There are two great hotel options in Salem Massachusetts worth adding to your New England hotel list. The Hawthorne Hotel is a historical and classic hotel in the center of Salem that offers unique, boutique-style accommodations that ooze the history of the area. The property has been renovated and the rooms are all uniquely-decorated, many with antiques and oriental carpets throughout.
While it stands tall and looks proud on one of the main drags of Salem, it only has 84 rooms and 5 suites in the main hotel and 3 rooms and 1 suite in the Fidelia Bridges Guest House, which is individually furnished and tastefully appointed with 18th century-style decor. They tout triple-sheeted bedding with twice the “squishable” pillows of other hotels, which I found amusing.
Other room options are a little more modern, while still sticking with a classic traditional style. (see below).
They also have a fitness room on site with access to a local gym and two pools, free wifi, and handicapped accessible rooms, which is handy and worth knowing since not all hotels can cater to someone with a disability. The hotel is also a pet-friendly hotel but you need to let them know in advance. And, the hotel lobby is a treasure, with big comfy sofas and shelves of old books.
The service was top notch and we loved our experience, especially dinner in the main hotel restaurant Nathaniels, which has a piano player on certain nights of the week who takes requests — he played all of ours and we even danced.
Details:
Hawthorne Hotel
18 Washington Square W
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-4080
The Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites is just down the street from the Hawthorne Inn and is nestled right around the corner from Salem’s harbor where many of the boat and sailing ship tours depart from on a daily basis. The hotel has 86 graciously appointed guest rooms and suites and is apparently a popular option for weddings and business travelers who also require meeting room space.
As you can see, the hotel is much more traditional and almost corporate in its look and feel, contrary to the antique and historical style of the Hawthorne Inn. That said, the beauty about the Salem Waterfront Hotel is its extensive amenities and the size of the rooms, making it a great choice for families. We found the service to be incredibly gracious and the hotel staff were knowledgeable about the area, providing maps and tips about where to go and what to see.
Built in 2004, their guest rooms and suites are the largest on the North Shore, so if you’re traveling with children, this property is your better bet and it’s also conveniently located right next to the harbor yet a stone’s throw from Essex Street, which is where most of the witch related activities and tours take place.
The rooms have Keurig coffee makers, decent sized flat screen TVs, free wifi (and it was reliable), iPod docking stations, comfortable down-alternative comforters and pillows, luxurious Sferra bed linens, cotton robes and Tarocco bath products. Outside they have a terrace/patio area which is part of the adjacent restaurant where you can grab a bite anytime of day and is where they serve breakfast daily. If the weather is decent, we recommend sitting outside.
Details:
Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
225 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-8788
Note: we were hosted by both hotels but all opinions expressed here are entirely our own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
