karens

Hi all. On our drive back from Cape Cod, we're going to check out the Breakers mansion in Newport. Would we need advance reservations for a Fri. afternoon?

thanks

CAPH52

Karens, I hope you'll hear from someone who's more of an "expert" than I am. But, FWIW, we didn't have advance reservations when we went on a Wednesday in July three years ago. As I recall, we had to wait in line. But not for terribly long.

Have you checked www.newportmansions.com? It may give you the info you need.

karens

Hi Caph! Yes, I did check out that website, but it wasn't very detailed. I wasn't able to determine if you get timed tickets, or just tickets for that date.

How long did it take you to tour the Breakers? My mom, sister and I are going to visit, while my dad, husband and kids go to the beach.

CAPH52

karens, it's been three years so I don't remember exactly. But it couldn't have taken all that long 'cause we toured two mansions that day and still had time to walk part of the Cliff Walk, eat lunch at Flo's Clam Shack and spend a couple of hours at the beach!

My guess was that the tour was probably around an hour.

I had really wanted to tour The Breakers 'cause I'd remembered taking and enjoying the tour when I was a teenager. And I enjoyed it again. But, to tell you the truth, I almost enjoyed the other house more!

However, I'm embarassed to have to admit that I'm not absolutely sure whether it was Marble House or Rosecliff. But I'm pretty sure it was Rosecliff.

I just talked to my husband and kids about this. And we're all terrible! We're almost positive that we bought the tickets for both tours together. And we kind of think there were times on them. But none of us can remember for sure.

Besides the time that's passed, that was a road trip on which we covered so much ground. Three days in NYC, 1 night each in Mystic and Newport, 5 nights in Plymouth, MA and then two nights in western MA so our daughter could tour and interview at the college she wound up choosing! So we're all a little fuzzy on the details. But it was a great trip!

Don't know whether any of this long monologue has been of any help to you! But at least my response will have kicked your post back up to the top!

Enjoy your trip and the mansion tour!

CAPH52

Since I had previously told you that we didn't have advance reservations, I probably should have clarified that we bought the tickets that morning in Newport.

Pat_in_Mich

We just toured the Breakers last Wednesday. We arrived in town at around 10:30 in the morning and stopped at the Visitor's Center first. We were able to buy our tickets there for the Breakers and the people there were very helpful. The tickets were not timed. We got to the Breakers around 11:00 and waited in line for about 15 minutes to get in. The tour is guided and takes about an hour. No photos are allowed inside. The Breakers was fabulous! I hope this helps.

CAPH52

Pat, I'm so glad karens finally got info from someone who's been there more recently (much more recently!) than we were!