Entire apartment

Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New

Photo gallery for Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New

TV, books
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
TV, books
TV, books
In a beautifully restored 1891 home, experience the charm of Portland with premium linens and modern comforts. Enjoy your own private entrance, hardwood floors, and decorative arch breezeways leading to a cozy kitchen perfect for cooking up local flavors.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire apartment

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 61200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor Space
  • Air conditioning

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New

Just a 5-minute drive from downtown Portland, this bright and comfortable third-floor apartment offers a convenient home base for exploring the Old Port, waterfront, and local dining scene. With two full bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and off-street parking, it’s ideal for couples, friends, or small families seeking an easy, well-located stay.

Key Amenities & Features
• Sleeps up to 6: 2 queen beds + 1 queen air mattress
• 2 full bathrooms: one with stall shower, one with soaking tub
• Fully equipped kitchen with full-size appliances and dining for 6
• Smart TV + high-speed Wi-Fi
• Off-street parking for 2 vehicles
• Hair dryer, linens, towels, and shampoo provided
• Complimentary coffee (Keurig) + tea
• Seasonal covered porch with seating + honeycrisp apple tree
• Smoke and CO detectors + fire extinguisher + first aid kit + noise monitoring device

The Space

Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Two private bedrooms, each with a queen bed, quality linens, and plenty of natural light.

Two full bathrooms: one with a soaking tub for a relaxing soak, and one with a stall shower for quick convenience.

Living Area
A bright and inviting living room features large bay windows and comfortable seating: perfect for unwinding after a day out in the city.

Kitchen & Dining
A fully equipped kitchen with a stove, full-size refrigerator, microwave, and cooking basics like pots, pans, oil, salt, and pepper. Dining table seats up to six for shared meals or game nights.

Outdoor Space
A covered porch with seating overlooks seasonal gardens, plus a honey crisp apple tree for fall-time treats.

Parking
Two dedicated off-street parking spaces are included with your stay.

Guest Access
Entry is via a shared front door, with private access to your apartment from the second-floor landing.

Safety Features:
Smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Noise monitoring device (monitors decibel levels, not conversations)

Please Note
This home is over 100 years old. While extra insulation has been added, you may still hear occasional footfalls from the family in the unit below.

Property manager

Danni Higgins

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Property does not allow children
  • Unit size: 1,200 square feet

Policies

Special check-in instructions

Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Access methods

Private entrance

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Back Cove Gem 5 Min Old Port Bright New Apartment Portland
Back Cove Gem 5 Min Old Port Bright New Apartment
Back Cove Gem 5 Min Old Port Bright New Portland
Back Cove Gem 5 Min Old Port Bright New
Apartment Back Cove Gem 5 Min to Old Port Bright and New
Back Cove Gem 5 Min to Old Port Bright and New Portland
Back Cove Gem 5 Min Old Bright
Back Cove Gem 5 Min to Old Port Bright New
Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright New
Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New Portland
Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New Apartment

About the neighborhood

Oakdale, a neighborhood in Portland, is home to this apartment. Shoppers can check out Maine Mall, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Thompson's Point and Old Orchard Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Fitzpatrick Stadium or Portland Exposition Building.
Map
Portland, ME

What's nearby

  • University of Southern Maine - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Maine Medical Center - 2 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • State Theatre - 2 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Cross Insurance Arena - 2 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Thompson's Point - 4 min drive - 2.1 miles

Getting around

  • Portland Transportation Center - 3 min drive
  • Portland Intl. Jetport Airport (PWM) - 7 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪The Great Lost Bear - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Chipotle Mexican Grill - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪The Continental - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Where is Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New located?

Located in Oakdale, this apartment building is within a 5-minute walk of Casco Bay, Southworth Planetarium, and University of Southern Maine. Deering Oaks Park and Fitzpatrick Stadium are also within 15 minutes. Portland Transportation Center is 24 minutes by foot.

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Back Cove Gem ★ 5 Min to Old Port ★ Bright and New Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 40 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

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

Portland, Maine Getaway

The property was nice and very helpful owner.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

cynthyjoe G.

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

Quiet Location

Relaxing after visiting the sites around Portland. Off-street parking is a great feature.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

casey w.

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

Portland Gem

We loved staying at this adorable apartment in Portland. It’s in the cutest neighborhood and not far from old port and downtown.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barry S.

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

Great stay in Portland!

Had a great stay in Portland. The place was exactly what we needed and well kept! The host was extremely pleasant and responsive. Made for a great experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

John P.

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

Great stay

Really enjoyed our stay and the host was awesome. While your here go the the Rose which is walking distance from the house. Best beagles we’ve ever had. And if you looking for beer the Bier Cella has everything. Highly recommend very well located by the city without being in the city.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa W.

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

Back Cove Garden Gem

Lovely place in a great neighborhood. Danni and Sean are superb hosts!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gerard R.

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

First time in Portland

The location and convenience to everything within and outside Portland is ideal
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy Jeff C.

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

Perfect Portland Getaway

We had a wonderful stay! The apartment was immaculately clean and well stocked with everything we needed. The beds were comfortable and there was plenty of room to relax. The free off-street parking was very nice, as Portland parking can be hard to find and expensive. The location was great; a nice, quiet neighborhood within a quick drive to the Old Port and other Maine Coast sights. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Katherine Q.

