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"Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!

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Interior
Interior
Dining
Room
Bathroom

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8176.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Bar Harbor, ME
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Village Green
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bunk Room

2 Double Beds and 2 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

"Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!

Be among the first to enjoy, "Balance Cottage," and experience the ultimate, luxury, vacation. This brand new, custom home, completed August, 2017, is located in a secluded, private neighborhood, just a half mile from the entrance to Acadia National Park and five minutes from downtown Bar Harbor.

"Balance Cottage" is a vacationer's dream and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a grand stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen, custom bunk room, deck with contemporary fire table, and cozy coffee porch. The gourmet kitchen offers a 9' cook's island, fully integrated appliances, a limestone hood, authentic hand- hewn ceiling beams, granite countertops, a convection oven, full size refrigerator/freezer, a five-burner cooktop, ice maker, dishwasher, coffeemaker, microwave oven, and toaster. The kitchen is fully appointed with the finest cookware, flatware, and earthen tableware. An oak dining table, with comfortable seating, graces the spacious dining area. A large deck off the kitchen is ideal for entertaining and features plush and bench seating around a stylish 6' propane fire table. The living room offers a massive stone fireplace, beamed cathedral ceilings, a flat screen TV, with Roku and many premium channels, a stereo system utilizing AIRPLAY to stream all your favorite music, a leather sofa and luxe seating. Two of the three bedrooms each offer a king size bed, ceiling fans, opulent bed linens, new pillow-top mattresses, and the finest down pillows. The nautical themed bunk room has an entertainment center, complete with flat screen TV, BLU-RAY player, Roku and more. The bunk room features two queen lower beds and two double upper bunks, each with its own device charging station and reading light. The two bathrooms have custom stone showers, the softest terry towels and a washer and dryer. The sunny coffee porch is the perfect place to view the abundant wildlife in the area: families of white-tail deer, chipmunks, mallard ducks, wild turkeys, amazing birds, and a nesting pair of bald eagles. The house boosts brand new, designer furnishings throughout, stone and wide-plank wood floors, high-speed wifi, central air-conditioning and heat, a security system, tons of windows and natural light, and a large propane Weber outdoor grill. Gorgeous water views and shore seating at the back of the main house (not the Cottage) and water access on the beautiful sandy beach of Hulls Cove, completes the package and makes "Balance Cottage," the perfect spot for your next vacation.

This unique property provides privacy, solitude and security, while being just minutes from the thrills of Acadia National Park and the excitement of downtown Bar Harbor, with its many shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. The shorefront of this south facing property provides views of Cadillac Mountain, the Bar Harbor skyline, the Porcupine Islands, Frenchman's Bay with its working lobster boats, and breathtaking sunrise and moon-rise views. Jump on your kayak, from the Hulls Cove beach and paddle away. Pairs of loon, and seals with their pups, will share the cove as you glide by. Return to explore a shore littered with sea glass, nautical buoys and the occasional lobster trap.

Acadia National Park is within walking distance ( it is less than a mile to the park entrance and Welcome Center.) Acadia is a gem and offers 30,000 acres, including 100 miles of car-free bike paths, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, kayaking and breathtaking mountain vistas. Wildlife abounds and adds to the natural beauty. The park is a photographer's dream and talented photographers and park rangers lead educational expeditions daily.

All four seasons are special in Bar Harbor and must be experienced at the magnificent "Balance Cottage," to fully be appreciated. The crystal clear, low humidity, days of summer. Day-tripping to explore the out-islands and enjoy lunch. Lobster rolls on the dock, while watching the fishermen bring in their catch. The old-fashioned magic of July 4th, with the parade and heart stopping fireworks. Whale watching, music in the park, and souvenir shopping at the many shops or art shows. An unforgettable hike in Acadia, with the view from the top of the trail, imbedded in your brain. A mouth-watering dinner in town and then returning to "Balance," for a glass of wine around the fire pit and a chance to re-live the day. Hearing the mystical call of the loon as you fall asleep in your heavenly bed, knowing your family will never forget this special time together.

Autumn brings the majestic leaves in a cornucopia of colors, the hillsides a patchwork quilt full of golds, yellows and reds. The crisp air, the corn mazes, apple orchards, hay rides, pumpkin patches and apple cider doughnuts. Beautiful mums and other seasonal offerings line the shelves of the shops in town and photographers attempt to record the unforgettable colors of the season. The wildlife around "Balance," are getting ready for winter and a hint of cherry-wood smoke can be detected in the air. Vacationers stop into pubs around town to enjoy a crab taco, a brick-oven pizza and a pumpkin beer. A drive up Cadillac Mountain to see the fall color is in order, followed by a hike around Jordan Pond to glimpse the beavers preparing for winter.

