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It's advisable to book accommodations well in advance, especially for weekends in July and August, when many hotels require a two-night minimum; the Chamber of Commerce runs a room reservation service that's handy for last-minute trips. Many visitors rent homes for stays of a week or more.
This 19th-century Victorian farmhouse, high on a hill overlooking Great Salt Pond, is now a quiet, refreshed, and bright B&B inn with water views from most rooms. Three of the seven guest rooms in the main building have deck access; two apartments in a separate building, each of which can be rented by the week in-season, are good options for families.
Perched on a hill amid floral gardens and undulating lawns, away from the hubbub of the Old Harbor area, this classic Victorian (1879) resort dazzles guests with its big windows, high ceilings, sweeping staircase, and mesmerizing views. Most of the oak and maple furnishings in the freshly renovated guest rooms are original to the building, and in the evenings, Adirondack chairs on the lawn are all turned toward the dazzling show put on by the setting sun.
This 2002 inn, designed to blend with the island's historic architecture, occupies a breezy hillside overlooking the Great Salt Pond and is just minutes from Crescent Beach. Rooms are larger and more modern than those of many of its Victorian-era rivals; some have private decks with water views, and most are outfitted with whirlpool tubs. A spacious yet private back porch and Adirondack-chair-strewn lawn area remain relatively undiscovered despite commanding views. Champagne is served with the breakfast buffet.
This charming old (1852) seaside inn—the island's oldest, largest, and most famous hotel—has rooms that suit today's expectations with a welcoming atmosphere and panoramic island or ocean views. Additional accommodations are across the street in Mott House, the contemporary Barn Apartments, the boutique Inn at Spring House for ages 21 and up, and several rental homes. The adjacent Inn at Spring House is one of the few hotels to stay open year-round; breakfast is included.
This Old Harbor district inn, with a main building and three suites in an adjacent cottage, has been a guesthouse since its construction in 1898. Though not large, guest rooms are appointed with Victorian antiques; some have Jacuzzi tubs, and all have either an ocean or a harbor view; couples looking for a romantic hideaway often repair to the Tea House, one of four additional rental cottages, which has a porch overlooking Crescent Beach.
A rarity on Block Island, this full-service resort is outside of town, making it a quiet oasis from the summer bustle in New Harbor. That said, it's not too quiet: in addition to 55 guest rooms spread around five buildings and a pair of two-bedroom suites, the resort is home to a popular marina bar that hosts live music nightly in the summer, a charming waterfront coffee shop, a poolside snack bar, and an ice cream stand serving Gifford's hard ice cream and soft serve. Firepits, cornhole games, and bocce courts fill a pleasant courtyard, and the Galley House restaurant serves lobster rolls and other sandwiches as well as a handful of entrees. The island's largest resort marina has slips for 100 boats, including some big enough to accommodate superyachts.
With simple accommodations in a late-19th-century farmhouse and more luxurious units in a more modern structure across a country lane, this property is set on a 20-acre pastoral farmstead. Constants here are friendly, efficient service and one of the most relaxing settings on the island. Rooms and porches overlook rolling fields, woodland, and the ocean, and there's a bike rental shop on property.
