Your girl is ITCHING to travel. Like feeling beyond the point of sanity. Anyone else feeling the pain?! And “not being able to travel” feels like it’s making the urge to travel so. much worse. I know that guidelines for reopening have been drastically different from state to state (and understandably so, given how drastically different cases have been from state to state).

Geoff and I don’t have any travel plans (other than trying to lock down a plan for the 4th 🤞🏻) for the foreseeable future. We’re hoping for another trip to Turks & Caicos (read my past travel guide here), but to be honest, I’m not sure it’s truly in the cards. 

Restaurants are gradually reopening in New England and it finally feels like there’s a glimmer of hope of going “back to normal.” Whatever that new normal might be… While Geoff and I likely won’t be hopping on a plane this summer, the thought of New England day trips and long weekends is what’s keeping me going these days. Beach days, lobster rolls, the salty smell of the air, and the ocean breeze on your face. There’s nothing like summer in New England! So, I thought it would be fun to share some of the best New England hotels I’ve been eyeing for years and am dying to stay at.

Little known fact about me: There’s nothing I enjoy more than researching hotels, new travel destinations, and trying to find that New England gem that I’ve never experienced before…. Maybe the only thing I love more is researching restaurants and looking at menus haha! Here are 6 of the best New England hotels that are on my summer bucket list! In my opinion, these are truly some of the best in New England and are places I’m dying to stay at this summer.

Have any of you stayed at any of these New England hotels? Click through and let me know your experience in the comments!

6 of the Best New England Hotels on My Summer Bucket List

Photo via Lemon Stripes

Gurney’s Newport Hotel & Spa
Location: Newport, Rhode Island

I have never spent time discovering Newport other than being there for one or two days in high school for a cheerleading competition so I’m hoping I get to spend time in Newport, Rhode Island this summer or fall. Newport is a coastal city located on Narraganset Bay. It’s about 30 miles south of Providence and about 70 miles south of Boston. Newport is known for being a popular summer destination which people flock to to see the historic mansions, be on the ocean, enjoy delicious seafood, dream of catching a glance at Taylor Swift, or grab a Del’s (if you know, you know).

I’ve been wanting to stay at Gurney’s for years and still haven’t had the chance to do so. While a stay certainly at Gurney’s Newport certainly isn’t cheap, it seems that you truly get what you pay for! Gurney’s Newport is on Goat Island which surrounds Narragansett Bay, so when you stay at Gurney’s, it’s truly like being on your own private little island. Plus, it’s the only hotel on Goat Island. What I’m most excited to check out if we go this summer is the saltwater outdoor pool area that overlooks Narragansett Bay (complete with cabanas), the complimentary yoga glasses, and of course, again, THE VIEW. It looks incredible and I love the modern touches throughout the hotel!

Photo via Stacey Hedman

Chatham Bars Inn
Location: Chatham, Massachusetts (Cape Cod)

The Chatham Bars Inn is true Cape Cod luxury (one of the best New England hotels) and seems like one of those spots where you’d love to explore everything the area has to offer, but you don’t want/need to because the Chatham Bars Inn has everything you could ever desire right on their property… even a beach!

The Chatham Bars Inn is right on the beach (swoon!) and has a main inn, cottages, and spa suites to fit whatever your needs for travel might be. There are numerous dining options on the property, a pool, fishing/boating options, and the beach is right at your finger tips. I particularly love the idea of being able to easily book a fishing or boating trip right from the hotel; so easy! And if it doesn’t sound amazing enough already, they also have a spa and a fitness center that’s open 24/7. 

This stay would very much be a splurge for me, but hey, it’s fun to dream right?!

Photos via Hotel Pippa

Hotel Pippa
Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts

I discovered Hotel Pippa a couple years ago and have been obsessed ever since! One of the best things about Hotel Pippa is that it’s right downtown. During COVID, you may/may not be comfortable getting an Uber/taxi, etc. so this is a great option that allows you to be within walking distance to just about anywhere you’d want to go.

Most of all, I love the modern design and the cheeky art. So fun! If you research New England hotels, one thing you’ll often notice (especially in Rhode Island or Vermont and parts of Massachusetts) are the old Victorian designed hotels and rooms. That’s great and all, but I prefer a modern boutique hotel any day! At Hotel Pippa, modern whites and blues adorn the rooms along with luxurious linens, bathrobes, and top-shelf bath and skincare products. The important things, people!

Photo via Eat Live Travel Drink

Samoset Resort
Location: Rockport, Maine

You guys know I’m a sucker for Midcoast Maine because it’s where I’m from and the Samoset Resort is one of the absolute best New England hotels. I also love the 250 Main Hotel which I wrote about here – and I have a Rockland, Maine Travel Guide here. I actually worked here in high school doing room service and bussing tables and so did most of my friends. Even both of my younger brothers have worked here. It’s basically a rite of passage of growing up in Midcoast Maine.

The Samoset Resort is the only true resort in the Midcoast Maine area and you guys, it’s absolutely incredible. I always recommend people stay here because they have every single thing you’ll need right on the property (especially if you have kids!). Restaurants, an amazing indoor and outdoor pool, a golf course, fitness classes that you get access to when staying here (I had a gym membership here when I lived at home after college), a spa, the BEST views, and newly updated rooms. If there’s any con at all, it’s that there’s so much to do in the area, but you won’t want to leave because everything you need is located right on the grounds of the Samoset.

We’re trying to decide whether to stay here for the weekend of the 4th and I think we’re going to pull the trigger. Truly I want to go just for the views and the pool – but everything else that’s included is an added bonus! They’re running a great promotion right now for New England residents through the end of September. I found the rate for a basic room to be MUCH less expensive than any of the other rates I’m finding for New England area hotels. If you guys book, let me know and I’d be happy to provide other area recommendations (or you can find them here and here). 

Photo via AWOL Hotel 

AWOL Hotel
Location: Provincetown, Massachusetts (Cape Cod)

The AWOL Hotel, formerly the Inn at the Moors, is in Provincetown and is part of the Lark Hotels group. This hotel is new – they opened last summer! I am obsessed with the coastal bohemian design and decor. 

For those not familiar, Provincetown is at the very end of the hook of Massachusetts. It can be a hike of a drive, but the beaches and sand dunes make it worth it. Depending on where you’re coming from, you may find it easier to take the ferry from Boston (this company also does trips to Provincetown from Boston).  

Photo via The Inn at Ocean’s Edge

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge
Location: Lincolnville, Maine

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge doesn’t seem very well known and that’s a bit of a shame. This place is a gem! And if you made it this far, then you get to hear the exciting news that this is where we’re getting married in 2021 (yay)! I have never stayed here, but when I tell you that the grounds are impeccable, I truly mean it (and that was when we looked at the venue in May). You can tell how lush the property is during the summer months from photos.

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is part of the Migis Hotel Group (the same hotel group as 250 Main which I wrote about in this post). These hotels are in a league of their own. True coastal luxury in a casual way (my favorite). Perhaps the best part of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is the pool (I mean c’mon with those views) and the hotel rooms. Their infinity pool has to be one of the best in the state and overlooks an impeccably looked after lawn and Penobscot Bay. 

I am so excited to get married here in 2021!!! I hope we get the chance to stay here this summer. 

Disclaimer: Obviously it goes without saying that if you do travel, you should be doing so safely and following the individual hotel’s guidelines for travel – especially if traveling out of state.

Have you stayed at any of these hotels? Or another hotel that you think is the best in New England? Let me know in the comments!