Great Island Inn

Erica Z

2024-01

I can't be more effusive about my experience staying at The Great Island Inn.The check-in process was seamless and straightforward, and when there were some natural hiccups (read: high tide causing flooding around Portsmouth) Abby, the General Manager, was proactively communicative: she called to give me a heads up and credited my Early Check-In fee when I wasn't able to reach the island at 1PM.The facilities and amenities were top notch--I slept well, relished the hot water and shower pressure on the cold winter days, did my laundry, and enjoyed an extremely peaceful stay. I will definitely be back in the summertime or to visit Abby and Doug's other properties. I've already told a few friends about this place--though not too many since part of me wants to keep it as a secret treasure.

Kathleen James

2023-12

Wow, what a special place!! I felt like I'd been transported back in time, in the best way possible. The antique furniture was beautiful, the views were incredible, and the home slept 9 (including 5 children) easily. I feel so lucky to have been able to stay here and hope to be back soon!Walkability: There's a great coffee shop just around the corner with the friendliest staff, excellent coffee and delicious pastries. The home is also right on the water!

S Randel

2023-09

It's so nice - and rare - when a place to stay exceeds your expectations. Ours were already high after reading the reviews, and we weren't disappointed. We stayed for several days with our dog in a King Studio Apartment which faced a quiet street near the water. The apartment was immaculate and had everything we could have asked for including a full kitchen, smart TV + cable, and a very comfortable king bed. The hosts made check in and check out easy, and we had dedicated parking. The location is very close to Portsmouth and made a great base for exploring the seacoast and southern Maine. Deserving of 5+ stars!

Charlotte Addison

2023-09

Our first visit to the NH coast and Great Island Inn provided a quiet setting that was close to the beaches and a 10 minute drive to Portsmouth. The large studio suites are stunning, exceptionally clean and fully equipped units with everything you need - just pack your clothes!Photos are as advertised , the owners are professionals who anticipated all the extras you need in your private suite for a luxury experience from fast internet to beach towels to a washer/dryer with detergent - even a stocked mini bar!Rooms: Modern furniture, comfortable bed, luxe bath products and a well curated minibar were highlights. Layout is spacious.Safety: Quiet , residential area with off street parking.Walkability: Located in a historical district with quiet streets, a park with beaches is a 5 minute walk along the shorefront.

Gretchen OBrien

2023-09

This was the best place we have stayed at in a long time! The location was perfect, the attention to every detail was amazing. Washer/dryer, stocked fridge and kitchen, impeccably clean with top of the line towels, sheets and even a beach bag with sumptuous towels! The small coffee shop right next door was also so great!! We will be back!

Kelly Hall

2023-09

We truly enjoyed our weekend stay in apartment #4. The apartment was well-outfitted, well-stocked with beverages and a cute LL Bean Tote, and very well-designed. The location is great as well and right next door to Islanders Cafe. It was easy to stay there with a toddler as well.Walkability: Easy to walk around the whole island.

Jaclyn Leduc

2023-05

This is a wonderful place to stay! We recently had our second stay here (this time with our dog), and it was a very pleasant experience. So clean, cozy, and quiet with a great mini-bar and amenities like heated bathroom floors and kitchenette. It's a quick walk to the beach or a short 2-minute drive to the public ocean-front park with incredible views. Next door (seriously, it's a 10-second walk) is The Islander Cafe with great food and coffee. Portsmouth is a short 10-minute drive if you're wanting to go into town for shopping, exploring, and eating. If you're looking for quaint, coastal New England vibes - Great Island Inn is it.

Diane Thompson

2023-05

This inn is a gem! Beautiful room with every amenity to make your stay comfortable. Wonderful peaceful location in a picturesque New England setting. Spacious parking in the back was very convenient . Short walk around the corner to a beautiful beach. The Islander Cafe located next door was very convenient with great food. Short drive to Portsmouth. We were extremely comfortable and happy with our two night stay. We will definitely return for a stay on our next trip to Portsmouth. Highly recommended!!

Bob Witte

2023-05

What can I say except wonderful inn. Our studio room was perfect and well appointed. It was so comfortable! From the inn you can be in Portsmouth in a few minutes for shopping, dining and drinks. The beach is right around the corner.We have found a home away from home here and will be back fore sure.

