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This 1894 Victorian Inn offers lakefront accommodations, many with water views, and seasonal vacation rentals on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH's largest lake and just minutes from the Bank of NH Pavillion. Choose a guest room, suite or cottage, all non-smoking and all with a queen bed, private bath, air conditioning, TV, FREE WiFi, alarm clock, hair dryer, and many with lake views. The Inn is located in a no-wake area on the lake, so boats pass quietly. Enjoy our private beach, relax in our lakefront gazebo or settle into one of the comfy seats on our wraparound porch to watch the boats pass by or listen to the loons. Boat rentals available at area marinas or bring your own canoe or kayak. Winter visitors will enjoy ice fishing on the lake, snowmobiling from the inn or cross country or downhill skiing at nearby Gunstock Mountain. Just a short drive to Weirs Beach attractions, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse and many area restaurants.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Quaint, old fashioned, spotless accommodation and property. We stayed in the Emma room which has an en-suite jacuzzi and gas fireplace. Beautiful and well maintained architecture throughout the inn. Due to Covid, no coffee served, but we planned ahead and brought our own small coffee pot. This was a magically relaxing two nights. We enjoyed some time in the living area, playing cards, laughing and just plain decompressing. It was fun trying to piece together the story of the property from the photos on display as well.
The jacuzzi was amazing! Very hot water was plentiful both there and in the shower, and the water pressure was out of this world! The fireplace was nice but the pilot light kept going out which was a nuisance but not a deal breaker since the room was quite warm (and dry: if visiting in the winter, consider bringing a small humidifier). It would have been nice to have an additional chair available in the room and a small table as well. The mattress was an odd combination of firm yet unsupportive, but we managed for two nights ok...any more may have been a bit of an issue.
Overall, we were very pleased and would go back again in a heartbeat. Thank you Bob for being such a gracious host, and Sharon for the impeccably clean room!
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I spent 3 days at the Inn at Smith Cove. One night in the Salmon room in the Inn. The Inn is very nice and quaint and clean. The Salmon room is on the top floor and the ceilings are quite low at the sides - you just have to duck a bit in the bathroom. The A/C was great on the warm day/night. The next 2 nights we stayed in one of the cabins. It was a small cabin called Papoose which is perfect for a couple. It's not fancy - more like camping - but it was clean. You have to bring your own toiletries, towels, bedding. There is a full kitchen if you are inclined to cook. There is an A/C unit in the cabin. The location of the Inn on the Lake is great. Close to key attractions. They have a small beach which is fun to hang out at. Bob, the Innkeeper, was great. He is around if needed but doesn't bother you. He was always available via phone.
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Date of stay: July 2017
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOOOO close to Bank of NH Pavilion! Beautiful property and gardens. Walking inside this Inn is like stepping back in time, from the huge wraparound porch, to the fire placed living room/reception area. We stayed in room 2 - the "Kelly Room", which was small and simple, but very clean, and with a beautiful lake view. The queen size Victorian bed although lovely, had a mattress which evidently, was also from the Victorian era! After one night on that thing we were running (crawling actually) to the nearest CVS for Aleve!
