4 Great Hotels Reopening for the Season on May 1

This upper-middle-range hotel is one of the more expensive options in Bar Harbor, but many find it worth the price since it's only open seasonably and it's one of very few options in the area with expansive views of Frenchman Bay. Plus, Bar Harbor as a destination is relatively affordable in general when compared to other summertime spots in Maine, like Kennebunkport. Rooms have slightly fussy, traditional style (expect lots of floral prints, and wall-to-wall red carpeting), but almost all of them have at least a partial view of the water, and many have fireplaces -- which is especially great if you're going to make a visit early in the season. Guests can also take in the views over breakfast or dinner at the Looking Glass Restaurant, enjoy piano music in the evenings, or drive three minutes to Downtown Bar Harbor for more dining and entertainment options.

An easy weekend escape for Manhattanites, the Hamptons is home to plenty of hotels that stay open throughout the year. But Sole East shuts down come winter, and reopens again on May 1 to kick off the party-crazed summer a few weeks early. The 61 rooms and suites here have a surf-chic vibe and appeal to the city-dweller set with amenities such as high-quality linens and Aveda products. Though not directly on the beach, expansive grounds include lawn games, daybeds, hammocks and an organic restaurant and bar. We recommend heading out there before Memorial Day weekend to take advantage of fewer crowds and lower prices.

The historic Bass Rocks Ocean Inn is an oceanfront escape located 35 miles north of Boston, so even when traffic is bad, it doesn't take too long to reach time summertime destination. The Colonial Revival-style inn offers comfortable rooms classically decorated in floral patterns that open onto shared balconies with sweeping Atlantic Ocean views. Reopening on Friday, the hotel has an outdoor pool -- that's fortunately heated if you're going to make an early trip out -- and excellent freebies like Wi-Fi throughout the property, bike rentals, and afternoon tea and cookies.

Spread over 60 acres, Hidden Pond features 36 suite-like bungalows and two-bedroom cottages. While each has it's own personality, they are all bright, homey, and sophisticated, characterized by pops of color and lodge-like touches (such as stone fireplaces adorned with antlers). The spa is set up to resemble a tree house, and free yoga classes are held at the organic farm, where guests may pick fresh flowers and veggies. The hotel also provides a free shuttle to the beach, which is just a five-minute drive away, and Dock Square -- the center of town, where art galleries, shops, and restaurants can be found -- is just a short drive away as well. Despite Kennebunkport's famous part-time residents (which include the Bush family), it has a generally laid-back feel even during the high season.