The Docent's Collection

Hotels Near Of Me Maine Cumberland County Portland Old Port Middle Street

121 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

4.0

We had a wonderful stay at the Docent’s Collection. The location was superb - centrally situated and easy to navigate both on foot around Old Port & by car for longer trips. Despite being in such a prime area, it was quiet, which made for a peaceful and relaxing stay. The washer/dryer in the unit was a surprise & greatly appreciated. The hotel (more like an apartment ☺️) was cozy, clean, modern, and spacious. We especially appreciated how comfortable the bed was - it made all the difference after long days of exploring! Being located next to a police station also added a sense of safety and security. Communication with the hotel team was clear, consistent, and responsive throughout our stay. While there isn’t an onsite concierge, the self check in process was smooth and in line with today’s more modern travel experience. Overall, we absolutely recommend the Docent’s Collection for anyone looking for a well-located, spacious, easy, apartment-feel place to stay in Old Port!

Rachel Dum

Overview

(207) 709-1217
www.thedocentscollection.com

The Docent's Collection Introduce

For local users searching the "Hotels Near Of Me" category, especially those seeking an extended stay or a more apartment-like experience in Portland, Maine, The Docent's Collection offers a unique accommodation option. Located at 121 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101, USA, this property aims to blend the comforts of home with the convenience of a hotel, particularly appealing to travelers who prefer a self-sufficient and spacious environment. You can contact them at (207) 709-1217 or +1 207-709-1217.

Environment and Location:

The Docent's Collection boasts a "superb" and "centrally situated" location in Portland's highly sought-after Old Port district. This prime positioning makes it exceptionally easy to "navigate both on foot around Old Port & by car for longer trips." Guests can effortlessly explore the area's renowned restaurants, unique shops, and historical landmarks. Despite its central and vibrant surroundings, the property is often described as "quiet," which is a significant advantage for a peaceful and relaxing stay. Its proximity to a police station is noted by guests as adding "a sense of safety and security." This central location means you're within easy walking distance of numerous attractions, including the Eastern Promenade, Merrill Auditorium, and the Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal for island excursions. The ability to walk to most points of interest in the Old Port and downtown areas is a key benefit, reducing the need for extensive driving or reliance on public transport for local exploration.

Accommodations and Features:

The Docent's Collection is designed to feel "more like an apartment" than a traditional hotel, providing a "cozy, clean, modern, and spacious" environment. Each unit is equipped with features aimed at making extended stays comfortable and convenient. A highlight for many guests is the inclusion of a washer/dryer in the unit, which is "a surprise & greatly appreciated," offering significant convenience, particularly for longer visits. While one guest noted a lack of laundry facilities in their specific long-term unit, suggesting this may vary by unit or be a new addition, the general sentiment is that it's a valuable amenity. The accommodations typically feature fully equipped kitchens, allowing guests to prepare their own meals and manage their dining preferences, a crucial aspect of extended stays. The comfort of the bed is often praised, with one guest stating it "made all the difference after long days of exploring!" However, it's worth noting a conflicting review regarding bed comfort, where one guest found a king bed to "cave in" and be "AWFUL," suggesting inconsistency in mattress quality across units. Rooms generally include living areas separate from sleeping quarters, enhancing the apartment-like feel. The self check-in process is described as "smooth" and aligns with a "modern travel experience," catering to independent travelers. It's important to be aware that as an apartment-style property, there isn't an onsite concierge, meaning guests manage many aspects of their stay independently, though communication with the hotel team is generally responsive.

Services and Communication:

While The Docent's Collection operates with a modern, self-check-in model and does not have a traditional onsite concierge, the communication with the hotel team is consistently highlighted as "clear, consistent, and responsive throughout our stay." Guests report that the staff is very responsive and attentive to issues that arise, such as a non-functioning fridge or a noisy ice maker, even moving guests to new rooms to resolve problems. They are also described as apologetic when issues occur. This responsiveness is a critical service feature for a property relying on remote management. However, there have been inconsistencies noted, particularly regarding housekeeping services. One review detailed multiple instances of housekeepers entering the room despite explicit requests for no cleaning, leading to a feeling of violation and lack of privacy. This suggests a need for improved internal communication regarding guest preferences. While complimentary breakfast or daily cleaning services are not typically offered due to the apartment-style nature, the focus is on providing a self-sufficient living space with responsive remote support.

Promotional Information and Considerations:

The Docent's Collection is highly recommended for "anyone looking for a well-located, spacious, easy, apartment-feel place to stay in Old Port" for shorter visits. Its "really well priced for the quality!" and central location are significant drawcards. However, potential guests considering a true "extended stay" (meaning several days to weeks) should be aware of certain aspects. While the staff is responsive to immediate issues, recurring problems like construction noise from a neighboring building (unannounced and occurring 6 days a week, 9 hours a day, including Saturdays) and thin walls leading to noise from other units (described as "people tap dancing" from 8 am to midnight) can significantly impact the peace and quiet needed for long-term comfort, particularly for those recovering from surgery or needing a quiet environment for work. The inconsistency in bed quality and the potential lack of in-unit laundry in some longer-term units (despite it being present in others) are also points to clarify prior to booking for an extended stay. While there's a laundromat nearby, it adds an inconvenience for longer stays. The property appears to excel for shorter, tourist-focused trips where guests spend less time in the room, but those requiring a truly peaceful and fully self-contained extended stay might need to verify specific unit features and current external conditions (like construction) directly with the management to ensure it meets their needs. Despite some noted drawbacks for very long stays, the location, spaciousness, and responsive communication remain strong positives.

