Policies

New Reservations/Deposits

As these times remain uncertain, we currently are not requiring a deposit when a reservation is made. A credit card is required to secure the room. The credit card will be charged for the entirety of the stay within 24 hours prior to arrival date.

Room Availability

We are currently renting all rooms. The Main House common rooms (Dining room, Library and Living room) are open and available to guests.

If a guest wants to book a room that will limit their exposure to other guests, Caroline and Emma Knight in the main house and Norfolk, Watney, Cabriolet, and Brougham in the Carriage House have a semi-private entrance. Each exterior entrance to one of the rooms listed above only provides access to 2 guest rooms.

Cancellations

There is no penalty for cancelling a reservation by 3pm the day before arrival. Cancellations after 3pm the day before arrival are charged the entire stay. Because of our size, cancellations affect us significantly. Please notify us as soon as you become aware that your plans have changed.

Prior to Arrival

You will receive 3 automated emails from our reservation system prior to your arrival. Each will contain useful information regarding your upcoming stay and make you aware of any changes to our processes.

We have implemented a text messaging tool called Whistle to facilitate our communications during your stay. 48 hours before your stay, you will be sent a text message to opt into Whistle. Please take the time to opt in.

If you experience any of these COVID-19 symptoms as defined by CDC within 24 hours of your departure or have been exposed to someone confirmed with COVID-19 within the last 10 days, please stay home.

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Or at least two of these symptoms:
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

If you are not feeling well, give us a call to work with you to reschedule your visit or cancel the reservation as described in the cancellation policy above. We may choose not to honor a reservation if a guest arrives and is visibly ill.

Cleaning Procedures

Guest Room Prior to Arrival

Cleanliness is always a top priority at the Hawthorn Inn. Many of our guest reviews make note of this.

We are following the recommendations made by the CDC, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Stay Safe Program. Some of the highlights of our enhanced procedures include:

• All unnecessary linens (decorative pillows, extra blankets, etc.) have been removed from guest rooms. (Please ask if you need extra pillows or blankets.)
• All bed linens are laundered according to CDC guidelines.
• Rooms are locked after cleaning.

Throughout the remainder of the facility, we are decontaminating high-touch surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs and handrails daily.

Guest Room During Your Stay

For your safety and that of our team, we have suspended guest room cleaning/tidying during multiple-night stays. Housekeeping staff will not enter a guest room during a stay unless the guest makes a specific request.

Guests will be instructed to write any requests for linens or any other items they may need on the daily menu. The requested items will be placed near the guest room door in a closed bag. Guests will be able to text/call anytime for additional items they may need or for any questions they may have.

Guests will be instructed to place tied off trash bags outside to the door for staff to discard. Dirty linens to be removed from the room, will be placed in laundry bags outside of the room.

Team Members

Our team is trained on:

• the importance of frequent and proper handwashing,
• the new and enhanced procedures,
• the importance of staying home if they are not feeling well
• how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

There is appropriate signage around the facility to remind everyone of these policies.

The Hawthorn Inn team will wear cloth face coverings when they interact with guests in public indoor spaces.

Check-In Procedures

Guests are to enter the driveway through the south entrance and stop in front of the front porch of the Main House. Guests should remain in the car and call or text to notify staff of their arrival or enter the Main House lobby. A Hawthorn Inn team member will greet the guest and have the guest sign the sign-in sheet with a sanitized pen (or their own). The team member will present the guest with an envelope containing the sanitized key and directions to the guest room and will describe where the room is and answer any questions the guest may have. The guest will be instructed to unload their luggage and then park their car in the parking lot below.

There are hand sanitizer stations at each guest entrance.

If there are multiple guests arriving at the same time, we ask you to be patient.

If you would prefer to have a Contactless Check-In, please let us know and we will provide those instructions to you.

Food

Breakfast Service

We have returned to serving breakfast in the dining room. Please note, tables in the dining room are not 6 feet apart. When the weather is appropriate to eat outside, guests may choose to eat on the patio or decks. There is ample space for social distancing outside. Upon request from guests staying in the Carriage house, Caroline or Emma Knight, a breakfast tray including our full breakfast service will be delivered to the room at the prearranged time. We will knock on the door to let the guest know breakfast has been delivered.

When the guest finishes breakfast, we will ask them to place all dirty dishes on the tray, place it outside of the door, and notify us that they are finished. The Hawthorn Inn staff will retrieve the tray.

Snacks

For your safety, we have suspended the fresh fruit, chocolates and treats in the common area. There is a Keurig machine in the library of the main house. Keurig machines are in Caroline, Emma Knight and all guest rooms in the Carriage house. The Carriage House guest rooms also have mini refrigerators.

Dinner

We do not serve dinner at the Hawthorn Inn. Many area restaurants have dine in service. Some provide take-out service and/or delivery service. Guests are welcome to grab take out and eat in their rooms if they are more comfortable with that option. We are happy to provide dishes and utensils and provide receptacles for the dishes and trash outside of the room as needed.

Alcoholic Beverages

Please note, due to the Maine State Law governing our Liquor License, the only alcoholic beverages that can be consumed in the public spaces (including the gardens) of the inn are those purchased at the Hawthorn Inn. A violation of this law can cause the State of Maine to revoke our license. If you bring alcohol with you, please consume it in your room. If your room is in the Carriage House, you may also consume it on the room’s patio/deck.

Check-Out Procedures

Check-out is 11am. When you are ready to leave, please leave your key in the room on the night stand by the bed and pull the door shut. Please text or call to let us know that you are leaving.

Although restrictions are easing, we want to continue to provide a safe environment for our guests. Although some guests may be perfectly comfortable with recent changes, there are others that will be much more conservative. We will try to make all guests feel safe. Please be patient. If you have stayed with us before, this looks much different than the warm welcome you have received before, tell us what would make it better. Hope to see you soon.

Quiet Hours

We love for our guests to enjoy the outdoor spaces including the fire pit. Please respect other guests and our neighbors by ensuring your voices are not carrying. Quiet Hours are between 10:30pm and 8am.

No Smoking/Vaping

We are a No Smoking and No Vaping facility. The ENTIRE property is a non-smoking and non-vaping facility. A minimum $250 restoration fee will be assessed for any evidence of smoking/vaping and/or damages to the room or property.

No Pets

We are sorry that we cannot accommodate pets but are happy to assist you in finding a kennel nearby.