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Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine

Photo gallery for Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine

In June with lupins blossoming
View of Cottage from hill
Franca's Cottage viewed from Route 102
Exterior
Outdoor dining

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Tremont, ME
  • Acadia National Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Cadillac Mountain
    ‪36 min drive‬
  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom next to kitchen

1 Double Bed

Main Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs bedroom

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom off of Living Room

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Main Bedroom Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bathroom

Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine

Originally built when Maine was part of Massachusetts, this rustic historic cabin has been updated with modern amenities. Fireplace and baseboard heat for chilly nights, and window air conditioners for warm days. Walk to Acadia National Park hiking trails and public access swimming, and short drive to Algerine Coast off the Cape Road, where you can enjoy the sunset, have a barbecue on the beach or launch your kayak.

Property manager

Francesca and Isabella Bannerman

Languages

English, French, Italian, Swedish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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Exterior

WE HAVE A FEW OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2025 SEASON

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor space
10.0 out of 10, (13 reviews)
WE HAVE A FEW OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2025 SEASON

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
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
No pets allowed.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Absolutely no smoking.
Please enjoy our lovingly restored historic home and treat it gently. Please remove muddy shoes when entering, use only septic safe toilet tissue. Be

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 deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Seal Cove

Located in Seal Cove, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. 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. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History 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
Tremont, ME

What's nearby

  • Acadia National Park - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 17 min drive - 17.3 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching - 23 min drive - 22.7 km
  • Otter Cliff - 25 min drive - 23.8 km
  • Cadillac Mountain - 36 min drive - 27.2 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shell - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Hansen's Outpost - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Beal's Lobster Pier - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Gott's Store - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Tan Turtle Tavern - ‬21 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Franca's Place - A Historic Cottage - Mount Desert Island Maine located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Seal Cove Pond and 2.2 mi (3.6 km) from Acadia National Park. Long Pond is 3 mi (4.9 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

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. 25 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Robert H.

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

Acadia vacation

The property was nice and comfortable. We enjoyed the fact that it was away from the crowds, but close enough to all the sites that we wanted to get to. Enjoyed our time!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Howie W.

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

Great Location

Great location to visit Acadia NP, Bar Harbor and the surrounding towns. Thoroughly enjoyed the “quiet side”. Nice variety of local small restaurants to enjoy a fresh caught lobster!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie S.

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

Lovey cottage

Your home was absolutely ideal for our stay! It was Extremely Clean And very accommodating with everything that we needed to make our stay there effortless. We loved staying at your home. It felt like home to us! Thank you so much for making our vacation even more perfect than we ever dreamed of!
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brook S.

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

Perfect little cottage

We had a lovely and peaceful stay at Franca's Place. It was clean and beautiful. On the quiet side of the island was great for us and still a easy and quick drive to all the activities and food the Island and park had to offer. We loved staying there! My kids started calling it "home".
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Connie D., Columbus, Ohio USA

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

Great location

Great location on the quiet side of the island.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

jennifer p.

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

Wonderful

Franca’s was perfect for us. Plenty of space for our family. 2 parents and children ages 20 and 17. Loved being a little away from all the visitors on the other side of the island. Yet a convenient drive to get everywhere on the island and to use the island explorer. It was cozy and comfortable. We loved it here!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eva C.

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

comfortable cottage

The place was comfortable and includes a well functioning kitchen. The bedroom off the kitchen is smaller than I expected. But still roomy enough for a couple. I was surprised to be asked to strip the beds and start laundry before we left. I never had a property owner request that before. But we did it. Overall, no real complaints.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen R., Brookline, NH USA

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

perfect place to enjoy Acadia area

We enjoyed the quietside and easy access to Bar Harbor and especially all the Acadia National Park activities. The owner reached out about a concern at the house and we hadn't even really been bothered about it. The house is just right for all we needed and especially for activities we planned. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Helen S.

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

Charming home, lovely living/ dining area. Well-supplied kitchen for family meals. Quiet Side :)

Good and friendly communication. A house that has clearly been loved through the years.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chase F.

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

First trip to Maine!

Gigi (grandma) chose Acadia as the destination for her 70th birthday. After much research we chose to stay here. It’s 25 mins from Bar Harbor in the quiet side of the island. The cottage was perfect for our stay and the communication was excellent. I wish we could have stayed longer. It’s a fabulous way to see the island. I can’t recommend this place enough.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

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

Franca's Place

This was a fabulous place to stay and the cottage was well equipped. The owner's were responsive to questions and the caretakers took care of one of the questions we had immediately. It did help that we had fabulous weather the week that we were there. We totally enjoyed being on the quiet side of the island and it was easy to get anywhere we wanted to go. Anytime that I want to vacation in MDI I would hope that this cottage would be available.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Sharon U.

