em101

Hi, Myself and a friend, both girls in our mid-twenties are traveling to Washington DC, New York and Boston in a week's time. We would really like to stay in a relatively nice hotel or inn (but for under $200) at the end of our trip and just relax for 2/3days before flying home! We had planned on Newport. Firstly, is Newport nice to relax in - nice restaurants, scenery etc. Secondly, we won't have a car so will that be a problem? Thirdly, are there any hotel recommendations? Any suggestions or alternative destinations would be greatly sppreciated. Thanks a lot!

escargot

Use the site gonewport.com
it has a section for lodging -
b & B's, inns, motels, hotels, etc
and see what you can find for this time of year -

you don't need a car - if you are going to stay on the wharf area, the main drag, etc - you can walk or take the trolley or cab to Cliff Walk, mansions, museum, restaurants, etc if you stay near Thames/Avenue of America's -

I don't know if your dates after after the APril date when many hotels go into regular pricing vs. off season -
my favorite is the Frances Malbone House - a great Inn and you can walk everywhere from there, but if you miss their off season rates, it is more like 250 per night - but you can look on their website, then call - if they aren't booked, you never know ! also depends if you are mid week or weekend - but it never hurts to ask -

Look on www.hotels.com

see if you find a good rate for the Newport Bay Club and Hotel or the Harborside Inn or the VIking Hotel - all of those would also be within walking distance for most everything -

escargot

Sorry, to answer the other part of your question:
fun place for two days, absolutely !
great restaurants, fun bars, fun to walk the Cliff Walk and see some mansions, shopping/boutiques all along the wharfs and in and out the streets heading up to Bellevue Ave - there is a winery right outside town that used to pick you up in their 'grape bus' for tours if you didn't have a car - (Newport Vineyards) you might look into that -

visit the Transportation/visitors center when you arrive and see what is happening in town, any special tours, trolley overview, etc -

Newport Harbor is lovely, although it won't be as full of boats as it would be in season, it is still a gorgeous spot.-

take a sail in the harbor on the Adirondack -

and see if there are any fesitvals or events at the Newport Yachting Center

williamscb13

Not to sound silly or anything, but how are you going to get to Newport without a car?

It's great for a couple of days and once you are there, you should be fine without a car, but seriously, how do you get there without a car?

em101

Thanks a lot for the replies! That's what I was wondering in query re car?! I know that there are buses from Boston and a train to Providence, then bus from there but I don't know how frequent and accessible they are!

lvk

Check this for fares and schedules between Boston & Newport:
www.peterpanbus.com

Rates should be reasonable for hotels in Newport this time of year. Just try to stay down near the harbor and not too far out and you will be fine without a car.

escargot

It is easy to take a bus from Boston to Newport, my kids did it all the time - it drops you at the transportation/visitors center and from there you can walk to many hotels/inns all along the main Thames/Avenue of Americas and side streets no problem.

there are also other transport options from area airports, etc - which might help you on your return , to wherever that is?

escargot

most of the train and airport home pages have links to all ground transport options

cybor

http://www.ripta.com/content320.html

I'm not positive but the trolley service may be discontinued this year.
If it's not avail. it's fairly easy to walk, take a cab or bicycle.

emcash

As the others have said, once you get into newport, you will not need a car. You can peruse different inns and hotels, as well as restaurants on www.gonewport.com and ww.newportchamber.com. I think in April you won't have any problem finding an inn for 200 esp if it is midweek. There are so many places to stay in newport- some of the nicer inns are in the "Legendary Inns of Newport" group. Vanderbilt Hall is one of the nicest hotels in newport- you should look at that too. Franic Malbone is about as central as you can get and is lovely. Most of these wonderful places have great midweek specials. If you look at the above websites and see some places you like, you can always post back so people can give you specific comments.

Newport has everything you're looking for- beautifully scenic, great restaurants, and some nightlife if you're looking for that too.

em101

Great, thanks a lot for the replies! We're thinking of the Marriott or Viking...any recommendations?

EmilyC

In this situation, the Marriott is the better choice. It is situated right at the head of Newport Harbor so all of the rooms in the "back" of the building would have a terrific view. It is a much newer property than the Viking which has been around quite some time. At the Marriott, you would be right in the thick of things as far as America's Cup Avenue and Thames Street scene goes. Easy walk to many restaurants.

emcash

I would disagree - i would stay at the viking before staying at the marriott. The viking has some style and history. The rooms aren't great, but it is walking distance to everything. the marriott is nothing special IMO.

cybor

The rooms at the Viking may have recently been rehabbed.

Both are good locations. The Marriot is closer to more shops and the harbor while the Viking is closer to more historical areas and neighborhoods.
That said, it's fairly easy to get to either.