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Black Bear Inn and Conference Center: Traveler Reviews

2.5 of 5
4 Godfrey Dr., Orono, ME 04473
Hotel amenities
Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
Ranked #1 of 2 hotels in Orono
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76 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    37
    29
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    1
Date Rating
Portland, Maine, United States
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Clean, comfy, and welcoming!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 2, 2011

The staff was super friendly and we were able to quickly get into our room even though we did not have a reservation. The bear theme was cute and not over done and our room got really nice sunlight. Hot showers are very important to me, so I was very pleased to find the water had great pressure and stayed nice and hot the whole time. The sheets, carpet and bathroom were really clean and I had a very comfortable sleep. The worst part was having to get up in the morning, but fortunately there were waffles at the continental breakfast to motivate me. We did not quite make the 11:00 a.m. check out but they were really nice about it and did not charge us extra. We checked in too late to make the wine and cheese social, so we will definitely try to get there next time. I would definitely recommend this hotel!
-Paige

  • Stayed October 2011, traveled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Paige C about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
thpalmer3, General Manager at Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, responded to this review
November 16, 2011
Thank you for your kind comments. I will review and post your comments for our staff. They are the ones who do all the work. I hope next time you visit you will be early enough for our complimentary wine and cheese reception. Thanks again. Tom Palmer/GM
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Fairfield County, Connecticut
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 hotel reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“Old hotel in serious need of a renovation and cleaning”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed September 17, 2011 via mobile

I stayed here for work last September and wasn't impressed. When I needed to come up to Orono again this September I decided to give the Black Bear Inn another chance as it does have potential- the staff are very nice.

My room was on the second floor and I decided to take the stairs. They were old and flimsy as was the hallway leading to my room. The carpet is worn and smells of dust.

Then I get to my two queen-bedded room. The first thing I noticed was the dank, dusty smell; the second was a concaved, old and worn bed. I chose the other bed which was a bit better.

The bathroom was dirty. The toilet had not been scrubbed in a while, bathtub had a slow drain and the shower curtain was moldy.

Some channels on the TV came in fine while the local NBC,CBS and ABC channels were fuzzy- odd- but obviously from low-end cable subscription.

I then went to the 'exercise room.'.
Worst I have ever seen! The weight equipment was fine but only one treadmill which was about 10 years old and in bad repair. I usually run but did not trust it so I just walked on it.

It seems like more of the positive reviews were from years ago. These days it seems like the management doesn't want to admit that it is time for a renovation.

  • Stayed September 2011
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Jleesure about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
thpalmer3, General Manager at Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, responded to this review
September 20, 2011
Thank you for your comments. They are very helpful. We did not live up to our usual high standards and I apolgize. Our staff will review your comments and I guarantee your next visit will be a positive one. Thanks again, Tom Palmer/GM
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Brunswick, Maine
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
8 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“Wonderful staff, beautiful rooms....highly recommend”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed September 15, 2011

I had to stay at the Black Bear Inn recently in order to attend a funeral of a lifelong friend. I was very happy to have such an easy check in process and such a friendly and welcoming staff. I got checked in in minutes, had a delicious cookie, and then headed to my room.

My room was clean, bright, and decorated with quilts and artwork depicting black bears. I thought the room was very tastefully decorated and very comfortable. I even had a small stuffed black bear on the bed to "keep me from being lonely." I purchased the bear (which his tag said I could) as the profits go to Cancer Care for Maine - one of the charities my friend who passed requested donations be directed to.

I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone who is staying in the Bangor/Orono area. It is very conveniently located directly off the Stillwater Ave, Old Town exit of I-295 and is an easy drive to Bangor and the surrounding area.

I will be back to stay for a happier occasion - thank you to the staff for the amazing service. My only note is that I wish the restaurant were open past 8 PM (at least until 10) so that when I got back from visiting hours at 9 I could have had dinner or a drink in the restaurant instead of having to drive into town. I did have a great dinner at Pat's Pizza (the original!) that night in Orono...which was a real treat...so it all worked out.