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

Nice 3rd Floor apartment

We (2 couples) choose this space for its closeness to downtown, on a residential street, and ease of parking. The apartment is clean and bright. Nice bedding, towels and toiletries. Be sure to bring your own K-cups for coffee or tea. The owner is responsive. Would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary W.

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

Great Home Base for Exploring Portland

Stayed here with my partner and a couple of friends for a quick getaway. We had an awesome time! The hosts were communicative and shared recommendations for restaurants and other things to do nearby, which were all awesome. The place itself was clean, comfortable, and convenient to everywhere we wanted to go. Loved walking to Rose Foods for bagels on our last morning (just a few minutes away on foot). A wonderful weekend!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

barbara s.

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

Two couples, one shower

Very nice. Didn't realize there was only one shower
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Perfection

This apartment was perfect! The location was amazing as the neighborhood was lovely and adjacent to many amenities. The apartment itself was well appointed, spotless, and comfortable. Sean and Danny were communicative throughout the experience, from booking to check out. And, our ability to get nearly any where in the Greater Portland area from 5 star restaurants to gorgeous beaches in 20ish minutes was probably our favorite feature. We will return to Portland and would love to stay at the Back Cove Gem again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jackie B., -

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

Lovely spot, great location!

Our stay at the Back Cove Gem was perfect. It's a full apartment in a quiet neighborhood. The hosts provided everything we needed for a great stay, including good recommendations for local restaurants within walking distance of the house. Everything was neat as a pin and cozy. We had a great time. The one tiny drawback for us was that the apartment is on the third floor and we are old farts and are no longer used to racing up stairs. But we knew what we were getting into when we made the reservation. Truly, it was a lovely stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

peter p.

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

Fun Nice and Warm Apartment for Portland Maine Winter Stay

We truly enjoyed our stay in this Back Cove Gem. Everything we needed was there: 2 good sized bedrooms and baths with very comfortable beds, pillows, towels, etc. Good water pressure and lots of hot water. The kitchen had plenty of room and equipment including a good sized refrig for our groceries. The living and dining rooms are pleasantly decored for relaxing, working, and sharing a Holiday Dinner with Family. Sean and Dani are lovely and very responsive to every inquiry we made. We will certainly return to them for any needs we might have in Portland Maine
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

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

Spectacular!

I wanted to write why we loved this place. This rental was in a quiet neighborhood, was as advertised although the pictures do not do it justice. Danni Higgins sent messages through out the trip to offer any help we might need. Spacious, clean, conveniently located, bathroom in master bedroom and another centrally located with a big beautiful old fashioned Clawfoot bathtub. We will be back again, was just what we had hope for and to find! Thank you Danni :)
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Chelsea D.

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

Quick trip to Portland

Amazing!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Austin H., Washington, DC

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

Lovely place outside Portland.

I highly recommend any location from Sean and Danny. There was a last minute issue with the property we had booked so they put us in an even larger property for the trouble. The apartment was large and clean in a charming 200 year old building. Sean and Danny were extremely responsive and very accommodating. Would absolutely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd D.

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

Perfect little get away

If you are looking to visit the Portland area and need a place to stay and sleep, this is it. A short ride, 5 minutes, from downtown Portland. It is a perfect place to stay and sleep. Highly recommended if you are looking for a great value. We appreciated all the hospitality.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aimon A.

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

Could not ask for more

Fantastic experience and property. The hosts made the rental experience comfortable and welcoming. I would highly recommend to my friends and family. Plenty of parking and a nice source of daily exercise going to the third floor. It was beautiful and well kept with easy access to stores, restaurants, and downtown.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah B.

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

Locale

Perfect location - we walked most everywhere we wanted to go in the city. Great stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

rona h.

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

Perfect

Everything was great! Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nick I.

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

Great Getaway!

DISCLAIMER: This property is an apartment located in a 3-story building, with a family with a young child directly below. During weekday mornings there tends to be typical noise associated with getting ready in the morning that is audible, so if you are particularly noise sensitive keep that in mind. That said, everything else was great!!! The hosts were super communicative (really cannot emphasize this enough), and the property was a perfect size for us. The kitchen was outfitted with everything we needed. It's not very far from downtown Portland. However, I would recommend bringing a car if you have the option. Overall a great experience, I would highly recommend this property to anyone!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenn P., Boston, MA

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

Perfect Back Cove spot!

Really enjoyed my stay at the “Back Cove Gem”. Danni was communicative throughout the booking and very welcoming when I was onsite. The location was exactly as I’d hoped - 1 block from Back Cove and a 5min drive or inexpensive Uber to downtown Portland. I’ll be back!
Stayed 14 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kristin B.

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

Best VRBO EVER!!!

We stayed here for 4 nights and it was perfection. We got in at midnight with no troubles at all!! There was coffee and condiments ready for us in the morning, the place was utterly spotless, the bed was so comfortable, it was just the perfect space. The location was wonderful- could literally walk anywhere we wanted to go including downtown and the port area. Even closer was a great brew pub, pizza place and other awesome places, all within a 7 minute walk. The pictures do not show how bright and clean and perfectly decorated it is. I would give this 10 stars if I could. The host was just awesome. It was indeed a gem!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Thomas H.

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

Great Apartment downtown

We enjoyed our stay in this downtown apartment. Very comfy beds and a nice kitchen table and living room area. The kitchen is small but had everything we needed to cook a few meals. Very clean apartment and excellent communication from both Sean & Danni.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021