The Belvedere Hotel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine: the Hotel from Hell

This was the slogan my best friend and I created while staying at the Belvedere Hotel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The hotel was a far cry from the popular chains usually encountered while on vacation.

When shown to our room, we were chagrined to find two dumpy looking single beds. Deciding to make do, however, we sucked it up and pretended to be college students in dorm beds for our stay.

The room also lacked the amenities one is accustomed to having in-room. There was no television, no phone, no coffee maker, no hair dryer, and no mini-fridge. There was not even so much as an ice bucket. There was a closet, dresser, nightstand and lamp.

Being located on the beach, it was not a surprise to discover sand in the hotel and even in our room. It happens. But our sheets also had sand in them. It makes me question how often the bedding is changed!

While there, Maine was hit by a monstrous rainstorm. We took the day to do some shopping. Upon our return, my bed, located next to the window, was soaking wet. When I notified the front desk attendant and asked for dry sheets, all I received was a towel. Needless to say, a night spent in a wet, sandy bed was not a fun experience.

Nothing was worse than the bathrooms, however. There were two bathrooms located on each floor. Communal bathrooms are never a picnic, but these were exceptionally disgusting. There was never any toilet paper. The floor was constantly flooded. The shower curtain clung to your body while showering. Nasty.

The Belvedere Hotel did have a few good qualities, too. It is incredibly affordable. Our room cost us $35 a night. That is amazing for a hotel that is located right on the beach. I fell asleep to the sounds of the waves each night. It was also within walking distance of the downtown area, which we took full advantage of.

While the hotel does not offer very many of the modern amenities that we weary travelers are accustomed to and have come to expect, the Belvedere Hotel did have a certain charm all of its own. It was easy to imagine it once being a summer home that a family looked forward to inhabiting during Maine's beautiful summer months. The front lobby is very homey and comforting, even though the rooms are a bit bare and unwelcoming.

While the Belvedere Hotel is no Hilton, or even a Super 8, it is a memorable place to stay. If you are a person who can make light of any situation, then it might be worth a stay. Leave a tip for the maids like we did and they might remember you too: Change the sheets more often, sweep the floor, leave more towels.