Gurney’s Newport (Harbor Island)- Newport, RI

Gurney’s has hotels in Scottsdale and Montauk. Up until last year, they had one in Newport as well. They made the right decision by selling that property. Although renovated, the property felt very dated, and the rooms were very basic. Basic and expensive. 

That’s not to say that the property was without its charms- the Goat Island location on the water was stunning. The grounds, which include an old lighthouse, were also lovely, and possessed a certain sense of 1950s nostalgia. But, it looked and felt like a 1970s Hilton- which it once was, and the pool was much too small for the property size. It was also a long walk to most of Newport’s other attractions, and the onsite dining options were limited. 

Tellingly, on a busy summer weekend, it was the only property in town to have an available room on a Friday afternoon. And considering that, the room we got was not that bad- it had a fantastic view of the bridge, and was somewhat updated- but it was in no way worth what we paid. That said, there were other sad rooms at the resort that looked like low end motel options, so at least we didn’t get one of those.

In any event, Gurney’s moved on, and the property is now the Newport Harbor Island Resort. They may well have spent all winter renovating, and the rooms may be much improved. While I doubt I would return to the property, for those looking for waterfront accommodations, it may work for you.