Newport, RI Weekend Vacation Getaway
Where To Stay
Anyone can find a room in any destination, you don’t need us for that. But not everyone can find those special places with a particular charm to them. That takes time, tenacity and a special perspective. We try to find places that evoke a “wow” when you open the door to your room, places you’ll tell your friends about when you get home.
Castle Hill Inn & Resort
|
The Chanler
Francis Malbone Inn
|
The Pelham Court Hotel
Cliffside Inn
|
Mill Street Inn
Castle Hill Inn & Resort
590 Ocean Drive
SPECIAL OCCASION
The stately and elegant Castle Hill Inn & Resort is our top choice for accommodations in Newport. Slightly formal, yet very comfortable. The property sits on 40 acres of magnificent oceanfront, just a short drive from town on Newport’s renowned Ocean Drive. Perched atop a small bluff, the water views from almost anywhere are nothing short of magnificent.
The lobby is dark and warm with polished oak walls, beamed ceilings, comfortable chairs, a fireplace and views of the water. The restaurant is among the best in Newport (see our Featured Restaurants)and the bar is a great place for cocktails before dinner.There are 9 guestrooms in the Inn, all of which are beautifully decorated and comfortable, many with ocean views. The best rooms are Mrs. Agassiz’s Room and the Turret Suite. Our choice of accommodations here, however, is the private and secluded Harbor House and Beach Houses and the new Beach Cottages. The Beach House Rooms rent by the week ($5,000+) from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but are available nightly in the Spring, Fall and Winter.
Harbor House Rooms
Down a winding path from the main building, the 6 Harbor House rooms enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Narragansett Bay with the Newport Bridge in the distance. As you enter the room, you are greeted with a welcome note and homemade chocolate chip cookies and turndown service includes the next day’s weather forecast. The rooms are decorated in subtle colors of celery and white and the furniture and floors are a bleached pine. The plump queen bed is adorned with high count linens and a soft down comforter. There’s a gas fireplace, ceiling fan, bathtub Jacuzzi and a wonderful shower with lots of water pressure. French doors open to a semi-private porch with Adirondack chairs overlooking the Bay, a great place to read a book or enjoy the sparkling lights on the bridge after a night on the town. These are wonderful rooms.
Beach Houses
If you really want to treat yourself, reserve one of the breathtaking Beach Houses, where your private deck is literally right above the surf on a perfect white sand beach. Cathedral ceilings, stone gas jet fireplaces, king-sized beds, queen pullout distressed leather sofas, original antiques and replicas, and wide oak hardwood floors conspire to make this an ideal romantic getaway.
The galley kitchen is equipped with a microwave, small refrigerator, stovetop and dishwashers. You can cook an intimate meal for two and eat in the cottage’s dining area or out on the private deck overlooking the beach. It doesn’t get any better.
The bath has a double whirlpool cast iron tub and a large marble and tile shower complete with a marble seat, and extra large shower head in a custom tiled bath with windows viewing the ocean. These are quite spectacular.
Beach Cottages
Opened in 2006, these bright and airy cottages are smaller than the Beach Houses, but sit on the same section of the property, right on the water overlooking the ocean. Decorated in sea greens, pale blues and crisp whites, with wicker furniture these oh so intimate cottages have fireplaces, a small deck onto the water, a small kitchen and a luxurious bath.
RATES: Harbor House-$399-$709. Beach Houses-$539-$969 Beach Cottages-$489-$879. There is a two night weekend minimum.
WHAT OTHERS SAY...
Best of Award of Excellence Wine Spectator Magazine 2004
"Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List is an annual compilation of the premier hotels and resorts to stay worldwide...Castle Hill is the only Rhode Island property to make this respected list..." 2004
Travel & Leisure 500 - Top 500 Best Hotels in the World. 2003
"A formerly ramshackle shingle-style Victorian now done to the nines on a forty-acre peninsula at the mouth of Narragansett Bay. It is quite simply, the best spot in town." New York Times 2002
To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.
Want
to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air,
car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to
a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just
click here. Reservations.
The Chanler
117 Memorial Boulevard
SPECIAL OCCASION
If the adage “location, location, location” is true, then the Chanler is perfectly positioned to take advantage of it. Perched atop towering cliffs overlooking Eaton Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, few spots offer as dramatic a setting. The famed Cliff Walk is steps from the hotel and a morning walk here with the rising sun over the Atlantic and the spectacular “Mansions” as a backdrop, is a wonderful way to start any day.
Housed in a spectacularly renovated 1873 mansion, The Chanler sits on acres of lushly landscaped property surrounded by a beautiful stone wall.
