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"Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!

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A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, dark wooden furniture, and a large window providing natural light.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a central island with bar stools, pendant lighting, and decorative woven baskets on the wall.
A dining area with a large table and chairs, a chandelier, and large windows with curtains.
A bedroom with a bed, bedside tables, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a view of greenery outside.
A modern bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower, a white sink, and a dark wooden vanity.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Located along the water, this 3-bedroom vacation home accommodates 8 guests with 2 bathrooms. It offers outdoor activities like water sports and mountain biking. Enjoy the patio for relaxation. Engage in fitness at the center or nearby golf and skiing. Explore attractions like George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and Newlin Gardens.

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation

    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Firepit available

    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located

    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Onsite parking available
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Bar Harbor, ME
  • Place, beach near Hulls Cove
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bunk Room

2 Double Beds and 2 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

"Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!

Be among the first to enjoy, "Balance Cottage," and experience the ultimate, luxury, vacation. This brand new, custom home, is located in a secluded, private neighborhood, just a half mile from the entrance to Acadia National Park and five minutes from downtown Bar Harbor.

"Balance Cottage" is a vacationer's dream and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a grand stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen, custom bunk room, deck with contemporary fire table, and cozy coffee porch. The gourmet kitchen offers a 9' cook's island, fully integrated appliances, a limestone hood, authentic hand- hewn ceiling beams, granite countertops, a convection oven, full size refrigerator/freezer, a five-burner cooktop, ice maker, dishwasher, two coffeemakers, microwave oven, and toaster. The kitchen is fully appointed with the finest cookware, flatware, and earthen tableware. An oak dining table, with comfortable seating, graces the spacious dining area. A large deck off the kitchen is ideal for entertaining and features plush and bench seating around a stylish 6' propane fire table. The living room offers a massive stone fireplace, beamed cathedral ceilings, a flat screen TV, with Roku and many premium channels, a stereo system utilizing AIRPLAY to stream all your favorite music, a leather sofa and luxe seating. Two of the three bedrooms each offer a king size bed, ceiling fans, opulent bed linens, new pillow-top mattresses, and the finest down pillows. The nautical themed bunk room has an entertainment center, complete with flat screen TV, BLU-RAY player, Roku and more. The bunk room features two queen lower beds and two double upper bunks, each with its own device charging station and reading light. The two bathrooms have custom stone showers, the softest terry towels and a washer and dryer. The sunny coffee porch is the perfect place to view the abundant wildlife in the area: families of white-tail deer, chipmunks, mallard ducks, wild turkeys, amazing birds, and a nesting pair of bald eagles. The house boosts brand new, designer furnishings throughout, stone and wide-plank wood floors, high-speed wifi, central air-conditioning and heat, a security system, tons of windows and natural light, and a large propane Weber outdoor grill. Gorgeous water views and shore seating at the back of the main house (not the Cottage) and water access on the beautiful sandy beach of Hulls Cove, completes the package and makes "Balance Cottage," the perfect spot for your next vacation.

This unique property provides privacy, solitude and security, while being just minutes from the thrills of Acadia National Park and the excitement of downtown Bar Harbor, with its many shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. The shorefront of this south facing property provides views of Cadillac Mountain, the Bar Harbor skyline, the Porcupine Islands, Frenchman's Bay with its working lobster boats, and breathtaking sunrise and moon-rise views. Jump on your kayak, from the Hulls Cove beach and paddle away. Pairs of loon, and seals with their pups, will share the cove as you glide by. Return to explore a shore littered with sea glass, nautical buoys and the occasional lobster trap.

Acadia National Park is within walking distance ( it is less than a mile to the park entrance and Welcome Center.) Acadia is a gem and offers 30,000 acres, including 100 miles of car-free bike paths, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, kayaking and breathtaking mountain vistas. Wildlife abounds and adds to the natural beauty. The park is a photographer's dream and talented photographers and park rangers lead educational expeditions daily.

All four seasons are special in Bar Harbor and must be experienced at the magnificent "Balance Cottage," to fully be appreciated. The crystal clear, low humidity, days of summer. Day-tripping to explore the out-islands and enjoy lunch. Lobster rolls on the dock, while watching the fishermen bring in their catch. The old-fashioned magic of July 4th, with the parade and heart stopping fireworks. Whale watching, music in the park, and souvenir shopping at the many shops or art shows. An unforgettable hike in Acadia, with the view from the top of the trail, imbedded in your brain. A mouth-watering dinner in town and then returning to "Balance," for a glass of wine around the fire pit and a chance to re-live the day. Hearing the mystical call of the loon as you fall asleep in your heavenly bed, knowing your family will never forget this special time together.

