Bangor's BEST Hotel? This Aviator Hotel Will SHOCK You!
Bangor's BEST Hotel? Hold on to Your Hats (and Oxygen Masks!): A Review of "The Aviator"
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I've just emerged from a stay at "The Aviator" in Bangor, Maine, and my brain is still trying to process it. This ain't your grandma's Holiday Inn, folks. This is… well, you'll see. This won't be your typical hotel review. I'm talking about the experience, baby. The feels. The sheer, unadulterated whimsy (or what I thought was going to be whimsy).
First Impressions (and a Slight Panic Attack):
The theme is aviation, naturally. Think Art Deco meets Top Gun. The lobby? Stunning. I mean, stunning in a "did I accidentally wander onto a movie set?" kind of way. Polished metal, soaring ceilings, airplane models – it was like being inside a museum dedicated to flight, but with a serious cocktail bar lurking in the background. And the check-in? Ultra-smooth, almost too smooth. Contactless, efficient, and the staff were impeccably dressed, like they'd just stepped out of a Pan Am commercial. Score one for the… wait, what was that buzzing sound? My tinnitus? Nope. My senses screaming "Something's not quite right here…"
Accessibility – Soaring High… Mostly:
Now, I'm not exactly a mobility impairment expert, but I checked out the lay of the land for accessibility. The Aviator mostly delivers. Wheelchair accessible throughout common areas? Check. Elevator? Got it. They even have dedicated facilities for disabled guests, which is a huge plus. However, I did notice some potential hiccups. The bathrooms in my room had grab bars but the space was a bit tight, particularly around the toilet. And those gorgeous, sweeping hallways? Could get a tiny bit confusing without a map, and the signage, whilst stylish, wasn't always the most clear-cut. Bottom line: good effort, but a little more fine-tuning could make it truly inclusive.
Rooms - Cloud Nine or Turbulence?
My room… oh, my room. It was like stepping onto the set of a 1940s Hollywood epic about… well, aviation, of course! Air conditioning blasting, blackout curtains (essential), a ridiculously comfortable bed, and a window that opens (hallelujah!). They had all the usual suspects: coffee/tea maker, mini bar (tempting, but I resisted), and even a little scale (because apparently, weighing myself after a weekend of room service is a healthy coping mechanism).
Things I loved:
- Free Wi-Fi in the room (essential!)
- In-room safe box (peace of mind, baby).
- The desk was the perfect size for my laptop (and the copious amounts of snacks I accumulated).
- The bathrobes! Like a warm, fluffy hug.
- The slippers. Seriously, why aren't slippers standard in every hotel?!
Things that were… less-than-stellar:
- The carpet. While aesthetically pleasing, it absorbed every sound. I swear I heard the guy in the next room snoring through the walls. Soundproofing? Maybe not the best.
- The mirror in the bathroom. Tiny. Useless for anything other than checking if you have food stuck in your teeth.
- The TV. Modern, yes, but the channel selection was a bit… thin. No binge-worthy shows for the recovering shut-in such as myself..
Let's Talk Amenities, Baby!
Okay, where to even begin? The Aviator has a buffet of options.
- Fitness Center: Yup. Treadmills, weights, the works. I, however, opted for the "exercise my jaw muscles eating dinner" option. Judge me, I dare you.
- Swimming Pool [Outdoor]: Didn't check it out as I'm not the biggest fan of being exposed to the elements. No comment.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/Sauna, Steamroom: Tempting, very tempting. A bit too much of a "relaxing spa days" kind of place for me.
- Gym/fitness: As mentioned above.
- Pool with view: Yeah, it probably had a view, if I hadn't been holed up in my room mainlining old episodes of "Frasier".
- Massage: Yes please to a massage!
- Foot bath: Oh, yes. Count me in.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: No. That’s just getting too intense.
The Food & Booze Saga (Or, Why I Might Need Another Vacation):
Alright, let’s get real. Hotel food is almost always a gamble. The Aviator, however, mostly delivered.
- Restaurants: Several. Decent selection of international cuisine.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Also yes.