Elaine Anderson

2022-05

Great Island Inn is a superb combination of stylish design and welcoming hospitality located in a quaint and peaceful neighborhood within easy distance of Portsmouth. We found the accommodations spotlessly clean and nicely appointed with great looking furniture, quality linens and soaps. The little kitchen had everything we needed to prepare a meal for breakfast or a quiet supper. There is nothing "mini" about the mini bar!! We found the refrigerator very well-stocked with a good selection of drinks and snacks. We loved the view (Room 5) over the sweet neighborhood and the Piscataqua River. New Castle Island is a lovely location and Great Island Inn is a gem!

Stephanie Tietbohl

2023-05

What an absolute treasure! This hotel exceeded our expectations: immaculate, new, elegant nautical aesthetic, had all the comforts of home, great location. We traveled as a family of three: two adults and our seven-year-old (who slept on the pull out twin and said it was comfortable). A few of the things that delighted us:-- Pleasant, quick walk to a great beach at the end of Ocean (as recommended by Doug)-- Ductless AC offered great climate control and no shared ventilation, plus a nice outdoor dining setup (this was key for us as we had upcoming travel and really wanted to limit our COVID risk)-- Laundry in the unit was so helpful in minimizing our luggage-- Excellent, consistent, helpful emails and resources from Doug-- Close to fun dining and activities nearby: we liked the Isles of Shoals boat tour of Star Island and The Ice House (great sundaes)

Monica Ricci-Kuseian

2022-05

Loved our stay at the Great Island Inn. Cozy rooms and adorable New England decor throughout the building and rooms. Short walk (just a couple minutes!) to the beach with views of two of the lighthouses, and a short drive from Portsmouth. Also not too far for day trips to the mountains in addition to the many activities in the area. The perfect quiet getaway :) The owner responds promptly to any questions or concerns, too. Definitely recommend and would stay again!

Cynthia Beers

2023-05

…More

Sharon Tsao

2023-05

I stayed in one of the main studios downstairs with my husband and my parents (four adults total) for my father's 70th birthday from a Wednesday night to a Saturday morning. I paid on average about 580 per night before tax. I would personally describe my overall stay as just OK, and will share details below:Pro:- Clean- Spacious- Cute nautical decor- Well stocked refrigerator and snacks- Has most of the amenities that you'd expect at a hotel like this- Good location- Working internetCon- Since I visited with my elderly parents, I ended up sleeping on the pull out sofa, which was not very comfortable. It seems like the sofa bed was a bit broken and doesn't lay flat anymore, so my legs were more elevated than my head.- The ceiling was thin and very squeaky, and could often hear when the people above us walk, which wasn't ideal for me who's sensitive to sound. This could be circumstantial, but I was already waking up at 8am every morning to work, but the people who stayed above us woke up even earlier than me, which made the stay a bit uncomfortable. It could help to put a thicker rug upstairs.- We got to the hotel pretty late on Wednesday as we had to drive up, and saw that we were only give three towels when we specified there were four of us staying there. The towels are also very worn and needs changing.- All of the outlet on one wall of the room wasn't working properly when we arrived, and so we had to flip the circuit breaker. It turns out that the toaster would trip the circuit breaker, and we'd have to flip the circuit breaker again. It seems like the toaster was using too much power, and the owner didn't properly test if all of the amenities would work properly with the room.I think all of the cons above are not deal breakers, but for a room where you pay close to $600/night I expected better quality from the items/products used in the room.

Meg Longhi

2021-05

What a wonderful stay! We stayed in one of the king studios on the main level, and it was just what we expected. The room was clean, well stocked, and had all the essentials for an enjoyable stay.What we loved the most was being able to bring our pup. Typically, a dog friendly room is not an ideal setup. However, no sacrifices were made to ensure both humans and pups felt welcome! We really enjoyed the town of New Castle. Quiet roads lead to great walking and beach exploring for dogs.We can’t wait to return!

Ree

2023-05

It stinks of dog, terribly. There was hair on everything. You can see multiple hairs on the sound machine. The front loading washer needs to be aired between uses. It was closed when we arrived. It ruined one of my favorite sweatshirts. This place costs too much for what you get. Two stars for the location. We didn’t speak up because we arrived after 9:30pm. October 4th, 2022.

