Review: The Wanderer Cottages

Why book?  This collection of 17 quintessential white clapboard New England cottages has cool, surf shack-inspired decor and a prime location within biking distance to Kennebunkport’s best restaurants, shops, and beaches.    

Set the scene Solo travelers and couples wearing Vineyard Vines and Faherty apparel play bocce ball on the seagrass-and-hydrangea landscaped lawn and sip beers in Adirondack chairs surrounding fire pits. Most of them are East Coast creatives here for a quick coastal getaway. They love the surf vibe, but very few of them actually surf (at least in Maine’s brisk waters). They’ve come to eat lobster rolls, ride cruiser bikes around town, and hang by the hotel’s heated saltwater pool.

The backstory This collection of stylish beach cottages is owned by Lord & Harrington, LLC, the company that also founded Batson River Brewing & Distilling, which has outposts in Kennebunk, Biddeford, Wells, and Portland, Maine. The property management company, Atlantic Hospitality, also oversees popular area retreats including Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport and Salt Cottages in Bar Harbor. The grounds were once home to the Kennebunker Cottages, which fell into disrepair and were ultimately replaced with these stylish new accommodations. Cottage number six is named for the original property and a retro Kennebunker sign hangs in its living room. 

The rooms Each studio and one-bedroom cottage has a cute name, like Love Shack (#11) or Surf Shack (#3) and has been decorated with vintage black-and-white surf photography, nautical-themed antiques, and custom rope-wrapped surfboards created by Kennebunkport’s Gold Standard Woodworking. Cozy 200-square-foot studios are great crash pads if you plan to spend most of your time at the beach. If you plan to hang, one-bedroom cottages are double the size and have a separate living room. All feature mini-fridges and wet bars and most are dog friendly. If you’re traveling for an extended period, book the two-bedroom guesthouse, which comes with a full kitchen.

Food and drink There isn’t a restaurant, but complimentary breakfast bags filled with orange juice, fruit, and yogurt are delivered to your cottage door each morning. The staff are happy to suggest their favorite local eats. Bennett’s Sandwich Shop, beloved for its gigantic cheesesteaks, is across the street and the numerous restaurants around Dock Square, including Batson River, a three-level brewpub from the hotel’s founders, are one mile away. Halfway between the hotel and Dock Square is excellent newcomer Wandby Landing. Rooms start at $202 per night.

The neighborhood/area A prime location on a leafy street one mile from Kennebunkport’s buzzy Dock Square allows guests to skip the hassles of summer traffic and parking and use free cruiser bikes to visit downtown’s lobster shacks, bars, and boutiques. Mother’s Beach is just a half-mile away, and other popular beaches, like Parsons, Kennebunk, and Gooch’s are a short drive. Kayakers can launch at Mousam River, around one mile away.

The service Service is low touch, but insidery. The rotating staff that man the front desk are super plugged into the local scene and can arrange surf lessons at Gooch’s Beach with awesome surf school Aquaholics, boat outings aboard First Chance Whale Watch, and reservations at top tables (they’ll even tell you which bartender to ask for at local watering holes).

For families The property is adults-only.

Eco effort This is one area the hotel can improve upon even if it starts by eliminating plastic water bottles and utensils. 

Accessibility There is one accessible cottage with a roll-in shower and grab bars.

Anything left to mention? Cottages are spaced about 10 feet apart and while there aren’t side windows looking into other units, you may find yourself sitting alongside your neighbors on the Adirondack chairs on the front lawn. The 1965 Land Rover Defender parked out front of the property was once owned by a professor from California who traveled to more than 300 countries across all seven continents. His nomadic spirit inspired Wanderer designer Mark Cotto to buy the vehicle and convert it into a stationary art piece topped with surfboards perfect as a backdrop for Instagram stories.