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Beach by the dock (This is not our house in the photo)

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Pet-friendly

Kitchen

Dryer

Outdoor space

Explore the area

Great Diamond Island, ME

Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal44 min drive
State Theatre46 min drive
Thompson's Point49 min drive
Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport)52 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

It had everything we needed and a great view, too. Loved the golf cart and outdoor games provided. Very responsive to ou...

Linda S.

Oct 10, 2022

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Crib

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Separate dining area

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Great Ocean View Summer Cottage Rental with Boat Mooring on Great Diamond Island

Vacation summer house on Great Diamond Island, with the boat mooring right out front.

Our 4 bedroom house sports a grand view of Casco Bay because of its proximity to the shoreline. The panoramic west view provides an unobstructed view of the sunset to the horizon every night.

The wrap around front porch has a picnic table for outdoor eating and a hammock for relaxing. A propane bbq for outdoor cooking. There are two upper level balconies expanding two of the upstairs bedrooms. Perfect reading nooks.

Beach access is quick and easy right down off the front yard. There is a rock reef just off shore that provides comfortable protected swimming at mid tides as the water is warmed in the sunny afternoons. Take the included kayak out for some exploration.

If you bring your own boat then you can use the included mooring ball located offshore directly in front of the house. There is dock at at the south end of the island to load and unload guests and supplies. There are numerous islands and destinations that can be explored with your boat. I provide a list of suggestions of islands and restaurants to visit by boat.

Our house sports a large sunny yard perfect for playing wiffle ball, frisbee, swinging on the tire swing, and sun bathing.

Several bicycles are included if you care to ride the island. At low tide you can ride across the sand bar to Little Diamond Island to explore that island as well. Pets are welcome. Rainy days can be filled by trying any of the numerous board games, or relax to watch a movie on the flat screen TV.

Portland is a 20 minute ferry ride. Casco Bay ferries provide numerous round trips each day to Portland and surrounding islands.

A restaurant is on the island fort take out. The general store on this island provides only very basic items, so you will need to bring your food with you.

We include an easy to use electric golf cart to transport your food and luggage from the ferry dock to the house.

Our house sleeps 8. It is an older home that has an antique camp style interior. This is not a modern house, as it is 120 years old. There is no air conditioning nor heating. The island normally sports a nice summertime onshore breeze that keeps the house comfortable with open windows. Renters in September may wake up to cool mornings, but it usually warms up nicely in the afternoons. Mattress warmers will keep you comfortable on cool nights.

The fully equipped kitchen includes a microwave and dishwasher. A propane bbq is available outside.

The 4 bedrooms are upstairs on the second floor with open ceilings to the vaulted roof. Two of the bedrooms have small look out porches with a westward view to the Bay. The first floor comprises of the kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom, and wrap around porch. The kitchen is fully outfitted with which to prepare your meals.

A RESERVATION LENGTH MORE THAN 7 nights requires pre-approval.
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(City of Portland Permitting & Inspections Short Term Rental License Number: STHR-000476-2018)

Keywords: summer house, summer cottage, vacation house, island house, GDI, Great Diamond Island, Great Diamond Rental, rental house, rental, vacation house, vacation house for rent, for rent, oceanfront, ocean view, island, island front, mooring, 4 bedroom, maine, maine vacation rental, maine rental, Portland, Casco Bay, boat

Property manager

Jonathan Hill

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Ocean view

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 10:00 AM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Our house is not recommended for those that have mobility impairments; steps and stairs are inside and outside of the house.

Young toddlers and crawling infants must be watched closely as staircase widths do not allow baby gate usage.

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Portland

Located in Portland, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. State Theatre and Thompson's Point are cultural highlights, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Maine Mall. Travelling with kids? Consider Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum and Portland Observatory. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Great Diamond Island, ME

What's nearby

Sand Beach - 5 min drive
Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal - 44 min drive
Cross Insurance Arena - 46 min drive
State Theatre - 46 min drive
Thompson's Point - 49 min drive

Getting around

Portland Transportation Center - 48 min drive
Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

‪Lolita-Munjoy Hill - ‬46 min drive
‪Twelve - ‬27 min drive
‪Otherside Delicatessen - ‬48 min drive
‪Shipyard Brewing Company- Tasting - ‬26 min drive
‪Oxbow Blending and Bottling - ‬45 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Great Ocean View Summer Cottage Rental with Boat Mooring on Great Diamond Island pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Great Ocean View Summer Cottage Rental with Boat Mooring on Great Diamond Island?

Check-in begins at 10:00 AM.

What time is check-out at Great Ocean View Summer Cottage Rental with Boat Mooring on Great Diamond Island?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Great Ocean View Summer Cottage Rental with Boat Mooring on Great Diamond Island located?

This family-friendly Portland holiday home is located by the ocean, within 1 mi (2 km) of Casco Bay and Little Diamond Island. Fort Gorges and Sand Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Linda S.

