Have you been watching The Gilded Age on MAX? With so much of this season set in Newport, it has many people interested in planning a Gilded Age Getaway to our fair City-by-the-Sea. While there are a number of lovely historic hotels in Newport, one of my favorites is The Vanderbilt Hotel, an Auberge Resort Property.
The Vanderbilt makes a perfect choice for a romantic getaway to Rhode Island. While you can enjoy the Roof Deck in the summer, The Vanderbilt Hotel is also quite cozy in the winter, especially when you hang out in front of the many crackling fires or warm up at the spa.
The Vanderbilt Hotel Newport Review
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We planned a winter “staycation” in Newport and The Vanderbilt, an Auberge Collection Hotel, was just what we were looking for on this trip. This boutique luxury property offers on-site dining, an in-house spa, and a selection of rooms and suites in a vintage Newport Mansion. Just a short walk to the center of town, it ticks all the boxes for a winter or summer stay.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome drink and received the good news of a suite upgrade to a Captain’s Loft Suite, with over 500 square feet of living space and a loft bedroom with a king-size bed and one-and-a-half baths. The room decor isn’t as plush as some five-star properties, but the price offered great value for the experience. The only downside was the skylight over the bed that woke me up early in the morning.
Dining at The Vanderbilt
On a cold winter’s night in February, it was a great joy to dress for dinner and only need to venture as far as the cozy dining room downstairs at the Vanderbilt Grill. Given a prime table in front of the wood-burning fire, we were thrilled to find a three-course, $30 prix fixe menu on offer, making it easier to splurge on a fantastic bottle of wine.
After a delicious meal with attentive service (don’t miss the Brussels sprouts!), we “retired” to one of the cozy rooms off the lobby to finish our wine by another carefully tended fire. So many times the hotel we pick is truly a place to sleep, but with the Vanderbilt we made sure to enjoy the experience and a little relaxation — without leaving the hotel.
Done with our wine, we finished the night with a friendly competition of pool in the billiards room.
The Vanderbilt Spa
This weekend getaway was all about relaxation, so we booked two massages the following day at the in-house spa. After changing in our respective locker rooms, we relaxed for a bit in the sauna and sat by the indoor heated pool before heading in for our treatments.
An afternoon at the spa was a perfect way to end our stay before heading home. Next time, we will also make use of the complimentary Tesla charging station!
Things to do in Newport
Turn your stay at The Vanderbilt into a weekend getaway and make the most of your stay in Newport. Options are a little more limited if you are visiting Newport in the winter, but there are still things to do inside, even if you don’t want to chill at the spa. Be sure to check out our list of things to do in Newport in the winter too!
A sampling includes:
- Touring the Newport Mansions
- Visiting the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Checking out the Newport Car Museum
- Wine tasting at Newport Vineyards
- Bundle up and walk the Cliff Walk
- Shop in town
If you are visiting during the summer, you will have even more options including:
- Go sight sailing
- Ride the Rail Explorers
- Go for a bike ride
- Take a helicopter ride
- Hit the beach
Where to Eat in Newport
There are plenty of dining options in Newport if you choose to leave the hotel. Some of my favorites include:
- Breakfast: Corner Cafe — just get there early or prepare to line up and wait
- Lunch: Scratch Kitchen (amazing grilled cheese options), Diego’s (great Mexican), Midtown Oyster Bar (ask to sit outside on one of their two decks), and of course, The Black Pearl for chowder
- Dinner: Whitehorse Tavern (great in the winter by the fire), The Spiced Pear (for a fine dining/special occasion experience)
- Drinks: The Rooftop bar at the Vanderbilt (open seasonally), the Lawn at Castle Hill Inn
Newport really makes a perfect romantic getaway destination at any time of the year and we were very happy with our pick of The Vanderbilt this time around.
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