December 11, 2013 Ocean House
The Ocean House, a Relais Chateau property located in Watch Hill, RI has won all sorts of accolades. Conde Nast Readers Choice in 2013 it ranked as the #5 resort in the northeast, #7 by Travel + Leisure in 2013 for top hotel spas in the world, ranked #11 in 2013 for Travel + Leisure’s America’s best coastal resort, ranked #10 by Travel + Leisure for best coastal hotel in 2013 among others. It is the first and only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star hotel in the state of RI.
From the hotel’s website, “Famously known for its warm yellow façade and stunning views of the Atlantic, the Ocean House opened in 1868 just after the Civil War. The hotel gained prominence among the historic New England hotels built during this era. For those who could afford the luxury of travel, the Ocean House in the early 1900s became the quintessential summer home attracting many distinguished guests. The grand Victorian hotel was a genteel beach resort where generations of families and guests from across America came “to summer.” In fact, in 1916 the Ocean House was immortalized in the silent movie American Aristocracy, starring Douglas Fairbanks.
The Ocean House welcomed guests for 135 years, but as with many historic hotels, over time, neglect took its toll. The Ocean House was closed in 2003 when it was deemed beyond feasible repair. In 2004 a new structure replicating the original exterior design was conceived. Today, this much-loved beach hotel has been recreated to convey the romance of its storied past and the rich character of Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
The new resort features 49 rooms and 13 Signature Suites, providing more spacious accommodations than the original structure, which offered 159 rooms. Viewed from the outside, all of the resort’s 247 windows remain in their original positions. More than 5,000 salvageable artifacts and furnishing elements were lovingly harvested from the original structure’s historic interiors.”
Everything about the hotel is charming, even the rest rooms.
No detail has been missed, you feel like you have gone back in time or transported onto a movie set. A non denominational chapel is located across the street, making this a popular wedding destination.
We arrived early and our room was not ready. We went out to lunch in town and they texted us when it was time to return to the hotel. We stayed up on the 4th floor in a lovely room overlooking the south lawn.
We were welcomed by a delicious treat and a nice note from the hotel. Tipping is not allowed, all tips for the valet, housekeeping etc. (but not the dining room) is included in the resort fee.
The bathroom has Molton Brown bath products.
There was a lovely deep tub with a tv, the shutters can be closed for privacy from the bedroom.
The king sized bed with wonderful!
We are walked up to our room by someone in guest services. She explains all the features of the room, including sodas and waters in the fridge, snacks on the shelf and coffee from the Keurig machine.
I love all the little details.
The room also comes with an iPad, you can make reservations for dinner or call for your car, among other things.
A closer up of those delicious snacks from the entryway.
The hallway – you never saw any cleaning carts…
We took a lovely walk on the beach – while it is November, it was unseasonably warm – 65 degrees, making it a great day to be outside. People brought their dogs and there were locals fishing on the beach.
A view of the hotel from the beach – the hotel is amazing. The level of service is impressive, from the minute you walk in the the moment you check out. There isn’t much to do here in the off season, as all the shops in “town” have been shuttered for the season. I can only imagine how beautiful this resort is in the summer time.
Ocean House
One Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill, RI
Tags: hotel, rhode island
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