10 Oct 2022

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

Such a pleasure to get away from it all

It had everything we needed and a great view, too. Loved the golf cart and outdoor games provided. Very responsive to our needs. Altho the weather didn't cooperate we still had a cozy and wonderful time together.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah G.

29 Aug 2022

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

Beautiful spot on Great Diamond Island

Our family had a wonderful stay at Kate & Jonathan's place on GDI. The cottage was full of charm, super comfortable, and had everything we needed. Jonathan met us at the dock with the golf cart and helped us get all our bags loaded up, gave a little tour of the island and cottage. We loved the porch, hammock, water access with kayaks, use of the golf cart, and the water views out of just about every window. We like to cook and found the kitchen to be well stocked. We had a great dinner at The Crown Jewel (get the scallops) and happened to be there on a Saturday night when the Town Hall had a band which was so much fun. We want to especially thank Kate and Jonathan for being dog friendly. Our dog is getting up there in age and to be able to have her with us all week was super special. We very much hope to come back to the cottage - it is an amazing place.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Poppi R.

2 Aug 2022

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

Great Dog-Friendly Rental

The house was wonderful, exactly as pictured. We especially enjoyed the covered porch with views of the water. Pieces of fencing were provided to block the stairs to keep dogs on the porch. The yard was nice, and the tire swing was a lot of fun for our son. There is easy access to the water via a nearby set of steps. The house was well-stocked yet had the rustic aesthetic we were looking for. Floor fans in every bedroom kept us comfortable despite high temperatures. The owners were very helpful and responsive. All in all, a great place to spend the week.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

sue s.

13 Sept 2021

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

Water View Wonder

The view from the expansive wrap-around porch on this charming home is breathtaking! The hosts were extraordinarily accommodating. The house was extremely well-stocked with ample towels and blankets. There is a generous offering of coffee, teas, and hot cocoa pods to use in the Keurig and abundant spices for cooking. The hosts supply a golf cart for travel to and from the ferry. My reason for giving a “4” rating is due only to cosmetic changes that the hosts plan to implement. This property is well worth a stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jason I.

16 Aug 2020

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

Wonderful island escape for the best sunsets in Maine

My family and I shared a wonderful week making amazing moments in this charming beach cottage. We explored the beach and collected sea glass, we toured the island by golf cart, enjoyed soft shelled fresh lobster for the first time and sat in awe at the beauty of the sunsets. We let life slow down and really enjoyed how peaceful and quiet the island is. Cooking is one of our favorite ways to share time with our family, and we found the kitchen to be perfect - we loved the cast iron pans and the gas stove top! We spent hours on the porch, beginning the day watching the cormorants drying their spread wings on the rocks at low tide and ended the day watching the clouds change as the sun set. The sunsets were the most beautiful and amazing colors - we made sure to take in the beauty every night. Thank you Kate and Jonathan for sharing your home with us, and for being such kind and gracious hosts. We could not have asked for a more perfect summer vacation. - Lena, Jason, Ben and Sarah.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrew D.

6 Aug 2020

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

Great Stay on Great Diamond Island

We had a great time on Great Diamond Island! We were picked up at the Ferry dock, brought to the house, and were given a tour to start our stay. The location was fantastic and the use of the golf cart made getting around the island very easy. The house was old cottage style which was really neat. The sunsets each evening were beautiful. The house was nice, but it was very hot when we were there near/above 90 each day. The old windows were hard to open and they did not have screens other than ones that set under the window which we did not trust the safety of with our 2 year-old. Jonathan and Bruce (neighbor) were incredibly helpful during our stay, communication was effortless. Bruce the neighbor offered up their swing set for our son to use, and the power was out for about 8 hours (no fault of the house) and he provided ice and ice packs to help keep our food cold. We had a great time and would recommend a stay at this property!

10/10 Excellent

Jake J.

18 July 2020

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

Great location on GDI

Wonderful week on GDI. Jonathan and Paul were great to work with. Love the island and hope to be back somtime.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

marni c.

12 Sept 2019

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

Excellent summer cottage and super helpful owners/managers.

We had a great long weekend of sailing based out of this cottage. Jonathan and Paul were super in helping with preparations, getting settled, and just being available. Highly recommend this house.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Donald T.

1 Sept 2019

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

Perfect Island Getaway

Charming and peaceful home with exquisite views. Picture perfect sunsets in a nicely appointed island home. Easy communication with owner and check in/out seamless. Golf cart and bikes an awesome bonus. Hoping to return!

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Stacey B.

22 Aug 2019

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

Perfect rustic getaway

This house was perfect for our family. We like to cook and there were cast iron pans and every implement imaginable. Dinners facing the sunset were the highlight of our summer. Love the charm and friendliness of GDI. The house is rustic but beautiful and very comfortable.

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Priscilla T.

2 Aug 2019

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

Rustic and relaxing

It's a great place to stay with your family if you want a low key, relaxing vacation. The cottage is on the rustic side, but it is in great location, facing the most beautiful sunsets. Our kids loved riding in the golf cart, playing in the water, and exploring the old fort on the island. Highlights were a tour of Fort McKinley and a date night at the Crown Jewel. The owners were very accommodating and let us check out late when there were no renters after us. And everyone is SO friendly on the island.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tom B.