Winter at "Balance Cottage," on Mount Desert Island, is special. Pure, crystal snow, blankets the area and Norman Rockwell scenes abound. The mist rises off the warmer water of Frenchman's Bay and forms a low lying fog, as it hits the cold air above. The cross-country ski trails open in Acadia National Park and the snowmobile trails are groomed by riders on their first ride of the season. Christmas is celebrated with Midnight Madness shopping sprees in town and visits from Santa himself. Ice skating ponds fill up and ice fishermen scatter the frozen lakes. White lights twinkle in the windows of "Balance Cottage," and snuggling up with a good book or glass of wine by the fire, while snowflakes fall outside the window, is the perfect ending to the day.

The renewed glory of spring is best enjoyed at "Balance." The flowering trees and shrubs are in bloom and birdsong fills the air. Sand Beach is deserted and the perfect place to pick up sea glass and other treasures. Begin a new collection of smooth, heart shaped, rocks and realize once you look closely, they are everywhere to be found. The Bar Harbor Inn hosts its famous Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunts fill the parks. Enjoy a day at Eagle Lake and return to "Balance," for a family dinner around the massive oak dining table. In the morning, step out onto the porch to view the neighborhood Doe, with its white-spotted fawn, cross the lawn, stop and look, as though posing for a photograph.

"Balance Cottage," offers the vacationer every comfort and pleasure, during all four seasons each year. Return to "Balance," again and again, to experience it all. We welcome your visits and will do everything to ensure your stay is luxurious, carefree, and perfect in every way... just like you have always dreamed.

Property manager

Marie Alpha

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outdoor Fire Table Operation Year Round. Indoor Fireplace Operation February 1 - March 1 Only.
Guests may not disconnect any cables to the televisions or electronic components without owner's advance permission.
No bicycles allowed inside the house. All guest are greeted in person. Later than 6PM check-in must be approved in advance.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Bar Harbor

Located in Bar Harbor, this holiday home is by the ocean. Bar Harbor Whale Watching is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bar Harbor, ME

What's nearby

  • Hulls Cove Visitor Center - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • West Street Historic District - 6 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching - 7 min drive - 6.0 km
  • Village Green - 7 min drive - 6.0 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 10 min drive - 8.2 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Geddy's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Thirsty Whale - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Side Street Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Jordan's Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Finback Alehouse - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction! located?

Situated by the ocean, this holiday home is 1 mi (1.5 km) from Hulls Cove Visitor Center and within 3 miles (5 km) of Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and Newlin Gardens. College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum and George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 63 out of 69 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 69 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 69 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 69 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 69 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay in Acadia / Bar Harbor

Our family had a wonderful stay and the host was communicative and available. 2 minute drive from Acadia’s visitor center and 6-7 minutes away Bar Harbor. Cottage was as advertised with beautiful interior and surrounded by trees - was lovely to look out the windows and see all the fall colors. Would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brook K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House!

We loved Balance Cottage. Kathy was a great communicator and helped whenever we had any questions. The cottage is beautiful inside and out and is in a great location - just a few miles from downtown. I would absolutely recommend staying here!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay

Our group of four had a wonderful stay at Balance Cottage. Extremely clean and comfortable. Great location for exploring Acadia, Bar Harbor and all of MDI. Kathy was very responsive as a host. Overall, I would highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jamie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Kathy was absolutely accommodating, kind, and welcoming. For a couple visiting the area for the first time, she even helped us find our favorite places to go! The cottage was so clean, stocked, and just gorgeous. Will definitely make it my go to house to stay in 😊
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shawn G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous home in beautiful quiet neighborhood!

We really enjoyed our stay in Balance Cottage! It was conveniently located close to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park in a private, beautiful, & peaceful neighborhood. There was a lot of thought and attention to detail put into this gorgeous home. Kathy was a delight to meet, very helpful and accommodating, and she was very communicative. We would love to get to stay there on a future trip. Our only regret was that we weren't able to stay longer!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Meg B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

Very comfortable, clean and convenient
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serenity

This beautiful property is located just out of Bar Harbour proper, you avoid the congestion of downtown and as soon as you turn on the street a sense of serenity sets in. Very well designed and the outdoor deck with fire table is incredibly peaceful. Would highly recommend
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kim K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable cottage great location

This cottage has everything you need to visit Acadia park in comfort. We enjoyed the fire pit and fire table as well as the comfortable furniture and kitchen.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous forest stay

Our stay was incredible. Kathy was a fabulous host!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Balance Cottage

Beautiful home, comfortable and true to advertisement. Only negative we found was the lack of seating in the living area. Could use another couch or chair. Great location, close to Bar Harbor and Acadia.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristen W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pristine home in a convenient location

A perfect spot for our group of four adults and two kids.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dominique C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property and great location!

The house is exactly as described and was in a good spot - far enough from town to avoid all the bustle, but close enough for convenience. Also just minutes away from Acadia. Would love to stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house

Great house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colleen D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely property

We enjoyed our stay. The location for us was great - out of the craziness of Bar Harbor but close enough to get to quickly. It was also very near the park entrance. The bunk room was a big hit and very thoughtfully designed with lots of drawers. We loved the privacy - although very near the owners house, the cottage is surrounded by trees so it was very private. We enjoyed the patio area, too.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Colleen F., Wayzata, MN

Beautiful cottage, not very relaxing.

