Hotels

Downtown accommodations are preferable, as everything is within walking distance, but prices tend to be high. The fairly new Courtyard Portsmouth (tel. 603/436-2121), at 1000 Market St., is big and modern, with business amenities and comfortable beds; it's right off I-95 about 2 or 3 minutes' drive from downtown. But the service here is highly variable; hopefully that will improve. It books up fast on summer weekends or when conventions come to town, so specify and confirm your room type in advance. Since 2006, there's also been a brand new Hilton Garden Inn (tel. 603/431-1499) in a very central downtown location, with a nice indoor pool. It's a little pricier than the Sheraton .

For more downscale, budget-priced accommodations, less-stylish chain and family-owned hotels and motels are found at the edges of town along I-95 and around the big traffic circle on the Route 1 bypass. I can't vouch for all of these; it's buyer beware.