The Bow Hotel

This is a small property--a boutique hotel--with perhaps a dozen rooms located on the second floor above a commercial operation. it is located very close to the Portsmouth city center, so very convenient. My room had a comfortable bed plenty of towels. They have a parking lot located across the street.

We were staying in another hotel at the far edge of Portsmouth (without a vehicle) and changed our lodging for our final night in town. We changed it, chiefly because we wanted to be closer to the center of town, for sight-seeing, dining, etc.. This was a good move. Because of the central location of the Bow Hotel, on the last night in town, we got to walk across the bridge to Maine for dinner and had a more relaxed breakfast on the morning of our departure than we otherwise would have.

Geez, this place was expensive. I'm wondering why there seems to be so little middle-ground in places like Portsmouth, between the Travelodge and the Days Inn (or equivalent) up by Rte 95, on one hand, and the boutique-y Bow Hotel in the center of town, on the other. We enjoyed the Bow Hotel's amenities--beautifully appointed, fastidiously maintained room--and so on. But the location convenience really prompted our choice to switch hotels, and we would likely have chosen a hostel or whatnot if readily available. Also, it would have been nicer to interact with a human at the desk than it was to deal with staff remotely on the phone throughout our stay.

I liked the refurbished rooms, the cleanliness, the fancy bathrobes, and the pantry. The location is just about perfect and within walking distance of all that downtown Portsmouth has to offer. The off-street parking availability is a bonus. I also appreciated that help was both responsive and only a phone call away.

The rooms could use a real blanket to be used on chilly nights. I think parking should be included in the room price. Two of my companions are not particularly techno-savvy and had they been alone would have struggled with instructions for keyless entry.

We loved the design of the room and the location was excellent.

No control of the AC in the room as it was unseasonably warm in New England last week. The room was super hot and I was not able to sleep due to the lack of air circulation. I attempted to open the windows but they did not have any nets and I was worried about mosquitos and other critters coming in. This should be clear during the booking process.