Travel is back with data for both domestic and international trips showing returns to pre-pandemic levels. With this record-breaking boom comes a wave of trends, which can be fun to plan a vacation around. Whether you’re packing your bags for an Ocean State staycation or your wanderlust extends beyond state borders – but sans passport – we’ve got you covered with escapes right here in Rhode Island, along with nearby Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. From vacations based on visiting the location of your favorite streaming series to the joy of guiltlessly going off by yourself and catching up on rest but not status updates, it’s all here and more.
If you haven’t been to Mystic since your fifth grade field trip, it’s time to return. Hilton Mystic puts you within walking distance to both Mystic Aquarium and Olde Mistick Village, both showcased in the Hallmark Channel movie, Mystic Christmas. See Cork the seal (who starred as Peppermint) at the aquarium, grab a slice at Mango’s, or take a short drive for a treat at Sift Bake Shop. Then, over a delicious meal at the hotel’s restaurant The IRONS, your server can dish about the cast, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get the waitress who appeared in 1988’s Mystic Pizza. The amenity-rich hotel is filled with photo ops that lean into the nearby seaport, including a ship’s wheel and a life-sized pirate. Mystic, CT. Hilton.com
The City by the Sea has provided a stylish backdrop for countless films dating back to 1956’s High Society, and they’re all listed with fun facts at DiscoverNewport.org. Fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age can take a guided tour via Newport Mansions, and continue the glamour at The Chanler, an authentic Gilded Age mansion-turned hotel with restaurants, all enjoyed without velvet ropes and stanchions. Newport, TheChanler.com
Action: Filming resumes for James L. Brook’s movie Ella McCay in Providence this month. Locations are TBD, so stay tuned.
The home of actor Van Johnson, best known for MGM films, still stands in Newport on 16 Ayrault Street. It’s a private residence but worth a walk by for fans of the endearing actor.
Over 22 holiday movies have been filmed in the Nutmeg State. Find a map and more at the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail, CTVisit.com.
When you feel like getting away from it all, there’s no better place than Block Island. Many become besotted with the spot for what it doesn’t have: no chain stores, Dunkies, or Uber. Bed and Breakfast Sea Breeze Block Island takes it one better: no WiFi, no TV, no AC. A 10-minute walk from Old Harbor, what you will get is a charming room outfitted in cheerful trappings that complement its rustic bones, a scrumptious chef-prepared breakfast with handmade serveware in a picnic basket delivered to your door each morning, and views overlooking the ocean, pond, and wildflower meadow. Bikes (with helmets, maps, and locks) are available for rent, ready for exploring! Open May 1 through mid-October. Block Island, SeaBreezeBlockIsland.com
Built in 1898 as a boarding house and recently refurbished, the Admiral Dewey Inn feels like staying at your grandmother’s big ol’ house by the sea. Welcoming and comfy, with a delicious breakfast served to start your day, there is WiFi but no TV, so hang in the common room and play board games instead. South Kingstown, AdmiralDeweyInn.com
If the concept of traveling alone seems lonely, think again. It’s like an extended version of taking yourself out to lunch, where you choose the place and set your own pace. Unlike Friend Finding vacations, this trend centers on self. Start with destinations where you feel safe and that offer amenities like restaurants and walkable points of interest. If dining out feels awkward, bring a book until you feel more comfortable, or order room service.