We visited The Chanler shortly after it opened and despite its obvious beauty, there were major service issues. Thankfully that has changed with new management, so ignore some of the comments you might see posted on various travel sites about poor service. This visit the service was crisp and friendly with all the customer service touches you would expect of a property of this caliber.
We arrived through the iron gate onto a stone paver courtyard and parked under the portico. Our car was met immediately, our bags collected and the car whisked away. When we entered the lobby area which looks like a grand living room, the person at the front desk (an elegant library table) rose to greet us pleasantly. Check-in was swift and we were escorted to our room where all its features were explained. We were asked if dinner reservations could be secured for us. A hand written note welcomed us along with a delightful tray of fruit. Turndown brought soft lighting and music, robes and slippers laid out on the bed, a tray of chocolates and bottled water. In the morning a New York Times was outside our door in a canvas “Chanler” bag.
20 magnificently opulent rooms are decorated in various themes representing different historical periods or styles. Views of the ocean from nearly all the rooms (17 out of 20) are nothing short of breathtaking. I stayed in the first floor Regency room which had a private entrance, an outdoor porch area with chairs and a wonderful view of the ocean. The room was decorated, in the Regency period style in shades of beige and burgundy. Crystal chandeliers hung from the crown molded ceilings of the bedroom and bath and the walls were adorned with ornate gold trimmed mirrors and stunning oil paintings. Beside the marble and wood fireplace that centered the room was a separate sitting area with two comfortable club chairs and an ottoman with views out to the ocean. The hand carved mahogany high boy bed had plush Fili D’oro linens and the perfect vantage point for the flat screen TV over the fireplace. The large marble bathroom had archways over the 2 person Jacuzzi and the walk-in multi-jet shower. Heated floors, an additional flat screen TV you could watch from the tub, thick soft towels and Penhaligon’s Quercus toiletries completed the delicious array of amenities.
The hotel’s restaurant, the Spiced Pear, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a gorgeous setting overlooking the ocean. We’ll review our dinner experience in the dining section, but the Kobe beef hamburger ($25) at lunch is worth the trip alone.
October-March rates are reasonable for this level of luxury. March-October rates are high by any standard, even New York City. I guess if occupancy rates are high during that period, it’s hard to quarrel with it, but if not I can’t help but think that more reasonable rates would keep it filled all the time.
RATES-$275-$475 October-March. $595-$995 March-May weekends, $795-$1195 May-October weekends.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
15 Best New Luxury Hotels in the World. Food & Wine 2003
To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.
Want
to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air,
car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to
a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just
click here. Reservations.
Francis Malbone Inn
392 Thames Street
EXCELLENT
Conveniently located downtown, within walking distance to everything, The Francis Malbone is our choice as the best B&B in downtown Newport. That says something because this town is filled with wonderful B&B’s. This gorgeous inn was built in 1790 for a shipping merchant and stands today as an elegant respite from the frenzy of downtown Newport.
The Inn has 18 spacious rooms, decorated in antiques and period furnishings. Many have fireplaces, some have garden, others have harbor views. The public rooms are exquisitely decorated with comfortable furniture and warmed by fireplaces.
A full gourmet breakfast is served in the dining room, or you can sit on the enclosed courtyard amidst the gardens.
My favorite rooms are the Courtyard Garden and Courtyard Suite, large rooms with fireplaces and French doors onto the patio.
I had a delightful room, however on my last visit, Room #2 on the second floor, with wide planked floors covered in a Persian rug, a Colonial highboy, a 4 poster feather bed with luxurious lines, a fireplace, a view of the Harbor and a wonderful marble bathroom. Very, very comfortable. An incredible night’s sleep.
RATES: Harborside $240-$305, Courtyard Garden $260-$345, Courtyard Suite $295-$395, Special mid-week rates. They also have a provision on their web-site for "last minute specials".
WHAT OTHERS SAY….
"In a town of great B&B's, the best is The Francis Malbone House." — Glamour Magazine
"In a city where Bed & Breakfasts set national standards, the Francis Malbone House is outstanding." — Gourmet Magazine
To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.
Want
to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air,
car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to
a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just
click here. Reservations.
The Pelham Court Hotel
14 Pelham Street
EXCELLENT
The summer of 2008 launched a new all suite hotel in Newport that will become the favorite of many. Located at the base of Pelham Street, the hotel is just steps from Thames (Main) Street and right across the road from Bannister's Wharf with its shops and restaurants. Constructed in 1870 as a carriage barn, Pelham Court Hotel's original building is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Over the past year, the building has undergone extensive renovation and conversion into 8 luxury, one-bedroom suites. A complementary new building containing 2 one-bedroom suites, 1 two-bedroom suite and a large three-bedroom suite has been added to form a private courtyard with the original historic building. Suites are all in the 500+ sq. ft. range.