- Bar: Boasting a stunning display of spirits.
- Coffee shop: Yes.
- Room service [24-hour]: Bless.
- Poolside bar: Didn't see it, but the idea sounds fantastic.
- Snack bar: Conveniently located, dangerously accessible to my perpetually hungry stomach.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes.
- Buffet in restaurant: Breakfast spread was epic, in terms of quantity. Quality? Hit or miss.
- Breakfast [buffet]: As good as a buffet gets.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Didn’t use.
- Happy hour: Yes!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yep!
- Desserts in restaurant: Yes!
- Salad in restaurant: Yes!
- Soup in restaurant: Yes!
- Bottle of water: Included. Always a plus.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Not solely vegetarian, but definitely options.
- Asian breakfast: Present and correct.
- Western breakfast: Got it.
The bar, however, was a total highlight. I spent a significant amount of time there, sampling cocktails, admiring the ambiance. The service was top-notch, the bartenders were friendly, and the ambiance? Pure class.
Eating Dinner and the Accidental Sociology Lesson:
Now, let's talk about dinner. I chose to eat in the main restaurant, a beautifully lit space that, again, felt like it had been plucked from a movie set. I ordered… well, I don't even remember what I ordered, except that it involved something with duck. It was good, but what I really noticed was the people.
Families, couples, business travelers, solo diners like myself. I watched them, and I started to think about the unspoken rules of hotel dining. The way people try to be both casual and sophisticated, the polite smiles exchanged, the subtle dance of social interaction. It was a fascinating, slightly voyeuristic experience (yes it was me, judging you).
And then there was the dessert. Oh, the dessert. A rich chocolate concoction that almost made me forget about all the emails I'd been ignoring. Almost.
Cleanliness and Safety - Did They Get It Right?
Yes. They absolutely nailed it.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Fantastic.
- Breakfast in room: Available.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Okay.
- Cashless payment service: Convenient!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Appreciated.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Yes.
- First aid kit: Good.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: The norm with many hotels.
- Hygiene certification: Yes!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Mostly.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Followed.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Good.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice touch.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Essential.
- Safe dining setup: Safe.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Essential.
- Shared stationery removed: Correct.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Felt like it.
- Sterilizing equipment: Present.
I felt safe. Really safe. During my stay, I felt like they were taking every precaution.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter:
The Aviator offers a bevy of helpful services.
- Air conditioning in public area: Of course.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Didn't need it, but good to know.
- Business facilities: Available
- Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
- Concierge: Extremely helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: Efficient!
- Convenience store: Useful!
- Currency exchange: Yes!
- **
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're not just planning a trip, we're living it. We're heading to the Bangor Aviator Hotel, Best Western Premier Collection in Bangor, Maine. And trust me, this ain't gonna be your sterile, brochure-perfect itinerary. This is the real deal, warts and all.
Day 1: Arrival and the Search for Decent Coffee - Oh, and Planes!
- 1:00 PM - Arrival at Bangor International Airport (BGR): Okay, first things first: finding the damn baggage claim. I'm perpetually convinced my suitcase will end up in… well, somewhere exotic. Maybe the Canary Islands? Nope, thank God, it's here. I'm finally free of this airplane prison!
- 1:30 PM - Taxi to Bangor Aviator Hotel: The cab driver, a grizzled dude named Earl, had a serious opinion on the Red Sox. Apparently, they're "going down the tubes." (I tuned him out, I'm usually team no-team, but I'm secretly a Yankees fan and I can't say it out loud, it would be a war) I tried to change topics and ask questions out of curiosity, but he was too engaged, so I just nodded politely and enjoyed the scenic route, which admittedly wasn't that scenic.
- 2:00 PM - Check-in. Hotel Room Reconnaissance: The lobby is… nice. Clean. But let's be honest, I'm here for the room. Okay, it's better than expected! (Always a win.) The bed looks comfy, the TV is big, and the bathroom is blessedly clean. (Hygiene is important!) But, there's no coffee maker. Panic. I need caffeine. Like, now.