Luxuriate in a snug space awash in white, perched on the dunes of a private beach. Sound worlds away? It’s part of Castle Hill Inn’s row of beach cottage rooms just 250 yards from the main Agassiz Mansion. Book a spa service at the Retreat at Castle Hill by Farmaesthetics, savor fine dining at Aurelia, and follow a path to the lighthouse, but save plenty of time for relaxing by the fireplace in your coastal chic digs. Don’t leave without trying the signature lobster hash for breakfast at the main building/mansion dining room. Newport, CastleHillInn.com
For an expansive resort, it doesn’t take long for Chatham Bars Inn to give village-life vibes. Paths connect everything to the Main Inn, which houses magnificent common areas, and restaurants including the elegant STARS, serving inventive dishes destined to become favorites. Seasonal spa treatments drawing on harvests, turn-down service with local chocolates, and a full events calendar enhance the amenities list. Main Street shopping and Chatham Lighthouse are both less than a mile away. Discounts for educators, first responders, veterans, and military officers. Chatham, MA. ChathamBarsInn.com
Planting yourself someplace different doesn’t have to call for a plane ticket. Newport Beach Hotel & Suites puts you smack-dab in the salty action with Easton’s Beach and Flo’s Clam Shack mere steps or a rented bike ride away. Comprising two hotels, there’s the Historic Building and the Suites Building, both recently refreshed with nautical-inspired decor. Suites are akin to mini-apartments – with fully equipped kitchens, some two-bedroom units, and washer/dryer – making them ideal for multigenerational travel and extended stays. When you’re done living like a local, take advantage of the heated indoor pool, hot tub, rooftop fire pit, fitness room, or spa. Seasonal dining options are available. Middletown, NewportBeachHotelAndSuites.com
A perk of Providence is that downtown attractions are all within a relatively small footprint. Luxury boutique hotel The Beatrice expertly uses this to their advantage by curating stays that pair buzzworthy happenings with themed packages, which might include anything from specialty cocktails to a locally made souvenir. The entire property exudes sophistication, from the sparkling lobby to first-floor restaurant Bellini Providence, extending to guest rooms with high ceilings, skyline views, and modern chandeliers. Leave the sweatpants at home, but rest assured, all staff will make you feel comfy and welcome. Providence, TheBeatrice.com
Explore quaint Jamestown from a home base at the Lionel Champlin Guest House. Despite its 1888 plaque, the historic property has modern amenities like an EV charging station and WiFi, and it’s close to shopping and restaurants like perennially popular BEECH. Jamestown, LCGuesthouse.com
Sometimes 48 hours is all you need to shake things up and Aloft Providence Downtown makes it easy with affordable room rates, a pool table, Xbox Gaming Room, and lively programming. Details, like suites named after gemstones to honor its Jewelry District location, give indie hotel feels even though it’s a Marriott property – so bonus points if you’re someone racking up Marriott Bonvoy points. Self-billed as “fun and sassy,” each of the two onsite bars has its own signature drink: find the Insta-worthy tiki cocktail served in a yellow ceramic boombox on the first floor at W XYZ bar, and the Rooftop Peacock upstairs at Blu Violet Rooftop, which also hosts a Sunday R&B Brunch with either live music or a DJ. The hotel boasts some of the best views of the city and is proud to showcase work by local artists, including stick-like figure paintings by Occipital on everything from lobby restroom mirrors to guest rooms, and new murals by @chalk_box. It also makes for great Bleisure Travel (a mix of business and leisure). Providence, Marriott.com
A newly opened treasure hidden in plain sight near the malls, The Loom has been described as “a restaurant with a hotel.” Executive chef Daniel Gibb, originally from Scotland and previously at the helm of an award-winning restaurant in Oklahoma, spent time researching New England cuisine before putting his own tasty spin on creating a menu for The Brook Kitchen + Bar. The interior of the 163-room hotel along the Pawtuxet River leans into its neighborhood’s history as the birthplace of the Fruit of the Loom brand, and fiber art warms the industrial chic environs. Weave together a visit based on dinner and breakfast, and toast the stay over a Fruit of the Loom cocktail, a pastel confection of gin, butterfly pea syrup, Prosecco, and mint, topped with a tuft of cotton candy. Warwick, TheLoomHotel.com
Three new lodgings coming soon to Block Island:
• Block Island Bunk House
• Eureka Hotel
• The Inn at New Harbor
Ever watch an old movie and marvel at how formal and fashionable everything was? Create your own posh-cation with a visit to The Plaza Hotel. In less than four hours by train, have your own New York moment when you walk up the steps and enter through revolving doors to the luminous grand lobby – a must for picture-taking. Continue on to spaces like The Champagne Bar, an open restaurant serving light gourmet fare, and The Palm Court, a dazzling venue topped by a stained-glass dome, open for breakfast or cocktails but mostly known for its famed afternoon tea services (hello, Eloise). Guests are encouraged to “dress for the occasion,” so plan accordingly and make that part of the plan. There are also upscale shops, a Guerlain Spa, and fitness center. Guest room amenities include 24-carat gold-plated faucets, solid white marble vanities, and white terry branded bathrobes. All this comes with a price tag to match but you can always order off the menu at The Champagne Bar to experience the setting! New York, NY. Fairmont.com
There have been many movies filmed at The Plaza over the years, from 1959’s North By Northwest to 1992’s Home Alone 2, but it just might be Hallmark Channel’s Christmas at the Plaza (2019) that provides the best look.
Feel like you’re away on a European vacation by riding the rails to Westerly for a stay at Weekapaug Inn. Multiple departures from Providence and Kingston make transport part of the fun, and hotel staff can arrange rides to and from the train station. Once at Weekapaug, comfortable rooms and suites await, along with satisfying meals at The Restaurant, snacks at the guest pantry, drinks at the bar, daily resort activities, firepits with s’mores kits, access to the beach, and more. Westerly, WeekapaugInn.com
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