My wife and I are planning to spend a few days at the Chesapeake Bay this Sunday through Thursday.

We have a room booked at the Chesapeake Hyatt in Cambridge but I am thinking of canceling it due to confusion with Hyatt over the rate and the way it has been handled. (FWIW, the website let me reserve a room using both the special offer "Sunshine on Sale" at the AAA rate, but when I called to confirm, an agent said it's one or the other.)

But, to cancel, we need to find other lodging ASAP. We're looking for a quiet place around/near the water. We basically just need a nice-but-not-overly-expensive place to relax for a few days. We'll mainly do some walking/hiking and enjoying the Bay.

Thanks!

If you really want a place on the bay, I just noticed the Inn of Silent Music, in Tylerton, MD.

I've noticed one review--a good one--on TripAdvisor, but it's three years old.

The reason I mention it is that I used to know Tylerton. I spent summers there as a boy. It's quiet. You can sometimes hear the crabbers going out in the early morning (before sunup,) but that's it.

I'm not sure where you're coming from, but Tylertown is a good deal farther than, say, Cambridge. (I've never heard of a hotel/resort that allows double discounts, by the way; I always assume one or the other, never both.) Have you ever been to St Michael's? There's a fine inn there-- the Inn at Perry Cabin. It's much more "special" than the Hyatt (though the Hyatt is very pleasant imo). I hope it'll be in your budget. And St Michael's is much much more interesting than Cambridge. You'll also be near Easton and Oxford, two more pleasant towns near St Michael's (and Cambridge). By the way, you won't find any "hiking" in these areas, but the towns are pleasant to walk around in. Perhaps if Perry Cabin is too expensive they might be able to recommend another place in St Michael's that'll be more affordable.
Good luck.

Or what about Annapolis? A much busier town, but many interesting things to do. And no doubt a larger choice of lodgings.

Check out the Robert Morris Inn in Oxford - its near St. Michael's. As Poss said, a lovely area, but the RMI is less expensive (and less luxurious) than the Inn at Perry Cabin. The Inn and outbuilding have about 30 rooms - so its not a big resort like the Hyatt, but very nice (if older) and right on the bay. The crabcakes at the on-site restaurant are the best I've had.
http://www.robertmorrisinn.com/

Agree that Annapolis would have a lot more to do by way of shopping and restaurants. In the off season you can usually get a pretty good deal at the Mariott (on the water) or the Loews (in town, away from the water).

I agree with Rumrita. The crabcakes at Robert Morris Inn make me hungry as I type. The Inn is nice, built about 1710, but it isn't cheap. Oxford is twenty minutes from Cambridge.

if you want a waterfront hotel, check out harbourtowne (www.harbourtowne.com) or harbour inn (www.harbourinn.com) in st. michaels. the rooms in both places are all waterfront. the former has one of the best open waterviews in the area. the latter is on the st. michaels harbor.

perry cabin is beautiful and luxurious but very expensive.

the other waterfront hotels/inns in the st.michaels/oxford/easton area that come to mind are the robert morris inn in oxford, the tilghman island inn on tilghman island and wades point inn about 4 miles past st. michaels. there are also a few waterfront b&b's in the area.

tourist activity in the area is just starting to pick up on the weekends. and the colder weather has delayed the boating season. so it will be quiet all over the area on the weekdays you are here.