- 2:30 PM - The Coffee Quest: This is serious. The hotel doesn't have decent coffee. This is practically a crime. I stumble out, bleary-eyed, into the brisk Maine air. Wandering the streets of Bangor in pursuit of the perfect bean. This turns into a minor crisis. (I'm not proud to say this, but this is a real problem that I cannot ignore.) I start by searching the internet - yup, the most obvious choice - and find a small local coffee shop that someone online described as a hidden gem. I walked there and it was closed. I give up, I go back to the hotel, and buy one from the vending machine, and then complain. (It's not good, but at least it's something.)
- 3:30 - Exploring the Aviator Vibe: I guess this is the "Aviator" part of the hotel. There's a cool replica plane in the lobby, and a lot of aviation-themed art. I can see some real planes from my window. It's all very… well, it's all very hotel-y. I just hope that the hotel does have a good selection of airplane themed socks.
- 4:00 - Drinks at the “Hangar Pub” (Maybe): I'll probably try the bar inside, I'm not usually a bar-person, but I feel like there's some story I can find out there. Let's find out.
- 5:00 - Dinner Exploration: Looking for recommendations, I'm asking people in the lobby. I'm a foodie, or at least a food liker, and I don't want to eat at a chain.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner. The search for a restaurant. Turns out it's hard to find a decent restaurant - everything is either closed, or the reviews are bad. I start getting hangry, and the panic sets in, as does the realization that I have to put my own efforts into finding a restaurant. I search, and finally, I find a place with good reviews. (I won't mention the name of the restaurant I went because I feel like there's a chance I might have liked the food more than I should have.
Day 2: A Day of Unexpected Delights and the Hunt for Lobster Rolls
- 7:00 AM - Rise and coffee (Finally!): The vending machine coffee, alas, still haunts me. But, I have my own coffee. (Thank god!)
- 8:00 AM - Morning Walk: I'll take a walk around the area. (Or at least, what I can see)
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast: A hotel breakfast is never a good idea, so I have to avoid it.
- 10:00 AM - The Maine Discovery Museum: I can't say I'm excited for this. (But I'll check it out!)
- 12:00 PM - Lobster Roll Quest, Take One: This is Maine, and I'm here for one reason: to consume a lobster roll. I ask the hotel staff. They say, "Go explore!" (Thanks…)
- 1:00 - Searching for Lobster Rolls. Take Two: This time, I'm searching on the internet. (I have to go, there's nothing else to do…)
- 2:00 PM - Lobster Roll Feast (Hopefully): I finally find a place. I got my lobster roll, and it was, in a word, heavenly. The bun, the lobster, the mayo… the whole thing. I savored it. (And I ate two; don't judge me.)
- 3:00 PM - The Stephen King Connection: This is Bangor, the home of Stephen King. I was thinking about going to his house, I heard I could find it but that it would be disrespectful. I'm really not sure.
- 4:00 PM - Back to the hotel. Relaxation, or, more accurately, procrastination.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner: The Aftermath of Lobster Roll: I'm still full from those lobster rolls. I could probably skip dinner, but that would be a waste!
Day 3: Departure and Reflections (and My Deep and Abiding Love for Lobster Rolls)
- 7:00 AM - Last Hotel Vending Machine Coffee: I would rather die. But, I need caffeine.
- 8:00 AM - Bag Packing: This is always stressful, it's a mess.
- 8:00 AM - Check Out: Goodbye Aviator Hotel, you were… interesting.
- 9:00 AM - Final Lobster Roll (Maybe?) I have to get one more lobster roll. It's for research.
- 10:00 AM - Final Bangor Farewell: I'll wander around Bangor one last time, just to soak it all in.
- 1200 PM - Airport Bound/ Flight: Damn, I wish I could stay forever.
Final Thoughts:
Bangor, Maine, you're… well, you're different. But you have the best lobster rolls ever. And I’ll be back for more, for sure. And, the Aviator Hotel – it was a solid base. (Though, seriously, invest in a decent coffee machine!)
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