I have been staying at the Colonial on and off for nearly 20 years. This is the first year I was disappointed; it is also the first time I stayed in the original hotel.

Over the years this 120 year hotel has evolved, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Rooms in the main hotel - that is, the 120 year old rooms - obviously started out as "fancy", became outdated, and have been updated. Some of the rooms are large, some very small. Unfortunately, there has never been a true gut-and-rebuild, leave one with a patchwork experience.

The newer buildings provide a better and more uniform experience, the family suites provide accommodations well suited to those travelling with children.

One recent problem is that the Colonial is "overselling and under-delivering" and charging based on the oversell. For example, if you visit their web site and look at the video or slide show you see a lovely looking continental breakfast buffet and table cloths on the tables both inside and out. Sorry to say, that's not what is there today. The "deluxe" breakfast consisted of: fresh brewed coffee, milk and orange juice (not fresh squeezed) in pitchers, your choice of what appeared to be frosted flakes or raisin bran (pour your own from plastic containers), bagels, English muffins, sliced commercial bakery bread, toaster waffles, and small yogurt containers. The one young staff member appeared to be unable to keep up with the demand and the trash can on the porch was overfilled with the paper plates, Styrofoam cups, and plastic tableware for the first 75% of my breakfast. [Sidenote: at one time breakfast was served to you, at other times you could order pancakes or waffles at the kitchen window].

In general, they seem to be short staffed (the front desk person was "called in to help out") and limited in resources (could not always log in to the free WiFi). Adding insult to injury, the price for our very small room (we were warned at booking) was higher than the "subject to change" rates listed on the web site (that is, the peak-season rates for July and August, we were told, went up August 1 and they had not gotten around to changing the web site)

The bottom line is that your experience at the Colonial will depend a lot on the specific room you are assigned, the staff present when you arrive, and the attitude of the current management (20 years ago the management was an on-site family and my kids played with their kids).

My friends and I stayed at this overpriced hotel that Has the same Curtains up that my grandmother had in ther 50's. We were never notified of the rules and regulations of the hotel. We checked out and got nothing but an attitude from the front desk person and manger. $660 spent on two nights stay and No respect. Not to mention, they openly admitted that they do not wash the bedspreads.

I have read some of these reviews and I don't know what the fuss is all about. I had a great experience there. The trolly stop is right out front. You can walk down to see some great beach views. Let's face it. The place is a little less expensive but if you need a bed, a shower, and a great location this is the place. If you need fancy (and what are you doing in your room anyway?) then this isn't for you. I thought is was a great value and that is why I gave it a very good. I would go back again. Youalso get a continental breakfast which you can eat outside on the outside deck, which is very pleasant.

Booked this hotel by mistake, wanted the other Colonial on Route 1, got mixed up between the two (unfortunately). Great exterior and location but service and interior are terrible. Rooms are terribly old and small, bathroom had been installed in closet, shampoo bottles had been reused (label had been peeled off carefully and bottles refilled), supposedly heated pool must have been colder than the sea nearby, will never return to this hotel and would definitely not recommend to anybody.