The Merchant Hotel | Salem, MA

You know you’ve made it when you stay in a hotel where George Washington once stayed. Am I right?

When I was planning some fun, long weekend trips, I was so happy to connect with the Lark Hotels team. With a ton of locations, it was so difficult to choose where I wanted to plan a weekend getaway. I ultimately wanted to try a place I’ve never been to…and never really heard a ton about: Salem, MA.

Yes, we’re all well aware of the witch history that Salem encompasses, but there’s actually so much more to this quaint little town. I’m excited to share more with you over the next week or so, but first, let’s chat about where I stayed.

The Merchant Salem – First Thoughts

When you first look at The Merchant Hotel, it just looks like it screams history. A beautiful brick building that looks like it houses a perfect little family… but just wait until you step inside. Actually, let’s back up a bit. The building’s history includes a home (see?), a tavern, an office building and a rare book shop. How fun?!

When you think of a hotel (even a boutique), you picture a front desk and just a “hotel” feel. Right? Well I stood 100% corrected when I opened the heavy door with a vintage handle and was greeted by a staircase, doors on my left (to guest rooms), and a common area to my right.

At first, I had no clue where to check in. Luckily, I just walked straight back and was greeted by the nicest girl I’ve ever met in my life. She worked hard to get our room ready ASAP – we were a little early – and gave us a map of things to do while we were in Salem. Anddddd I’m also the worst person ever for forgetting her name. So there’s that.

What I Loved About The Merchant Hotel

The Merchant Salem (and every other Lark Hotel destination) is unbelievably unique. The decor was definitely one-of-a-kind. As soon as I realized the layout of the hotel, I knew it was going to be an intimate stay. There are just ELEVEN (!!!) rooms in The Merchant Hotel, and the front and back doors lock around 9PM every night, so you have to use a key to even enter. I really loved this aspect of our stay – it truly felt like a home away from home.

The chic touches of the hotel alone should make you want to stay here, but the staff truly goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest has an amazing stay. The amenities of the Merchant Hotel include (but are not limited to): Free offsite parking (a two minute walk), bathrooms with privately-controlled heated floors, complimentary iPad for your stay, free WiFi (MAJOR PLUS), mini fridges stocked with essential beverages, and SO much more.

The rooms were very spacious, which was a nice feature and there was a fireplace in our room! Although it was 95 degrees and we wouldn’t even think about turning it on, it added a sense of coziness to our room! On our first night at The Merchant Hotel, the Penguins (my favorite NHL team) had the possibility of winning the Stanley Cup, so I really wanted to watch the game. Matt and I were going to go out and explore/go out for dinner, but I decided last minute I didn’t want to leave bed! Instead, we ordered Dominos and watched the game — PS: They won!!!!

A little bit of history…

The Merchant is conveniently located right in the heart of the historic part of Salem. We didn’t get in our car at all once we arrived! Pretty good, right?! I’ll be taking you around a few of the spots we visited in Salem shortly!

I was honestly so surprised that Salem was as cute as it was. The town was so quaint, but I quickly learned it was a big tourist attraction. Obviously, I figured it would be in October…but there were a TON of people around! This was definitely a nice surprise!

The COOLEST part? GEORGE WASHINGTON stayed in a specific room at The Merchant! FOR REAL! And you can even stay in the George Washington King Deluxe — pretty cool right?!

A big thank you to Lark Hotels and The Merchant for hosting me on this trip! Can’t wait to visit again!

photos #2, 5, 9, 15, 21 credit: Adam Policky of Lark Hotels