Autumn brings the majestic leaves in a cornucopia of colors, the hillsides a patchwork quilt full of golds, yellows and reds. The crisp air, the corn mazes, apple orchards, hay rides, pumpkin patches and apple cider doughnuts. Beautiful mums and other seasonal offerings line the shelves of the shops in town and photographers attempt to record the unforgettable colors of the season. The wildlife around "Balance," are getting ready for winter and a hint of cherry-wood smoke can be detected in the air. Vacationers stop into pubs around town to enjoy a crab taco, a brick-oven pizza and a pumpkin beer. A drive up Cadillac Mountain to see the fall color is in order, followed by a hike around Jordan Pond to glimpse the beavers preparing for winter.

Winter at "Balance Cottage," on Mount Desert Island, is special. Pure, crystal snow, blankets the area and Norman Rockwell scenes abound. The mist rises off the warmer water of Frenchman's Bay and forms a low lying fog, as it hits the cold air above. The cross-country ski trails open in Acadia National Park and the snowmobile trails are groomed by riders on their first ride of the season. Christmas is celebrated with Midnight Madness shopping sprees in town and visits from Santa himself. Ice skating ponds fill up and ice fishermen scatter the frozen lakes. White lights twinkle in the windows of "Balance Cottage," and snuggling up with a good book or glass of wine by the fire, while snowflakes fall outside the window, is the perfect ending to the day.

The renewed glory of spring is best enjoyed at "Balance." The flowering trees and shrubs are in bloom and birdsong fills the air. Sand Beach is deserted and the perfect place to pick up sea glass and other treasures. Begin a new collection of smooth, heart shaped, rocks and realize once you look closely, they are everywhere to be found. The Bar Harbor Inn hosts its famous Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunts fill the parks. Enjoy a day at Eagle Lake and return to "Balance," for a family dinner around the massive oak dining table. In the morning, step out onto the porch to view the neighborhood Doe, with its white-spotted fawn, cross the lawn, stop and look, as though posing for a photograph.

"Balance Cottage," offers the vacationer every comfort and pleasure, during all four seasons each year. Return to "Balance," again and again, to experience it all. We welcome your visits and will do everything to ensure your stay is luxurious, carefree, and perfect in every way... just like you have always dreamed.

Registration #VR2R26-097
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 30

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

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Outdoor Fire Table Operation Year Round. Indoor Fireplace Operation February 1 - March 30 Only.

Guests may not disconnect any cables to the televisions or electronic components without owner's advance permission.

No bicycles allowed inside the house. All guest are greeted in person. Later than 6PM check-in must be approved in advance.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1079234vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Bar Harbor

Located in Bar Harbor, this holiday home is near a water park and on the waterfront. Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park's Visitors Center and Acadia National Park. Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
Map
Bar Harbor, ME

What's nearby

  • beach near Hulls Cove - 2 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Acadia National Park - 7 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co - 8 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Cadillac Mountain - 21 min drive - 15.7 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bar Harbor Lobster Pound - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Geddy's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Thirsty Whale - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Finback Alehouse - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Jordan's Restaurant - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "Balance Cottage" - Bar Harbor Luxury Living. Brand New Construction! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) from Acadia National Park's Visitors Center and within 3 miles (5 km) of Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and Newlin Gardens. College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum and George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 74 out of 82 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 82 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 82 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 82 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 82 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super beautiful property for a family gathering. Close to everything Bar Harbor and Acadia have to offer. Check-in was a breeze using the info provided by the host. We had a few meals in the home, and had everything we needed to make our time together special. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Balance home is very special indeed. It is set in a beautiful wooded area. The house is modern and clean and very nicely decorated. The rooms were very comfortable and is equipped with everything we needed. The host, Kathy, is wonderful. She is kind, welcoming and a true professional. A great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our host Kathy was outstanding in every way and did everything she could to make our trip enjoyable! I highly recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay at Balance Cottage! It’s such a beautiful location and peaceful setting. The cottage was exceptionally clean, had everything we needed and was quite comfortable. There are so many beautiful spots to relax, and Kathy was a wonderful host. We had a rental car and drove into town and the Park each day. It was a convenient location for both. We would love to come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice property. Seems new. Beautiful setting
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely stay

Very comfortable, clean and convenient
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fabulous forest stay

Our stay was incredible. Kathy was a fabulous host!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Comfortable cottage great location

This cottage has everything you need to visit Acadia park in comfort. We enjoyed the fire pit and fire table as well as the comfortable furniture and kitchen.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome cozy weekend getaway

Overall our stay was amazing. My friends and I planned a cozy getaway and got exactly that. The house is very charming and the area is wonderful. The owner provided great recommendations in the book for restaurants and things to do in the area. We all left refreshed and “balanced”!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Pristine home in a convenient location

A perfect spot for our group of four adults and two kids.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful property and great location!