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Date of stay: July 2017
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Ask for the room with the newest mattress!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in the Inn in Aug 2020. The place was beautiful and the grounds were beautiful as well. Bob and Maria, the owners, were wonderful hosts. We had brought our boat with us and Bob provided a slip right at the Inn for a slight additional charge. The rooms are very comfortable. I would have a difficult time finding anything negative to say about our vacation. Next time we may look into renting one of their cottages. Thank you Bob and Maria for a great time, the Lyons family.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Let me start with Bill the owner. He is very pleasant and when he says when you come here the place is yours and I won’t bother you, he means it. Even though he is next door, neither he nor his wife gave us the feeling they were watching. He was, very accessible when we had a question or just to exchange pleasantries. Now, the accommodations. We stayed in the former inn and it’s beautiful. Each of the rooms were very clean and spacious and has it’s own bathroom. That proved to be wonderful as we had four families with children. Everything you needed in the kitchen and a separate laundry room, great for those damp towels. One step out the door brings you to a magnificent wrap around porch with lots of chairs. The porch provided sun or shade. A few short steps and you’re at either the private sandy beach or on the covered pavilion. Both with tons of chairs. This place really has it all, dock space for your boat, Great Lake view and tons of parking. Take a look at it and you won’t be disappointed.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lots of outdoor decks and seating, very pleasant location, views and grounds, but my back was killing me from two nights on the saggy mattress in the DeFalco room. Not only was the bed uncomfortable, but the seating in our room was essentially non-existent; one broken cane chair that was unusable so we set our small cooler on it, and another chair that was totally uncomfortable even after adding pillows from the bed. Lovely spot on the cove, but TERRIBLE accomodations in this room.
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Date of stay: September 2007
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were immediately greeted with a rude innkeeper woman. Although the rooms inside the main building looked nice, the "Little House" which should have been called a "Little Shed" smelled of mold and caused us to feel very ill by morning. Could not stay another night! Innkeepers were even more rude when discussing this with them the following morning! Breakfast consisted of tea and coffee (no cream for either, no juice) and stale store-bought mini-muffins! Will never stay here again!
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Date of stay: July 2007
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Check in / front desk
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We wanted to like the Inn, but we just can’t get there. The place has a certain amount of charm but there’s a line between quaint and seedy toward which it skates too close. Just a few data points. We could easily hear noises and even voices in other rooms. The bed was old and just plain uncomfortable. In the morning, there was no hot water for my wife; she had to take a cold shower. There no coffee maker in the room. The plain coffee downstairs wasn’t ready when I woke; I drove to a local bagel shop. The water view is of a narrow channel, although the gazebo is nice. The room and lobby are pasted with various handwritten notes of rules and prohibitions. I get the feeling that the Inn does the bare minimum and writes off repeat customers. We won’t be repeats.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We found this spot though a family member native to the area and it is packed with local charm.
It's hard on a picturesque cove where you can sit under a covered roost and watch boats go in and out of the cove off Lake Winnipesaukee - a large inland lake with water clear down beyond 20 feet deep.
There are some restaurants nearby and the usual discounts are available for guests, but the lake has multiple great eateries surrounding it so venture out. We found Mame's to be very nice. There are abundant pastries and coffee in the mornings for these that can't wait until they get to a restaurant.
The rooms are comfortable and the two beds we used were in good shape. Each room has a theme and a unique look (You might ask them how they were named). It may be a bit spartan for "city dwellers" in keeping with that New England frugality, but there's a tv and AC in every room if you need them. And, yes, they do have wi-fi for those that start to shake when disconnected.
This is rustic but staffed by great people who are flexible and eager to have you enjoy their spot. Think of going to the mountains 30 years ago, but with comfortable updates and little touches like having a fridge on the porch where you can keep wine and snacks.
If you want a luxury hotel then go elsewhere and don't spoil it for the rest of us. I spend 100+ nights a year in hotels and this was a really delightful change.
But if you want to relax and unplug in a gorgeous setting then this is highly recommended.
And be sure to ask Bob if he has that old radio fixed.
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Date of stay: September 2013
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Only one room is on the first floor so be prepared to climb the stairs at least one if not two...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were greeted in our 10x15ish room with a dead bug and didn't think much of it until its friends arrived throughout our 12-hour stay. In this short time, we killed three large flies, two spiders, two moths, a bee and a wasp. We also thought we heard the pitter patter of an animal in the wall behind the bed in the middle of the night.
On the flip side, the place has a great view with a lovely porch and is in a convenient location to many activities on the lake. If it matters, the Inn is behind a trailer park.
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Date of stay: October 2011
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Gilford area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
inn at smith cove hotel gilford
LOCATION
United StatesNew HampshireGilford
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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