Entrance to my suite was down a long hallway to a large living room pianted in a soothing pale green, with vaulted ceilings, inlayed hardwood floors and beautiful area rugs. A plump couch and chairs faced a gas fireplace with a large flat screen TV over the mantle. The classic furniture included an antique reproduction secretary and gold framed artwork of Newport scenes. Tucked into a corner was a small kitchen with stainless appliances and granite countertops. There were chairs at a marble counter facing the kitchen or a table and three chairs set by the window for dining.
The bedroom, off the entry hallway, was painted in a soft yellow offset with crisp white furniture.The pillowtop bed had luxury linens, down pillows and a white cotton coverlet with a small design. Another flat screen sat on the dresser. The teal colored bath had marble floors and 1/2 stone walls and L'Occitane toiletries. These were the softest, fluffiest, plushest towels I have ever seen. Funny how the little things mean so much.
Coffee is set in the hallway early in the morning, followed by a continental breakfast.
This is like a home away from home.....plenty of space, beautiful furnishings, comfortable bedding.....everything you need for a great weekend retreat.
RATES: $189 in the low season to $549 in summer.
Cliffside Inn
Cliff & Seaview
EXCELLENT
Just outside of town and about a block from the legendary Cliff Walk is one of the most charming B&B’s we have seen, the Cliffside Inn. Once the home of noted artist Beatrice Turner, it has retained all the wonderful subtleties of days gone by, while including all the modern conveniences travelers look for today.
The walls of the public spaces are covered with an amazing collection of over 100 works of art, all by Ms. Turner. Even more incredible is that the subject of this art….is Ms. Turner herself!
The 16 guestrooms and suites are all different and have wonderful touches only an old Victoria house could offer like window seats and tiny alcoves. Antiques abound, some very rare, most notably some wonderful antique Victorian beds.
The Inn has 25 fireplaces; each room has at least one, and some have two or three. 14 of the rooms have whirlpools and two have steam rooms. One even has an antique Victorian birdcage shower.
You decide when you want coffee or tea in the morning and it arrives at your room at the appointed time on a silver tray. Breakfast follows in your room, beside the fire in the parlor or out on the veranda. Lots of fresh fruit and juices and an amazing array of pastries and muffins precede a delicious hot entrée. So this is how they lived…..
Afternoons, the Inn hosts what many believe to be the best tea service anywhere. Scones with Devonshire crème, finger sandwiches, fruit tarts and savories are served with tea on antique china.
I prefer the rooms in the Main House rather than the newer annex. They are much more interesting and have much more charm. The Library Room is one of the smallest, but it is just so cozy with its mahogany trim, bookcases and fireplace. Beatrice’s Room is a junior suite with a window seat, flat screen TV and great bathroom with a whirlpool set in a bay window. Finally, the Governor’s Suite has an amazing bathroom suite (the Victorian birdcage shower) with a fireplace and two person whirlpool.
RATES: $225-$625. Two night weekend minimum, three nights in summer. $50 surcharge per room on weekends.
WHAT OTHERS SAY….
AAA Four Diamond Award
Frommer’s Top B&B in Rhode Island
To make your travel plans you can go to our Weekend Planner for all the contact information.
Want
to save time? Let us make all your travel plans for you including air,
car rental, accommodations, dining and activities. You'll even talk to
a "live" person and be able to request specific rooms and tables. Just
click here. Reservations.
Mill Street Inn
75 Mill Street
EXCELLENT
It is always fun to be surprised and my April 2009 visit to Newport was no exception. An article surfaced the delightful Mill Street Inn and I was charmed by this all-suite property housed in a 19th century mill. With 23 suites, the Inn is located just two blocks from the center of town, convenient to restaurants and shopping. It is a member of the prestigious "Small Luxury Hotels of the World" Collection and became a member of the "Green" Hotels Association.
Rooms have a rustic charm with original brick walls, the heavy beams of the mill and hardwood floors. Crisp colors of sea foam and white introduce a contemporary feel and feather beds, high quality linens and towels and Aveda toiletries add a luxury touch. Floors are covered with area rugs and the leather and fabric covered furniture is stylish and comfortable. The marble bathroom is small but has a great rainfall shower with lots of pressure. Townhouse suites, located on the 2nd and 3rd floors have two levels, a separate living room and bedroom and a private outside deck with views of the Harbor.
Afternoon tea and a nice continental breakfast are part of the rate.
This is an unpretentious property whose very affordable pricing ($115 on my visit) often portends a questionable experience. Not here however. This is a keeper and one to be considered on any visit to Newport.
3 night minimum weekend stay required during the season.
RATES: As mentioned I paid $115 for a Junior Suite in April, published rates are $381-$531 Summer, $351-$495 Fall.