The house is exactly as described and was in a good spot - far enough from town to avoid all the bustle, but close enough for convenience. Also just minutes away from Acadia. Would love to stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful house

Great house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful Stay in Acadia / Bar Harbor

Our family had a wonderful stay and the host was communicative and available. 2 minute drive from Acadia’s visitor center and 6-7 minutes away Bar Harbor. Cottage was as advertised with beautiful interior and surrounded by trees - was lovely to look out the windows and see all the fall colors. Would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful Stay

Our group of four had a wonderful stay at Balance Cottage. Extremely clean and comfortable. Great location for exploring Acadia, Bar Harbor and all of MDI. Kathy was very responsive as a host. Overall, I would highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What an amazing fall break adventure with the family! The house was perfect for our stay and very conveniently located. We were just a few minutes from Bar Harbor and even closer to the park entrance. The house is aptly named as the property is picturesque and the ocean view is breathtaking. We were greeted with a thoughtful welcome basket including wine and treats with local flavors. The house was very clean and the beds/linens were so comfortable. After long days exploring, we looked forward to getting a good night’s sleep. Our kids loved the bunk room the most! We very much enjoyed our stay in Maine and can’t wait to return to this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great House!

We loved Balance Cottage. Kathy was a great communicator and helped whenever we had any questions. The cottage is beautiful inside and out and is in a great location - just a few miles from downtown. I would absolutely recommend staying here!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Hulls Cove / Balance Cottage

Property and Manager were excellent. We were not clear that the view of Hulls Cove waterfront and fire pit were further away from the Cottage than we thought. Access was good but a bit of a walk and not a direct view of the water. Rest of cottage and amenities were excellent.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing

Kathy was absolutely accommodating, kind, and welcoming. For a couple visiting the area for the first time, she even helped us find our favorite places to go! The cottage was so clean, stocked, and just gorgeous. Will definitely make it my go to house to stay in 😊
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely property

We enjoyed our stay. The location for us was great - out of the craziness of Bar Harbor but close enough to get to quickly. It was also very near the park entrance. The bunk room was a big hit and very thoughtfully designed with lots of drawers. We loved the privacy - although very near the owners house, the cottage is surrounded by trees so it was very private. We enjoyed the patio area, too.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Reunion

The house was nice, clean and well laid out. The listing did make it seem like it was right in the water but it was not. The time we spent at the house was still very nice and the owner was very helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Serenity

This beautiful property is located just out of Bar Harbour proper, you avoid the congestion of downtown and as soon as you turn on the street a sense of serenity sets in. Very well designed and the outdoor deck with fire table is incredibly peaceful. Would highly recommend
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Balance Cottage

Beautiful home, comfortable and true to advertisement. Only negative we found was the lack of seating in the living area. Could use another couch or chair. Great location, close to Bar Harbor and Acadia.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Gorgeous home in beautiful quiet neighborhood!

We really enjoyed our stay in Balance Cottage! It was conveniently located close to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park in a private, beautiful, & peaceful neighborhood. There was a lot of thought and attention to detail put into this gorgeous home. Kathy was a delight to meet, very helpful and accommodating, and she was very communicative. We would love to get to stay there on a future trip. Our only regret was that we weren't able to stay longer!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Beautiful cottage, not very relaxing.

The home is beautiful. The location quiet and outside of the bustling Bar Harbor. Walkable to a beach, park entrance and restaurants. Don't mistake this setting for idyllic. Our experience yielded almost daily contact from the owner, usually requesting entrance for multiple repairs and other regular inquiries. That said, we are a family of introverts who prefer to spend our valued time together to be undisturbed. After we checked out and began our travels back to MN, the owner accused our family of significant damage to the property. In ten plus years of enjoying VRBO, we have never had such an unpleasant experience. Sadly, it marred our memories of beautiful Maine. The "Balance Cottage" left us feeling off-kilter.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2020
Dear Colleen: I am sorry your visit left you feeling off-kilter. Balance Cottage is a brand new property, and perhaps was not a good fit for your group of five young adults. I was saddened to see the damage your group left behind to furnishings, the building, and even landscaping. It amounted to over $14,000 in repairs and replacements, including a television armoire, and a set of exterior french doors. As you know, I provided in-depth repair estimates, receipts, and photographs to document the damage done by your group. Even though your rental insurance policy paid only the maximum of $3000, I returned your $1000 damage deposit to you, so you would not be impacted financially. I covered the cost of the rest of the repairs myself. I wish you well with your future rentals and hope other property owners will not experience what I have. On a positive note, we were able to get all the repairs to Balance Cottage complete and Balance enjoyed a summer of happy visiting families, with zero damage issues. Although we are in residence only a couple of weeks each summer, when we are there, it is a joy to hear the laughter of visiting families filter through the property. Kathy

About the host

Hosted by Marie Alpha

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Balance Cottage is one of the ONLY NEW CONSTRUCTION homes available...close to Acadia National Park and Downtown Bar Harbor. Everything in the interior is brand new and of the highest quality...all furnishings, mattresses, pillows, linens, appliances, and electronics are new. This is a home rarely found on the rental market. As compared to other vacation rentals in Bar Harbor, many of which are tired and worn and without air-conditioning, Balance Cottage sparkles and shines, and smells new when you walk in the front door. Visitors exclaim over and over, "Balance is even better than the photos!"

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