Maine is a funny little place. It’s so often passed over as a major tourist destination but overwhelmingly adored by everyone who goes there. Its breathtakingly rugged coastlines and national parks beg for adventure while its marvelous cities and small towns add historic relevance far beyond the average state. It’s much more than a good lobster dinner.
And it’s the history we’re honing in on in this article. With so many colorfully historic hotels in Maine, it’d be a shame to opt for a cookie-cutter franchise property. To help, we’ve found some of the best historic hotels in Maine you can book with points.
Best historic hotels in Maine you can book with points: Hyatt
Kennebunkport Captains Collection
Location: Kennebunkport, ME
Price: 24,750 points/$282+
Vibe: Historic and homey
The rundown: Its spectacularly cool name aside, all the stays featured in the Kennebunkport Captains Collection are the kind of places you keep coming back to. From the outside, they’re prototypical historic homes: beautiful, but you’ve seen it before. Inside, however, you discover a modern comfort paradise. It’s painstakingly renovated with artsy flourishes to bring it forward to the 21st century.
This is a new addition to the World of Hyatt program, transferred in with the new partnership between the hotel giant and Mr and Mrs Smith, the independent boutique hotel platform. As such, rates don’t match the same World of Hyatt award chart we’re used to, but it’s still possible to book one of the homes for a reasonable 24,750 points.
Best historic hotels in Maine you can book with points: Marriott
The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection
Location: Portland, ME
Price: 52,000+ points/$343+
Vibe: Luxury worth reading all about
The rundown: The Press Hotel is a renovation done right. So many historic buildings have been condemned to mediocrity, but not this one. Once the home of the Portland Press Herald, the state’s largest newspaper, it’s been transformed into a modern ode to its past. Rooms are stylish and modern but boast regular nods to the print industry without becoming tacky. Think: old typewriters in the hallways and printing stamps adorning the check-in wall.
It’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and bookable at rates starting at 52,000 points a night. You’ll either need a Marriott co-branded card or an American Express card with a big bonus to grab those points. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good call in this situation. Otherwise, you’re looking at around $343 for arguably the coolest of the historic hotels in Maine.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
PROS
- The Amex Platinum’s typical intro bonus of 80,000 points is massive in itself. It’s worth $800 when spent directly through Amex’s travel portal on flights and hotels, which is already stellar. But when transferred to a partner, it’s very possible to squeeze over $1,600 or more in value.
- The Platinum has a slew of top-tier benefits, like Priority Pass, which gives the cardholder access to thousands of airport lounges and restaurants around the world, as well as Amex’s own Centurion lounges which are known for the high-quality (and free) food and cocktails. Other perks include up to $200 in Uber credits (to receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express card must be a method of payment in your Uber account, and this Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States), up to $200 in airline fee credits (given in statement credits), up to $240 in digital streaming credits, up to $200 towards hotel bookings (given in statement credits) with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts (2 night minimum stay required), and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- A number of statement credits spanning multiple industries can build even more value into the card, including free stays when applied strategically.
- The Amex concierge is an underutilized benefit that can transform a trip by helping book hard-to-find dinner reservations or show tickets.
CONS
- The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
- Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
- Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Annual Fee: $695 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Westin Portland Harbor View
Location: Portland, ME
Price: 45,000+ points/$215+
Vibe: Historic hotel, modern amenities
The rundown: Marriott had their eye on historic hotels in Maine, obviously. The Westin Portland Harbor View was originally opened in the 1920s as the Eastland Park Hotel. It’s been fully renovated into a chic modern space but retains the elegance and style of the early 20th century everyone adores. Opt for a high-floor room if possible to take advantage of the stunning views over the city.
The best rate we could find on the Westin was 45,000 points, with rates rising from there depending on the date. That’s not terrible, and using the same Platinum card mentioned above, you’d be only 2,000 points short of a two-night stay after hitting the $8,000 spending threshold required to earn the 80,000 points.
Read also: The Best Hotel Credit Cards
Best historic hotels in Maine you can book with points: Chase Travel℠ portal
Cliff House
Location: Cape Neddick, ME
Price: 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point (rooms start at $650)
Vibe: Cliffside classic
The rundown: We don’t always recommend using credit card travel portals, but historic hotels in Maine are predominantly independent so opting to use Chase or American Express’ own sites makes for a good alternative. Chase in particular offers good value depending on whether you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. If it’s the latter, you’ll get 1.5 cents per point when redeeming hotels on the portal.
With that in mind, the Cliff House makes for an excellent choice. The stunning resort is perched atop a dramatic cliffside, with many rooms offering excellent sea views. Rooms are expansive and bright, and the onsite restaurant is a winner according to the reviews. It’s been in operation since 1872, so you can trust they know what they’re doing.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
60,000 Bonus Points
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card that’s accessible to most travelers as it has a number of valuable and easy-to-use benefits. Its annual fee of $550, though still high, is quickly offset thanks to its $300 travel credit, large welcome bonus, strong spending categories, and premium perks like airport lounge access. It’s also great for those who don’t want to deal with transferring their points, as you’ll get big value when redeeming through Chase’s travel portal.
PROS
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel—which is more than the annual fee.
- The $300 travel credit covers anything travel related, whether thats an Airbnb, a taxi, a flight, or hotel, making it almost impossible not to lessen the dent the fee made.
- The points are worth 1.5 cents a piece when used directly on Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Portal, offering a simple but high value use for your points.
- Plenty of excellent transfer partners allow points to be maximized
- Some excellent partnerships with Doordash and Lyft add to its value.
- Priority Pass membership allows access to over 1,300+ airport lounges and restaurants.
CONS
- No complimentary elite hotel status, like that offered by the Amex Platinum.
- You won’t earn points on travel purchases until the $300 credit is used.
- It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $550 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best historic hotels in Maine you can book with points: American Express Travel portal
Old Winterport Commerical House
Location: Winterport, ME
Price: 27,000 points+/$195+
Vibe: Live-in history
The rundown: If you’re looking for historic hotels in Maine, you can’t get much more historic than the Old Winterpoint Commerical House. Impossibly cozy, the B&B was built in the 1830s as a stagecoach stop. Nowadays, it has five unique rooms and a quirky little antique store on the bottom floor. It looks amazing from the outside, too.
This property is found on the American Express Travel portal. Unlike Chase’s version, you’ll only get 1 cent per point here, so we’d only recommend booking here if you’re desperate to save some cash and can’t find a stronger points deal elsewhere. The cash rates hover around $195, so it’s not too expensive.
Pentagoet Inn & Pub
Location: Castine, ME
Price: 1 cent per point/ $220+
Vibe: Vino-Victorian
The rundown: Another masterclass in updating a hotel without losing its soul, this Victorian hotel was built in the late 1800s and features all the hallmarks of the times: three atmospheric turrets and an adorable little porch begging to be lounged around in in the late afternoon.
Its pub, Mister’s Pub, is an absolute highlight for anyone who stays. Decked out in Victorian antiques from around the world, there’s a massive wine list, excellent cocktails, and some wonderful supper options. It’s another American Express Portal option, so you’ll be looking to get that same 1 cent per point rate. The same advice from the previous hotel applies.
by travelers, for travelers.
