Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel

A mix of business and leisure travelers stay at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel Portsmouth. A popular conference center, it's filled with business travelers during the week, but on the weekends families and tourists are out in force. The Sheraton Harborside is also a popular wedding venue. Still, with so many meeting rooms and conference-goers, the directional signs can feel like part of the decor at times. The view of the harbor is relaxing, but the large salt piles steal some of its beauty. Much of the hotel was renovated in 2011, and the lobby is nicely designed with large, curved stairways, huge chandeliers, and floors with circular motifs and swirls. The hotel's two restaurants offer city views, and are solid choices for standard fare. There's a Sheraton Social Hour on certain weekdays, as well as wine tasting events. Link at Sheraton unites the hotel with Microsoft, and guests can linger in the lobby while working on laptops and checking emails.

The Sheraton Harborside is just down the road from downtown Portsmouth, a few minutes' walk to restaurants and shops, in the historic district. There's an active harbor directly across the street from the hotel, so many rooms overlook the water. The hotel is 50 miles from Boston and Logan airport. Market & Deer Street are nearby, and Strawbery Banke is six blocks away. Kittery Outlets with its shoppping deals is about three miles away. Water Country is also a quick drive from the hotel.

Rooms, which include deluxe doubles and kings, are spacious, clean, and functional, with plush white bedding and shiny wood furniture, beige curtains with circular designs, and gray carpeting. They include flat-screen TVs and minibars. Executive Suites have mini-fridges and microwaves. The Market Wharf Townhouses, adjacent to the hotel, resemble apartments (some have two levels), with a living room, one or two bedrooms, a dining room, and full kitchens. Bathrooms are average size with plenty of towels, and the tiling on the walls and floors is cream colored. Though the hotel is located in a busy area, rooms facing the street are relatively quiet, but the best views are on the harbor side of the property. The Club Floor has bigger rooms, and though there's an extra fee, it includes breakfast, snacks, water, and juices all day, and some evening snacks as well.

The hotel offers a Sheraton Social Hour during the week, along with wine tasting events. The hotel is dog-friendly, with amenities for pets. There's a conference center, a small fitness center with basic weightlifting equipment and treadmills, and a spa that offers massages. There's free Wi-Fi, and Link at Sheraton in association with Microsoft gives guests access to computers throughout the lobby. The indoor pool is heated, but located in the basement. The two restaurants both have views. The Tavern, which serves upscale American fare for three meals a day (think -- steak tartare, steamed halibut), overlooks the harbor, while the Riverwatch Lounge faces the Port of New Hampshire (and has an excellent craft beer list).