Larry

2022-05

Exceptional rooms, quiet, clean and equipped with everything you will need for a get away. Perfect location to walk over to the beach and look over some light houses or to ride into Portsmouth for food and music. The stay has been one of the top and more memorable parts of our stay. Absolutely recommend this or the Rye and downtown locations operated by Doug.

Kurt Van Keppel

2023-05

Sara and I were absolutely charmed by this boutique apart-hotel. Everything about it: location, decor, functionality and charm far exceeded our expectations. As a matter of fact, I continue to wonder how they achieved both design and thoughtful detail to the maximum degree (sailors knot key fob and curtain rod ends!?!!) Bravo - we look forward to returning!

Gail Frye

2019-05

My husband and I wanted to relax and unplug, so we didn't want to stay in a big hotel with people coming and going -- Great Island Inn was perfect for us. In a large, lovely room with everything we needed (and more), we were able to plan our visits around the area, watch TV or do nothing but watch local life pass us by. The amenities were amazing, including a full kitchen, laundry and heated floors in the bathroom! Everything else we needed was close (within 10-15 minutes) and the owner's recommendations were spot-on. I hope to come back again soon, and highly recommend this to all who are looking for a home away from home!

Robert Highsmith

2023-05

…More

Pedro & Mariya Alcazar

2018-05

Such a great get away spot! The room was very clean and fully equipped with a fully functioning kitchen, full size Washer/Dryer, comfortable bed, and top of the line toiletries. We arrived very late and Doug was more than accommodating to our needs. We wish we could've stayed longer!!

Chaz Adams

2023-05

…More

Audrey C.

2022-05

Cute little house with multiple apartments. Very nice decor, that makes you really feel like you’re in a beach house ! You can easily walk the neighborhood. It’s beautiful and quiet, and the neighbours are really nice and polite. Would definitely recommend and come back! 🌊

Giorgia Nagle

2020-05

The Great Island Inn exceeded our expectations in many ways. The apartment-style rooms are unique and immaculate, The proximity to downtown Portsmouth is extremely close while still feeling like you're tucked away on the coastline, and the owner is phenomenal. Doug is helpful, professional, and efficient at all times. This is our go-to location.

Patricia Smith

2019-05

I had the third floor studio with a beautiful view of the water. The room was pristine: modern casual, in serene shades of blue and grey, with a well appointed kitchen with a 5 foot tall fridge. Coffee and sandwich shop is next door. The beach is a short walk away. Check-in and out are effortless via email. I've stayed here before and plan to visit again.

Steven Neff

2019-05

What a perfect place to stay. On our road trip up the east coast we found this amazing inn and did not find its equal on the rest of our trip. Quiet and beautiful location off the beaten path. The accommodations were so good we could have stayed a few days more. Doug & Dan had provided lots of personal touches and the furnishings and comfort would compare to a hotel at twice the price. (and heated floors in the bathroom! C'mon.. so nice!)

Amanda Manero

2019-05

Amazing!!! The room was fantastic...home away from home! Everything was modern and at your finger tips! We loved walking around the unique and welcoming town! The best part was we were able to bring our best friend along (our pup)! Would highly recommend!! Doug was extremely helpful with all of our questions! Thanks again for an amazing stay!

Ellen Whiting

2020-05

I have stayed here several times now, in different rooms. I can say that all are comfortable, quiet, and thoughtfully appointed. Reservation, check-in said departure couldn't be easier. It's fair to say that I have fallen in love with New Castle! It's one of those perfect New England places. Already looking forward to my next trip. Thanks Doug!

Martin

2022-05

…More

Brian Benko

2019-05

This is one of the nicest and most well appointed places to stay if you are coming to Portsmouth or New England for a visit. Doug and or his designers did a fantastic job. It is so relaxing and so nice to be in a comfortable room when away from home. As a side note, if you have ever written a review of a hotel and wished your bedroom was as comfortable it means you need a new mattress and let me say that you should always miss your bed more than you miss a bed from a trip. With that said the linens and mattress are very nice. Since I was referred to the Great Island Inn by a local business owner, I was not aware that it functions like an Airbnb. Doug is very responsive and if there is anything missing I am certain he would make every attempt to make sure your stay is one that will also have you writing a positive review. Skip Boston and head up to Portsmouth, Kittery, Portland, and Burlington. Do not, I repeat, do not forget to stop at Lil's in Kittery. You are welcome.