Cathy Z.
Yelp
When I read that this is only the 4th year that Samoset has been open for the winter season, I immediately thought of The Shining: after all, it's a huge, slightly dated, lodge-style hotel with long carpeted halls perfect for a tricycle ride. However, the off season prices were so good (~$150/night for a double queen room!) that I quickly put my fears aside.
There's no hedge maze, but the grounds do feature a golf course (perfect for snowshoeing), skating rink, and indoor pool. There's also a one-mile breakwater at the back of the golf course leading to a small but quaint lighthouse, which made for a perfect pre-brunch stroll.
If you can, spring for one of the rooms with a hot tub on the balcony. It was so relaxing to look out on the snowy golf course while my stress melted away in the hot tub! The whirlpool and the steam room in the health club just don't compare.
In fact, the indoor pool was a little dated, and the cloudiness made me worry for everyone's safety. Also, it's 30' x 50', which is a weird size if you're trying to swim laps. The game room next door, with a Wii and an Xbox, kept many a kid entertained while his parents were at the gym.
Room service from the Italian restaurant in the lobby isn't too outrageously priced. I had a steak salad for $17. Although it wasn't "light" by any means, the steak was really tender, and the fried artichoke on top was interesting.
The beds were really comfortable, and the rooms were average in size. If you're traveling with pets, they'll put you in a first floor room, which is convenient because you can take them out easily through the sliding glass doors. The hotel also provides a roll of doggy bags, keeping with the attentive and thoughtful service overall.
The Samoset is not exactly breathtakingly modern, but at off season prices, it made a great New England family getaway!