The home is beautiful. The location quiet and outside of the bustling Bar Harbor. Walkable to a beach, park entrance and restaurants. Don't mistake this setting for idyllic. Our experience yielded almost daily contact from the owner, usually requesting entrance for multiple repairs and other regular inquiries. That said, we are a family of introverts who prefer to spend our valued time together to be undisturbed. After we checked out and began our travels back to MN, the owner accused our family of significant damage to the property. In ten plus years of enjoying VRBO, we have never had such an unpleasant experience. Sadly, it marred our memories of beautiful Maine. The "Balance Cottage" left us feeling off-kilter.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

Cheryl B.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Balance cottage

The property was very clean and in a lovely location. The kitchen is nice, but lacks a lot of supplies. Very little in the way of serving utensils, and some of the utensils really need replacement (rusty colander?). Master bedroom floor squeaks so badly it sound like rocks rolling around when you walk on it. Apparently, one of the other bedrooms squeaks as well, just not quite as loud. Some activity during our stay, (plumber and gardeners). Not a big deal, but a call would have been nice to let us know. Don’t forget your socks, as the owner doesn’t really want you wearing shoes in the house. All in all, it’s a beautiful home,
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Deann A.

AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!

We enjoyed this property until we received notice that we were being charged for damage to the dishwasher that we did NOT do. We rented Balance Cottage for our anniversary 9/7/18-9/10/18 and we just now (12/29/18) received notice that our deposit would finally be refunded minus an outrageous charge for a dishwasher handle that the owner is claiming we damaged. My husband and myself are two middle aged adults who respected this property and even tidied up when we left. A renter left a very similar review from previously staying at this property but I figured every once in a while something happens. They were not wrong. The owner lives right behind this rental property and is in very close proximity. I was irritated when we were charged for damage we did not do to a dishwasher handle, but then I received notice that the owner left us poor rating on VRBO. We have rented numerous properties through VRBO and only ever received 5 star ratings, and have never damaged a property. Save yourself the money and frustration. Visiting the town of Bar Harbor was such an amazing experience. Unfortunately, dealing with this property owner has soured the experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

6/10 Okay

Jessica Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Beautiful Cottage and Location-Some Disappointments

First, cottage is beautiful with decorating that is beautiful, simple and well done. The porch and fire pit are a great addition. The cottage is smaller than the pics look with the kitchen, living room and dining room in the same area with open layout. No water view which we found a little misleading when we looked at the house originally. The water is accessible by walking to the side of the owners property but you can’t get down to the beach area. We had some disappointments which I will fairly express. First, if you love to cook you will be frustrated by how poorly the kitchen is stocked. The nonstick pans are scratched up and some of the pans are warped and don’t sit on the burners flush. We are all very good cooks and we were frustrated with the limited kitchen stocking. For the price of this house, I feel like it should have had at least a good set of pots and pans and a good set of cooking utensils along with some reasonable serving utensils. We struggled all week to cook meals. There were also several chipped dishes which we found disappointing. Secondly, the floor in the master bedroom creaks so loudly that the person sleeping on the opposite side had to crawl across the bed to keep from waking the other. Third, the host of the house was not responsive enough to our needs. We had an issue and the host never responded. Owner lives on property… house is pretty but from our perspective, we think it is overpriced based on our experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Tammy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrea B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

The property was lovely.

It was a beautiful property and the location was perfect, quiet, and clean
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

julie l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

Very clean and well kept.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Noelle L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couples trip to Maine

This is a beautiful home in the perfect location. Easy to get to Acadia and to downtown Bar Harbor! The home is beautiful and perfect for a group! You have the Beach 100 yards away and it is breathtaking!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stacy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family gathering in Maine

The ‘Balance Cottage’ is in a perfect location for Acadia National Park and downtown Bar Harbor!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wei-Shen C., Windermere

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Balance cottage

Exceptional property in an excellent location. Fit and finish high-end and worth the $$ Bunk beds in kids room a huge hit Quick and easy text communication with Kathy, our host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Taly R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Cottage

Balance Cottage is a very clean, quaint cottage in a high end neighborhood of Bar Harbor. Everything including Acadia, shops and many restaurants are easily accessible from the home. The house is clean, updated and well appointed. We got to use the kitchen for several nice meals including one that was prepared by a professional chef. The owner is extremely attentive to the guests and was very flexible with our complicated schedule. We really enjoyed our stay in the cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Marie Alpha

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Balance Cottage is one of the ONLY NEW CONSTRUCTION homes available...close to Acadia National Park and Downtown Bar Harbor. Everything in the interior is brand new and of the highest quality...all furnishings, mattresses, pillows, linens, appliances, and electronics are new. This is a home rarely found on the rental market. As compared to other vacation rentals in Bar Harbor, many of which are tired and worn and without air-conditioning, Balance Cottage sparkles and shines, and smells new when you walk in the front door. Visitors exclaim over and over, "Balance is even better than the photos!"

Languages:

English