  • Stayed September 2011, traveled solo
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask bethinmaine about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
thpalmer3, General Manager at Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, responded to this review
September 20, 2011
We definately appreciate your kind words. We have upgraded in many areas. Everyone seems to like the complimentary wine and cheese reception. It has...
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Harrisville, Pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Best staff welcome and cleanest rooms on this 7 day trip”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed August 14, 2011

We stayed in 7 different hotels throughout our Main trip and the Black Bear was the most pleasing. The rooms were roomy, clean and beautifully decorated with a rustic lodge theme that was cozy and pleasing to the eye. (I thought it might me "hokey", but no!) With all that expected comfort, we were also pleased to be invited to a wine and cheese reception in the main lobby. That was a nice way to mingle with other guests and lighten-up after a long drive. This is a non-smoking hotel as was expected, but for my die-hard smoking friends, the lodge offers a clean, covered patio with ashtrays placed far from the possiblility of offending other guests. That's thoughtful!
The staff was very warm and welcoming and ready to offer help and information on the area. Great breakfast too. Orono is close to all the places one might be looking for without the very high prices of being right on the coast.

Room Tip: The beautiful Bear quilts are locally made and can be bought at the lodge
See more room tips
  • Stayed August 2011, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask ninetoesjo about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
thpalmer3, General Manager at Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, responded to this review
August 23, 2011
Thanks for your kind words. We are glad you enjoyed hotel and the complimentary wine and cheese reception. We just just started the 'reception' and it has gone very well. I will pass your comments on to our staff. Thanks again Tom Palmer/GM
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Flemington, New Jersey
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
“Poor Service and Lack of Cleanliness”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed August 8, 2011

I stayed here in May for two nights and was so disappointed on cleanliness. It's an older hotel; however, the age of hotel should not be an excuse for being dirty. The floor was not vacuumed; there was brown and red splatter marks on the wall and door; the sheets did not fit and there were stains on the bedspread; dust on the furniture; and dirt in the bathroom (floor, tub and counter). I know most the reviews were good for this hotel, so maybe this was a fluke... if so I hope these problems were resolved! The other thing was the man at the front desk was very sarcastic when we requested extra sheets (it was like pulling teeth to get some that actually fit!). Not at all what I had expected.

  • Stayed May 2011, traveled on business
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask NatureLover9331 about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
thpalmer3, General Manager at Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, responded to this review
August 11, 2011
Sorry you had a bad experience someplace but it wasn't here. We don't have any men working the desk and we have no record of an incident like this in our log. Our staff is here to take care of any problems that may arise. Waiting 3+ months to post a responsee is not helpful wherever you stayed. Try us next time! Tom Palmer/GM
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Additional Information about Black Bear Inn and Conference Center

Also Known As:
Black Bear Hotel Orono
Black Bear Hotel
Best Western Orono
Orono Best Western
Black Bear Inn And Conference Center Orono, Maine
Address: 4 Godfrey Dr., Orono, ME 04473
Region: United States > Maine > Orono
Amenities:
Business Center Fitness Center Free Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Pets Allowed Restaurant Room Service Suites Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
Ranked #1 of 2 hotels in Orono
Price Range: $$
Hotel Class:2.5 star (2.5*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
The Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites is an award-winning hotel conveniently located at exit 193 of I-95 and minutes from UMaine campus. The hotel is 100% non-smoking and the popular choice for UMaine visitors, conference attendees and tourists from all over the world. Each room offers a refrigerator, microwave, and Keurig coffee maker. Guests can access our free high speed-Wi-Fi. While you're here, enjoy a delicious meal from our on-site cafe, open for dinner from 5-8pm, Monday-Saturday. With 7,560 square feet of conference space, we are the area's premiere destination for weddings, banquets, and corporate events. ... more   less 
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