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The Francis

11/23/2020

 
The details
STAY
Location: Portland, Maine
Accommodations: 15 Rooms in a Historic Mansion
Amenities​ & Perks: Contact-free check-in, complimentary parking, multiple in-room package options (Tandem Breakfast in Bed, Wine, Charcuterie & more), Adventure Guides, Dog Friendly Rooms and A Spa (temporarily closed due to COVID)
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I got so much work done while staying at The Francis. When I woke up after a comfy night's sleep, I made myself some coffee (thank you, Tandem Bakery and thank you to my 4 year old that has ingrained in me a 6AM wake-up no matter what day of the week it is/where I am/my desire to sleep in.) I hopped back into bed, hot joe in hand and opened my computer to knock out some emails and writing. 

The hotel is the perfect place to "work from home." Or WFH (work from hotel), if you will. It's so quiet and just a dream of an atmosphere to get your creative juices flowing. Strong coffee, strong internet, great natural light beaming in, perfection. 

Upon reaching inbox zero (which hasn't happened in, oh, a decade) I got a text from the front desk that said "Good morning! Your Tandem B&B is just outside your door when you are ready for it, enjoy!" But you can't ever really be ready for something of this caliber:

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Tandem Breakfast in Bed
But let's rewind. Before I even got to the hotel, about two hours before check-in, I received a most welcomed email: "​Good afternoon! This is The Francis Hotel letting you know your room is ready when you are. See you soon!" How great is that? Ever get to your destination, bags in tow, wishing you could drop everything off and get situated before heading out to explore? I love that The Francis does this. Of course, it may not always be possible on their end, but what a great way to make your guests feel welcome and give them the chance to kickstart their getaway even earlier than expected. And for this Momma, ready for a getaway night, I took full advantage and scooted over early. 
The Francis is locally owned and operated and you feel that the second you step in. You get the privacy you'd expect from a hotel, but the warm, fuzzy, family feeling you get at a small Inn. With 15 rooms, it's the perfect size to blend the best parts of both a luxury hotel and cozy, charming B&B. 
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And the room. Oh, the room. It's spacious, flooded with great light, impeccably clean and updated with modern amenities all while keeping the charm of the historic mansion that The Francis is housed in. And check out those high ceilings.
It's easy to take a peak on google maps and see just how well situated The Francis is. But if you've never been to Portland, you may not realize just how convenient it actually is. It's a straight shoot directly to the Casco Bay Bridge which transports you - in mere minutes - to South Portland and Cape Elizabeth, home to the famous Portland Head Light, Fort Williams and incredible beaches. Not only can you walk to the Old Port from The Francis, but some of the best restaurants are a stone's throw away. I took a 5 minute walk and grabbed takeout from Empire Chinese Kitchen - and you may be thinking, on her night away she got Chinese takeout? Wow, she's wild. But if you know, you know. Empire isn't just any restaurant. For one, there's the garlic green beans, and the soup dumplings, not to mention the duck fried rice...okay, I digress. But the fact that you can just stroll over to this Portland icon and walk back to your room and your pork belly buns are still warm, that's major points in my book.
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The Francis Welcome
And PS: did you know when you book a room at The Francis you can add on a custom, curated Adventure Guide that will be waiting for you at check-in? A getaway's worth of adventures, hikes, great eats and more suggested to you and your crew! Fill out the Adventure Survey and you'll have a guide + memento ready for you upon arrival. I hear the person making them is pretty rad too.
So, if you'd like to find the perfect stay in Portland, a place that cares and prioritizes the little things that make a getaway special -  I'd suggest grabbing one of the sleek, gorgeous rooms at The Francis. You'll be supporting a business run by 4th generation Mainers who are kind, compassionate humans that are focused on making your time comfortable, fun, absolutely delicious and most importantly, ​safe during this wild year, 
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