The Colony was built in 1926 and is now listed on the Register of Historic Places. Its Mediterranean Revival Architecture makes it easy to spot as one drives down Atlantic Avenue. The hotel is open only from November 1 through May 1, while its sister hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine is open during the summer months and closed during the winter months.

The huge front porch, which stretches across the entire front of the hotel, is a great place to sit and people watch. At night there is entertainment for your listening and dancing pleasure on the front porch.

The bar is conveniently located just off the porch. While the hotel is not located on the beach, it does have it''s own private, secluded heated salt water swimming pool, directly on the Atlantic Ocean, two miles from the hotel.

There is a complimentary scheduled shuttle to the Cabana Club daily. We had the Sea Grape suite, which is two rooms, which share a connecting bath, with one of the rooms having a queen bed and the other room has two twin beds. I have to be truthful and say that our cabin on the Grand Princess cruise ship was larger than our room at the Colony, although the Colony''s bath was larger than the Grand''s.

My wife did see one of the rooms with the King size bed (Royal Palm) and said it was fantastic. It was a corner room with windows on two sides of the room. All of the guestrooms have hardwood floors and antique furnishings and window unit air conditioners. The small television sets did have cable and remote control.

There was a very nice continental breakfast the next morning and from Jan 19 to May 1 a full breakfast is included in the room rate. The room we paid $85 for goes for $185 in the high season of mid-January to mid-March. I very much enjoyed my night at the Colony, although I think I would spring for the room with the King size bed the next time.