Hello all, We are planning a visit to Bryant University with my daughter and would like to spend one day/night visiting the Newport Mansions. Looking on best place to stay at a reasonable cost and dinner. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Middletown seems a bit more affordable. Anthony’s in Middletown has amazing seafood with a very casual dining experience.
Have stayed at the Hotel Viking a few times - it is a historic hotel - walking distance to the shops (I think the rates are reasonable - one of those locations where summer rates are 3 times off-season ones at all the hotels). My favorite place to eat is the restaurant at the tennis museum - La Forge Casino - must get a table outside (weather permitting). If it is summer and in season you can get very good, inexpensive lobster rolls at this place - Easton’s Beach Snack Bar - right on the beach.
Unless things have changed the mansions are not open during the winter. They close usually at the end of October although they do open and and decorated for the Christmas holidays.
Thank you…keep the ideas coming! I should have prefaced that we are planning this trip for Spring break…week of April 9. 
You will still need to check when the mansions actually open for the season. Newport itself is lovely and there are other things to see and do beside touring the mansions. I have been there on business, staying at the Marriott which is very well situated and once years ago I stayed further afield at the Doubletree on Goat Island, nice hotel, not as convenient a location.
Newport isn’t very cheap, unfortunately. For more reasonable, nice places, look at the more boutique-y hotels like Gilded, The Atwatter, and Mill Street Inn. You might be able to get a decent rate during April since its a shoulder season.
Best prices will be in Middleton. There are two Marriott choices on the main route. A residence inn option and a courtyard I believe. They would be a good bet as they are a chain and you will know what to expect. Good or bad i guess. lol…
My son has applied to Bryant also (applied EA). We hope to hear soon.
Good luck on your trip.
Our son is starting Officer Candidate School in Newport later this month. It looks like some of the mansions are open.if we decide to make a weekend of dropping him off I’ll post a report.
@MassDaD68, I went ahead and booked Hampton Inn down the road from Bryant for pre-tour evening and the next night at Marriott Courtyard. I’m looking forward to the trip! Best of luck to you son! Any chance you looked at Salve Regina? Thought we might if time permits and in the neighborhood. I haven’t researched it yet.
How about Roger Williams?
@tpcrd66 That sounds like a nice plan. I think lots of OOS parents stay at the Hampton Inn when visiting Bryant. The courtyard will work out well also. I have stayed there a few times. Its clean.
Salve Regina! Wow! That college has the best location I have seen. Located directly on the ocean and the famous cliff walk of Newport. Just spectacular. Not sure about the academics but the location is very very nice.
@MassDaD68, wondering if you have anymore updates from Bryant? Hope it comes together the way you would like for your DS!
I cannot remember the name of the hotels, but I would echo the Middletown comment. There are a couple of hotels right off of the main road that runs North/South from Newport along the whole island. Very pretty area, but pricey.
The Black Pearl, Clarke Cook House, and the Mooring are all great iconic Newport restaurants - located on Bowen’s Wharf. The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House & Rosecliff are all open in April (most of the mansions are open year round on a rotating schedule). If you can only see one, visit the Breakers. In my opinion, Rosecliff is the prettiest, but the Breakers is by far the grandest. Rosecliff has been featured in several films, including The Great Gatsby.
If the weather is decent, walk the Cliff Walk, where you can see many of the mansions from the back. To me, the Cliff Walk is the number one fun activity in Newport. Also, the International Tennis Hall of Fame is worth seeing - located on Bellevue Ave. (where most of the mansions are also located). If the weather is nice, have a drink on the lawn at the Inn at Castle Hill and watch the boats pass by - it’s magnificent.
We enjoyed touring the Breakers decades ago on our honeymoon. Definitely a different era and different level of income to support such massive homes and staff!
Once the income tax was created, the Gilded Age in the US pretty much ended.
@tpcrd66 He was accepted to Bryant and received a very nice scholarship. He is still waiting to hear on one last college. Then we will sit down and work the numbers. Private School is so expensive. I am amazed at the large number of people who can still afford the prices. You would think as the costs rise, fewer and fewer people would be able to afford it. Apparently not, economics do not apply to college tuition.
In our experience, private colleges are about on par with out-of-state colleges. The big difference is that the private colleges are considerably more likely to offer merit and other aid. While both of our college student ultimately chose public universities, the net cost for the private schools was not the big issue for them.
@MassDaD68, Congrats to you son on his acceptance and scholarship!! I hope his pending school comes through. and that the numbers work out the way you want. Keep us posted. Good luck!