hello friends....i am thinking of spending thnksgiving weekend in newport. been there only once and that was 6 summers ago. is there less to see during fall? less crowded? are the mansions still open to the public? more importantly, can u suggest an inexpensive hotel/motel in the immediate vicinity? i don't have to stay downtown if that will mean i can save monday. any suggestions would be so helpful. thnks in advance.

i have found out, the hard way, that newport is not what it was cracked up to be. it's not as picturesque as the guidebooks say and neither are the mansions of the rich and famous worth the admission money. i suggest you just hie off to providence....better deal for your money.

Sorry Gemma, if you would have read carefully you would have seen that Ed has already been to Newport once and apparently wants to go back, despite what you thought of the city. I know you can't please everyone, and everyone has a right to their opinion, but this is the first "anti-Newport" comment I've read in a Newport thread in about a year and a half on this board, which probably tells you what a good destination Newport is.
In answer to part of Greg's questions, yes, the city will be far less crowded than you saw during your summer visit. The wild card is the weather; if it is sunny and mild, day-trippers will come out of the woodwork (many from Providence, if you can believe that, Gemma), but still not in summer numbers. If it is rainy and cold, there won't be many people at all. As far as cheap accomadations, you might try the Motel 6 (be warned, it is right across the street from a water treatment plant) or the Harbor Base Pineapple Inn. You will need to drive to downtown from both these motels but parking is not a problem this time of year. Most restaurants and shops will be open, as for the mansions, I'm sure you can find some websites that will tell you when they are open.

I can't answer about the holiday hours, but I was in Providence in early December two years ago all the mansions were open. It was also a beautiful unseasonably warm (low 60's!) day for December and there were lots of people walking around. I've never been in the summer, so I can't compare. When I went all the mansions were decorated for Christmas; we were only in town for a few free hours and too cheap to pay the admission prices, but we walked along the cliff walk. There were lots of people (and tour buses) going in all the mansions. Didn't see many stores or restaurants closed, and we were walking around on a Sunday late morning/early afternoon.

Greg,

I have recently visited Newport as part of my holiday in the States (from London, UK). We stayed one night in the old jail house for about $75, we went to the bus station/tourist information centre and there were lots of different places to stay posted on a board, also free phones to book a room, they were all reasonably priced and most had vacancies (we were there at the end of Sept). We also had dinner in the Brick Alley Pub on Thames street and had a wonderful meal, it was such popular place that we had to wait 30 mins for a table. My brother had black spaggetti, with crab and scollop sauce, which was absolutely mouthwatering. I really enjoyed Newport and would love to go back for a longer visit