The Docent's Collection Photos

The Docent's Collection Location

The Docent's Collection

121 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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Reviews

May 20, 2025 · Rachel Dum

While this location is amazing, everything else about it is 1 star. My partner and I booked a 10 day stay here while he recovered from surgery, meaning we would be spending almost all our time in the room and needed a peaceful environment to recover in. We first arrived and went grocery shopping only to find out the next day our fridge wasn’t functioning and we had to throw all our perishables away. While they did not reimburse us for our wasted expenses, the staff was very responsive and moved us to a new room. The new room’s fridge was working but then the ice maker was broken making a loud banging noise every two hours. The staff again was responsive and sent maintenance to fix it. Before arriving, we told the staff we didn’t want any housekeeping or cleaning during our stay. We have now had a housekeeper come in twice while we’ve been out of our room. After the first time, we contacted the staff and again they were very responsive and apologetic and assured us no one would enter our room during the rest of our stay. We came back to our room the next day to find a housekeeper in it. Now the unbearable noises we hear all day long. We were not alerted that there is construction going on 6 days a week, 9 hours a day in the building next door. Nonstop sawing and electrical tool noises all day long, even on Saturday. The walls and floors are also extremely thin and we have heard what sounds like people tap dancing in the unit above us from 8am-12am since we’ve arrived. Finally, we specifically booked this spot because it had a king bed. If you like beds that cave in more than a boomerang, then this is the bed for you! I feel like I am in a permanent crescent moon shape while sleeping. AWFUL awful caves in bed. Also please be aware if you are staying longer term like us, there is no laundry. A lovely laundromat around the corner, but obviously inconvenient. If you are just visiting for a weekend and don’t plan on spending much time in the room except for sleeping, then this is a great centrally located spot. If you plan on spending an extended stay here, like the hotel is advertised as, I highly recommend against. The staff has been very responsive and attentive and the noises and operating machinery is obviously not their fault, but the housekeeping without our consent is unacceptable.

Apr 20, 2025 · Melissa Frohman

A Contemporary Oasis in the Heart of Historic Portland You’d be forgiven if you passed the Docent Collection’s Thompsons Block at 121 Middle Street and only noticed the beautiful exterior of a perfect example of a Second Empire architecture. This spectacular building was built almost immediately after the Great Fire of 1866 in the fashion of the times and is magnificent in its detailed façade. Nestled in the center of this historic building is the discreet entrance to contemporary accommodation of superb detail delivering the best and most comfortable of mod-cons of the 21st century. A personal event led me and my friends to search for a two-bedroom place in Portland and this lovely space popped up. I was surprised to find such a place in Portland and pored over the detailed website before confirming a 4 week stay. This was s a big commitment for us - we were looking for a great location, with restaurants, activities and shopping within walking distance. And we wanted a modern apartment style unit with two bedrooms, two baths and a full kitchen. We were after extra comfort in a prime location! Well, I can happily say that Docent met and exceeded all our expectations. The apartments (from studios to 2 bedrooms) are thoughtfully and very tastefully designed. This is your best friend’s modern home! Full kitchens with a strong supply of cooking equipment (and dishwasher) make “home-cooked” meal prep easy. The quality of the kitchen is second to none. Bedrooms had king size beds with great, comfortable mattresses and high-end bedding. The living room is appointed with beautiful, designer furniture and large screen TV (each bedroom also has a large screen as well). This is all complimented by carefully curated original artwork on the walls. For those of you who want to peruse this, the website gives a very good, real view. Lastly the service is great. The team are always available by phone for all your needs, its more akin to say an AirBnB digital entry (no hotel check-in desk) but we did have some requests for service which were all promptly responded to. I don’t normally gush over a place, but Docent deserves it. I highly recommend you try this lovely spot on your next trip to Portland. It really is modern oasis for the discerning traveler! Bravo and thank you to the Docent Team!

Mar 24, 2025 · Mark Siladi

Stylish, comfortable space with quality furnishings and high-end touches throughout, including comfortable cotton bedding, good pillows and thick bath towels. Great location and pro-active concierge services made our stay delightful. Thank you!

Feb 21, 2025 · Diane Senior

Absolutely LOVED my stay here and was sad to go! The 1 bedroom loft I had stayed in was beautiful, clean and cozy and included high-end furnishings from the linens, bathroom and kitchen amenities, to the appliances, furniture and decor. There were samples of local coffees, teas, snacks, olive oils, soaps and books which were a great touch. Having access to local TV channels was great for catching up on the news or just casting from your own devices. The staff was also very kind, polite and accomodating. Since the hotel is located in the Old Ports, everything was accessible by walking and Uber. I was also able to drop off my luggage before check-in while my suite was being prepared, but I would recommend arranging this beforehand as there is not a traditional lobby at the entrance. It was very obvious that alot of thought and attention went into the hotel and suites which I appreciated as a guest. I look forward to staying here again and recommending to friends and family.

Oct 05, 2024 · Kiran Gill