The Dockside Guest Quarters hotel has large, bright rooms with a lovely (yet basic) seaside-cottage style. Though the decor in each room varies slightly, most rooms feature shades of blues and yellows, stripes and flower prints, and balconies overlooking the sail boat-dotted water. The hotel lacks amenities like a fitness center and a pool, but guests enjoy perks such as free bicycle rentals, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast in the often-crowded breakfast area.

The 37-room Breakwater Inn & Spa offers travelers a selection of room choices: traditional, classic inn rooms; secluded, nautical cottages; apartments for longer-staying visitors; and modern, contemporary spa rooms and suites. Its tranquil setting on the water of Kennebunk River makes it a great getaway, but the rooms, while charming, are fairly small, but that's almost to be expected of older inns. Some of the inn's strongest assets are its attention to detail, like afternoon tea, the large Adirondack chairs dotting the shoreline, and homemade, free breakfasts. Like many other Maine inns and hotels, it tends to die down during the winter (even the restaurant is closed), so best to stay here between May and August.

The Kennebunk Inn is ideal for travelers who enjoy the quirks of a historic property filled with antique-type furnishings, creaky wood floors, and low ceilings, along with an alleged resident ghost. Rooms do offer free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, but if you want modernized, uniform luxury, this eclectic inn probably isn't the place for you, as rooms are all different shapes and sizes, and some bathrooms are downright tiny. The Acadame restaurant serves renowned New England dishes created by the innkeepers, who are also professional chefs.

A waterfront property near Ogunquit, Maine, the Beachmere Inn is a family-run resort with simple, classic rooms spread through several buildings. The location is ideal, with views overlooking the ocean and coastal cliffs. Rooms here vary widely, and guests can choose between ocean-view suites with fireplaces and balconies or simpler options for those sticking to a budget. Beyond the location and views, perks here include a spa with two treatment rooms, a Jacuzzi, sauna, fitness room, and a kids' play room. The Beachmere Inn offers free Wi-Fi and signature cocktails at Bawdy Sally's pub, but some guests complain of loud wedding parties in the summer and some rooms -- specifically in the Bullfrog Cottage -- are in need of renovation.