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

Family stay

We enjoyed our stay very much. Good location and house was roomy enough for our family. Only complaint was that upstairs shower leaked into downstairs bathroom ceiling. So it couldn't be used. Reported it to property manager. Overall good experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Lyn M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great potential

First, the communication with the owner is great. She is very responsive and checked in once during our stay to ask if we needed anything. We enjoyed the ducks wandering around the house in the rain and the deer visiting. The property itself is lovely. The historic part of the house is lovely. However, that was overshadowed by a sofa that has seen better days and is in need of a clean slipcover. Sitting on stained fabric is not a joy. Heat was provided by a small low wall-mounted electric unit which aimed directly at the side of the sofa and was therefore not terribly efficient. Otherwise, portable space heaters were provided. Wiring throughout was a little questionable (holes for wall sockets and outlet covers were too big and left gaps, one of which was covered with what appeared to be packing tape. The kitchen is adequately equipped and we appreciated the dedicated electric water kettle. The wifi was good and appreciated. Because we had several days/nights of rain, we tried the dvd/vhs player with the old tube tv. After hooking them up, the dvd player would not recognize the dvds. The wifi came in handy as we could stream a movie on our computer. The location on the island is great, we usually stay in that vicinity. But be prepared for significant traffic noise pre-dawn, especially trucks. Overall we enjoyed our stay. This house has huge potential and with some significant upgrading would easily rate five stars.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

A very welcoming cottage on the quiet side of MDI

Cozy little home to explore MDI from. Three bedrooms and bathrooms plus a reasonable sized kitchen and living room. Great location and comfortable place to call home while in Maine.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bryan V.

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

Great trip to Maine

We had a very good experience staying in Tremont & very much enjoyed the area, the home & this time of year. Thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

CB O., NYC

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

Great base for exploring MDI

A lovely spot to stay if you don't mind a bit of a drive to get to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. And anyway, the Quietside has its own charms well worth discovering!
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeff N.

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

Great place

Thanks for an awesome place! Loved every minute. Close to lots of hikes. 30 minutes from bar harbor but everything else is super close.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Peggy S.

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

Trip to Maine August 21-28

Everything we read about the home on-line was true except we didn't smell anything musty. The only problem we has was with the stairs; they were so steep that both men had trouble navigating them. We found a great place to buy lobsters down the street about 2-3 miles, Hodgdens; soft-shell lobsters were $6.49!!!! The cabin had more than adequate pots and pans. The only thing I would change is the cabin location; it took us at least 20 minutes to go anywhere except the lobster pound. We had a great time; there was very little phone service and no internet but we all un-plugged and drank wine and blueberry beer, played cards and talked, it was great. I would rate the cabin and our experience 4.5 stars (I didn't know how to give a half of a star).
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Farnaz S.

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

Satisfied

Clean cozy cottage, perfect size for our family of 4. Plenty of amenities provided for a comfortable stay. Location is a little bit of a distance to Bar Harbor, but overall very good.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Heather T.

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

Cute cabin with few compromises

We enjoyed our stay at Franca’s Cabin this week. 3 full baths is likely a rarity in a place like that and we appreciated the convenience. We didn’t do much cooking, but the kitchen seemed well equipped with items like a blender and toaster oven that you might not get everywhere. The location was good for privacy. If there were any near neighbors we didn’t see them. It is just off a busy road - the road noise didn’t really bother us, but don’t expect to going running/biking straight from the driveway. It is a 20-25 minute drive to get to Acadia/Bar Harbor/Southwest Harbor, so not too bad, but not convenient for going back and forth multiple times a day. It seems like the trade off for not being in the busy downtown and for actually having enough space to relax when you are there.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

michiel v., Ann Arbor, MI

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

Stay in Acadia Natl PArk

NIce house, well equipped with all amenities. Beautiful park. Nice to stay on the quiet (West) side on of MDI. Hosts Francesca and Isabella are very responsive and accommodating. They gave many good tips on things to do.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

Great stay at MDI

We had a great time at Franca’s Cottage. The weather was great so we didn’t need to use the a/c. The wifi is slower than most maybe used and connectivity on the whole island is spotty. This location is easily accessible to Bar Harbor and Acadia as well as the Bass Harbor lighthouse. It has all the necessary kitchen and bathroom items. Some parts of the home had a musty odor probably due to its age.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Melvin D.

Great quiet location

The house had everything we needed for a week stay. Great for families or small groups. We cooked at the house for most nights without any issues. Good welcome booklet including some local information. In humid times use dry setting of A/C. House is on quiet side of the island;about 20-25 mins from Bar Harbor and about 15 mins from Bass Harbor Light house We would recommend this place and had a great time!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kristine N., Whitewater, WI USA

Sweet & Comfortable

A really comfortable place to stay; well maintained, no visible neighbors, secure, and clean.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Audrey O.

Beautiful!

We had a fantastic time! As a family of 5 with kids ages 14, 11 and 8, we found everything we needed for a week of fun on Mount Desert Island. The accommodations were great, the kitchen supplies were perfect for us to make meals for our family and the bedrooms and bathrooms were in very good condition. We enjoyed all that Bar Harbor and Acadia offered - all within about 20-30 minutes drive. We were sad to leave and will definitely be back! Thanks so much Francesca and Isabella!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017

About the host

Hosted by Francesca and Isabella Bannerman

Host profile image
The photo shows caretaker Sheryl Woodyard and owner Franca Bannerman in September 2015, in front of the abundant apples from the apple trees on the property. A former French teacher, Franca Bannerman has since retired to California.

Why they chose this property

Originally purchased by Franca Bannerman as a summer home for family visits while her husband Dr. Robin M.Bannerman was researching and lecturing at the Jackson Lab in Bar Harbor, Franca's Cottage has been lovingly restored in the years since, hosting generations of family and friends.

What makes this property unique

The quiet location next to all the fantastic amenities of Acadia is what drew us to the property. The living room picture window gives a view of the yard and lovely pine and apple trees, and the side yard is perfect for out door dinners, and playing with little ones

Languages:

English, French, Italian, Swedish
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