Salem's Newest Hotel Is a Great Place to Stay for a Spell

An Ideal Location for Exploring Salem's Witch Lore and More

The 86-room Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites opened on October 1, 2004, just in time for the busiest month in "Witch City." Whether you're headed to Salem, Massachusetts, for Halloween fun, witch lore or maritime and literary history, the hotel--the first to open in Salem in nearly 80 years--is ideally situated in the heart of the seaside city. With sought-after amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and an indoor pool, and spacious, comfortable rooms and suites, it's the city's best choice for families.

Location is Everything

Salem is a very walkable city, with the majority of its attractions clustered within a compact area. Until the opening of the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, however, lodging options in the center of the city were limited to smaller inns and B&Bs. Now, travelers with children and those seeking the amenities of a larger hotel have an option that can't be beat for its location at the heart of all that Salem offers.

The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites is located at 225 Derby Street adjacent to the shops and restaurants of Pickering Wharf. The Schooner Fame departs directly from Pickering Wharf for Salem Sound cruises, and other popular city sights, such as the Peabody Essex Museum, The House of Seven Gables and the Salem Witch Museum are a short walk or trolley ride away. Free parking is provided to hotel guests.

While it is located on the waterfront, the hotel's 86 rooms, including 24 suites and mini-suites, are on the first four floors, so views are limited. The fifth and sixth floors, which offer spectacular water views, are being developed as upscale condominiums.

What We Liked

My parents joined me and my two-year-old on an overnight visit to the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites (Check Rates at Kayak.com) in January of 2005, just a few months after it opened to guests. Salem is quiet in the winter, which makes the off-season a good time to visit if you're hoping to avoid the crowds that grow through the summer and fall and peak on October 31. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with a brutally cold spell, and being on the water can really amplify the chill of a New England winter.

Our accommodations--a suite with a king bed and an adjoining room with two double beds--provided us with a spacious and comfortable haven from the cold. Although Salem can't ditch its witch reputation, the décor at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites reflects the city's equally rich maritime history. Nautical prints complemented the rooms' navy and beige color scheme. The hotel provided a portable crib for my daughter, and I had the luxury of a king bed piled high with pillows and a lofty comforter, so we both slept like babies.

Of course, with my Web sites to manage and a never-ending onslaught of email, the greatest luxury for me was the availability of free, high-speed, wireless Internet access throughout the hotel.

It worked like a charm in my room, allowing me to keep up with work while my little one napped. After a day of traveling, her late nap meant that we were loathe to venture out into the frigid air. We didn't realize room service was available, as room menus were still in production, but we were able to have a pizza delivered to the room.

The smoke-free hotel offers other nice touches, including in-room coffeemakers, complimentary newspapers in the morning and "Business Plus" amenities in the majority of rooms, including a desk, ergonomic chair and cordless phone.

In the morning, the hotel offers a free Continental breakfast for guests, and we enjoyed the warm and cozy atmosphere of the Regatta Pub and a nice spread of juices, coffee, tea, muffins, bagels, croissants, cereal and fresh fruit. The Regatta Pub provides casual dining for hotel guests and the public and will offer outdoor patio seating in the summer. The menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and seafood and other entrees features twists on regional favorites, such as New England clam chowder with a special ingredient--fresh basil.

Most new hotels have a few kinks to work out, and we did encounter a few problems during our stay, most related to the cold weather.

A Few Misadventures

I'll admit that not everyone agrees with me that an indoor pool should feel almost like bath water, but the water was too cold to be enjoyable. It made me regret promising my toddler we'd go swimming if she ate her peas and picked up toys in the days leading up to our trip. General Manager Michelle Haselhuhn tells me that curtains for the pool area are on the way, which should help both with insulation and privacy, as the street-side pool was pretty exposed.

We were forced to change rooms when a toilet stopped working due to a frozen pipe. While the staff was accommodating in finding us another set of adjoining rooms, they did not offer to assist with our relocation, which was a project with a crib, computer and luggage.

The final misadventure was my own fault, as I inadvertently locked myself out of my new room by closing the bar across the exterior door and then shutting the door to my parents' adjoining room when I went to visit. My dad and the hotel engineer worked diligently for 45 minutes to get us back in while I paced in my PJs, feeling pretty foolish.

Winter weather and minor mishaps aside, the Salem Waterfront makes a fine addition to Salem's lodging line-up. For reservations, call (978) 740-8788 or toll free, 888 337-2536.