14 July 2019

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

Great vacation on Great Diamond Island !

The property was exactly as advertised and exactly what we wanted... Quiet, restful and by the water. The owners were great and very responsive. We had 5 adults and a 1 yr old. Played at the private beach and the Great Diamond Island Assoc beach. Grilled out every night and had a wonderful family holiday ! The sunsets are unbelievable !!! Thanks again !!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Bill B.

25 Aug 2017

Beautiful restful place

Loved Great Diamond - very peaceful and great atmosphere. We enjoyed walks around the island, even across to Little Diamond at low tide. There are some old artillery foundations very interesting to take a look at. The house was old and full of character. This is not intended to be a negative - depends on what you like. It was quite fine for our stay. Finding all the lights, especially as we arrived after dark, was challenging. But Stewart was very helpful all throughout. When the internet service went out, he sent a mobile hot spot from New Hampshire even after we told him that the hot spot at the local store was fine for our time there. Very handy to have the golf cart available!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

james d.

20 Aug 2017

The perfect rustic island getaway!

Great diamond island and this cottage were more than we could have hoped for! Two families with a toddler each and two doggies ALL had the most restful, amazing week here. The cottage is idyllic with a fantastic sea view, comfy beds and really well stocked. The owners were lovely to deal with, very communicative, just a super easy transaction in all. If you're looking for a complete chill out from civilization this is the spot. No cars, gorgeous sea, very, very calm vibe. The neighbors were wonderful, the lobster was wonderful, the island is welcoming and pristine. Very thankful for this gorgeous spot!!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Beth D.

23 Aug 2013

Lovely Maine Island Cottage, peaceful, beautiful sunsets

This is a lovely Maine island cottage. Very quiet and peaceful island. Owners were delightful in meeting us and explaining all necessary things, gas grill, how to drive golf cart, etc. Golf cart fun to get around, but also easy to walk the entire island. Extraordinary sunsets from large wrap around porch. Neighbors were wonderful, shared cukes and green beans from their garden. Fun to jump off the ferry dock. House was well equipped, everything you need in kitchen, new hot shower with plenty of pressure. Gas grill used daily. We did not use internet. Cell service can be challenging on some parts of the island. Take advantage of lobster delivery available, we got 10 soft shells for 1.25 lbs for $64.50 (from Sam Tucker). Good lunch place at Diamond Cove, also good for dinner. We were 4 for most of the stay but 5 for part of the time and accomodations were lovely. Beds appear to be full, not queen. This island has an interesting history (two sides one is Diamond Cove, old Fort McKinley and the other is an 1880s planned development for summer homes) and the Association building has little store with souvenirs and historical photos (also has movie night and dinners once a week). Listing and photos were accurate, this is a typical Maine cottage, not fancy, bare wood floors and walls, very charming. Very short ferry ride to all the good restaurants and shops in Portland.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

20 Aug 2013

Maine Island Vacation

The cottage has such a unique, comfortable and relaxing feeling with all the amenities one needs. It was true getaway from the hectic life we all lead now. The owners are extremely friendly, kind and will help to make sure your stay is memorable. We highly recommend a vacation on GDI.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

8 Aug 2012

Amazing New England Cottage

My family, friends, and I had an amazing week staying at this lovely cottage on Great Diamond Island. After searching for a decent rental in Casco Bay, this was by far the best we could find for our money. It is a rustic cottage on the more rural (better) side of Great Diamond Island. If you ever enjoyed cabins on lakes or oceans in New England, then this is the perfect place for you. All the roads are unpaved and the rental comes with a golf cart for easy transportation around the island. The house comes with everything you could possibly need. Just focus on the food and drink and the rest is pretty much supplied by the owners. Once you are there, enjoy eating out on the deck, which looks back on Portland for the most amazing sunsets. One of our best evenings was spent eating fresh lobsters purchased from the neighbor behind the house, watching a beautiful clear sun set over the water between Great Diamond and Portland. Also, the owners were very easy going and extremely friendly.

About the host

Hosted by Jonathan Hill

We are a New Hampshire family with 4 children. We love boating. Casco Bay offers so many islands and inlets to explore. Our island house has been in our family for several generations. We rent for a few select weeks simply to cover the taxes. We spend the rest of the summer up there ourselves.

Why they chose this property

The proximity to the beach and boating is a big part of our island house for our family. Out on the island is beautiful and peaceful. And yet fine dining and plentiful shopping can be had with a short ferry/boat ride to the mainland. July and August are the best summer months, but September is a special secret time that is simply fantastic on the island because Portland's hustle bustle quiets down.

What makes this property unique

The house is very relaxing. You can spend a lot of time sitting on the porch or the balcony and reading a book and watching the boats go by. A one minute walk to the beach to explore, or a swim on hot days, is one of our favorite things to do.