information included the steep stairs we had to climb to our room. We couldn’t carry our luggage so just had to pull individual items out of our parked car. Don’t stay here if stairs are at all a challenge.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Was a nice place and convenient to the water, shops and restaurants
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Joseph, Tybee Island

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
No one to help with baggage and a flight of stairs, (steep and narrow). Room key a metal key that can easily be duplicated. internet service (non existent). No ice if you want ice. Lovely room. Nice shower. The stairs and carrying bags upstairs was difficult for an 80 Year old
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Needs an upgrade

The room we stayed in was not well thought out. Even though there was space we had a TV table as our kitchen table and the microwave and refrigerator were in the bathroom. We only had one roll of toilet paper and climbing into the shower was challenging. We were on the first floor, so people kept walking by our windows for the restaurant. The restaurant patrons also had to walk by our room to go to the restaurant. It was very loud at night because of the restaurant.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Susan

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is NOT An INN! It is a pretty room in an old house. There is no innkeeper, no housekeeping. No public spaces. Just your room which has a private bathroom. And a tiny coffee machine with no instructions and a good selection of teas. our room was spacious comfortable. The bathroom floor is slick, no rugs anywhere. Up two very narrow sets of stairs. It is an historic home, after all. At 75, I could not bring luggage up. I unpacked at the car and took what I needed up in a small backpack each day.. if this works for you , great! If you are expecting to be welcome at a charming New England Inn, this is NOT the place, Oddly there was an elegantly inscribed envelope for “Housekeeping” ! There was none. No one at all ever made up the room, swept the bare floors, Replenished anything during our 3 night stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Trevor

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The best part was how close it was to walk to the harbor. It wasn't super clean, chip crumbs found under bed etc. The air conditioning was annoying and loud. Our door was difficult to unlock and I hated that there was no deadbolt for safety. No staff members there. It was a weird vibe being above the restaurant, like we didn't belong there......the front door was also wide open during the restaurant service hours....anyone could just walk in. We did need to call Florin and he was wonderful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

DANA

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The inn is conveniently located near restaurants and shops. There is a restaurant on the property as well serving seafood meals and pub food. The only thing we didn’t realize is we had to park across the street down a small incline. We parked there after unloading the car but when we went to park there a 2nd time someone asked us to move. Overall, the inn is clean, quiet and fairly priced for its location.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Robert

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Problematic, Poor Service

No one was there when we arrived on time. We didn't get an email giving us the door and room password. No one was there. We made several calls, left voice mail and was told they didn't like my attitude and was told to "talk to Expedia.' Narrow, hazardous stairs, no path to the parking lot. TV hard to operate, no channel guide, no coffee, just tea and no instructions on how to work the Kerug. We were there 3 nights with no housekeeping though we put the sign for it on the doorknob.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cathy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay

The bed and pillows were so comfy. Great location too
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

JOSEPH

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bare-bones room. One chair, extremely poor lighting, no table (had to place drink glass on the floor), saggy-in-the-middle bed, bed mattress 46 inches above the floor, no pictures or wall decorations, no housekeeping: waste baskets overflowing after 4 days, no beds made or linens available even if we wanted to change them ourselves: management had the audacity to include a housekeeping tips envelope, TV service offers only reruns of programs dating back to late 1950s (were it not for our smart phones we would never known Trump bombed Iran), stay not inexpensive considering how little our money bought. Built in 1862, this property desperately needs TLC and professional hospitality management that that knows what it's doing.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Denis

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was not decorated. It made the room very cold and unwelcoming upon arrival, and the empty hooks made it feel like the place was just robbed. The air conditioner is a window unit, which was (very) loud in the rain; and just as loud when running. There was only a table and lamp on one side of the bed (I had to place my eyeglasses and watch on the floor). The bed is also too tall in my opinion and has very squeaky springs. Parking for the inn is across the street, in a gravel, unlit parking area, surrounded by abandoned vehicles. It is a short walk but requires crossing a dangerous intersection and walking thru grass down a rocky hill. It’s terrible. I know the restaurant isn’t related, which is a shame. There were take-out containers in the lobby for four days – the entire stairwell smelled like rotten food. The first two nights we stayed, the staff from the restaurant slammed dishes and argued (outside) from closing til 11 pm. Lastly, our kcup selection was limited to Sleepy Time tea & decaf coffee, and the Keurig was filthy. Oh, and we found extra towels on our own (a buffet in the hallway) – there were no instructions on where to find them. None of these issues was worth a call or a complaint to the restaurant, but the annoyances and inconveniences combined for an overall experience I’d rather not repeat. Limited to 1500 characters, I had to trim down my comments.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Monique

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Okay

I had no one to speak to. Went to put my bags in the car and I returned the door was locked. Very noisy and outside light kept me awake. AC was not on, so the room was very hot when we arrived. Had to figure out how to get key.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Nancy

Travelled with group
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Not at all what I expected! I don’t mind that there is no one there to greet you but it would be nice to be able to ask questions about the area and room conditions. No one was ever there!! Some of the issues we found were the following. No soap at bathroom sink and not then found the container in shower was also empty. Very, very little parking. The coffee maker, although a Keurig, was not as easy as it should have been. The day we were leaving there was only one regular coffee. Plenty of Sleepytime, decaf and breakfast tea. I don’t even want to discuss the TV. Most of our issues could have been easily attended to if there was someone on the premises. There was a phone number to call and leave a message. Then they texted us! No human contact ever. I’m a regular business traveler and have never had issues like this. I had heard great things about the Inn. I hope our experience was just an aberration.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Ronald

Travelled with family
We reserved and paid for a room in advance, and then found out that the room was on the second floor and required climbing a long flight of stairs. My wife is unable to climb stairs because of a disability. When I contacted the Thistle Inn, I asked for a room on the first floor. This was their response: "Good morning, we only have one room at the ground floor that’s occupied and the building had no elevator. Thank you!" Not accommodating at all. I have written asking for a refund, and have asked Expedia to help mw receive a refund. As of this moment, I have heard nothing.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
I’ve stayed at several different places and Boothbay Harbor over the years. I enjoyed that everything was no hassle. We arrived late due to snow on our way up and my only slight complaint was I wish someone could’ve turned the heat to the room on. Other than that great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Valerie, Newburyport

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Carroll

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Mohammadali

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great experience
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The house was built in 1861 with original flooring and lovingly refurbished. The sleeping accommodations are tastefully furnished. Being a short walk away from the hubbub of the shopping doesn't mean that your peace and quiet is disturbed. The restaurant, which is located on the first floor of the Inn serves delicious food and staffed by competent and polite people. The only suggestion that we could make is a full length mirror in the room. Looking forward to returning in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is our 2nd trip to Boothbay, first time at The Thistle Inn, we stayed in the Crows Nest, as a family of 4. The room was beautiful, clean, spacious. We loved having a full kitchen and room to spread out. This would even make a great weekend getaway for 2 during the off season. The fireplace makes a nice cozy touch.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

H.

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Howard

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Unique Property

I would say this property is Unique!!! There is no Front Desk;; check in is a code for the main door and coded key lock box with a key to your room. Checkout is the same. Everything is done via email and phone. What makes this place Great is the Restaurant attached to the Inn. Food is Amazing and the service is Awesome as well!!! The are owned by separate entities. There are only 6 rooms which makes it nice as well and located walking distance to downtown Boothbay Harbor. The only downfall is the narrow stairs going up to the second and third floors, I have bad knees so the stairs were a little rough but still didn't take away from a Great Stay!!! Next time I will try to get the room on the first floor lol. I would definitely stay there again!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024