Staying At Castle Hill Inn

As promised, after our recent lunch at Castle Hill Inn we had the opportunity to tour the Inn and roam the property.  On the way to Newport my dining companion was telling me about his newly-acquired condo at Ocean Cliffs in Newport.  During the summer he would often sit outside on the patio and overhear the sounds of weddings taking place at a nearby property.  As it turns out that property is Castle Hill Inn!

The formidable home was built on the western-most tip of Newport at the entrance to Narragansett Bay in 1874 by Alexander Aggasiz a marine biologist at Harvard University.  Filled with antiques and art, it became the summer home of actress Grace Kelly during the filming of the movie High Society.  To this day the small beach there is still called Grace Kelly Beach.  There is a warm, comfortable New England feel throughout with lots of natural wood and interesting architectural details.

We were led upstairs to the Turret Suite, one of the nine rooms in the original home.  It's interesting to note that when one looks at hotels online one is typically never able to book the very highest level of accommodation, such as the so-called Presidential Suites.  So it is with the Turret Suite.

The two floor suite offers 400 square feet of comfy space with a king size bed and gas jet fireplace.  As we entered, classical music softly cooed on the sound system, a precursor of the kind of attention to detail one can expect.

A soaking tub sits by the windows and the old-world charm of the Inn makes one feel that he has just stepped into a relaxing, lavish Ralph Lauren advertisement.

The room is spacious and well-appointed but that's not it.  We were then led to the wooden spiral staircase leading up to the turret level, the very top of the Inn.

Yet another spacious room awaits with a relaxing sitting area and library with books on astronomy, a small fridge for your bubbly and a full DVD system for an inviting night of entertainment in comfort.

The room is surrounded by windows with stunning 320 degree views of the water.  We watched ships sailing in as we looked out over the rolling lawn.

And if all of that is not enough there's a telescope for stargazing as well.  Before nightfall it can also be used to view up to 12 lighthouses that dot the shores.  Breathtaking.

Quiet, secluded and off the beaten path this is the perfect antidote for the busy, harried hectic days.  In addition to the nine rooms in the main Inn there are also Beach Cottages with sweeping ocean views available.  And if you can't stay overnight there's always lunch or dinner to enjoy the ambiance, beautiful views and superior service of this Relais and Chateaux property.

Castle Hill Inn
590 Ocean Drive
Newport, RI  02840
Toll-Free Telephone:  888.466.1355