Although pricey, it's exactly what you expect. Manicured grounds, amazing ocean views, impeccable service and all the little extras you'll love.

Hike along the beach to the lighthouse or borrow a bike for a great ride into town. Free hourly shuttle into towns for dining and shopping too.

A little shocked at some of the prices though. A picnic lunch is 32 dollars per person which is obscene. Other than that, you'll love it here.

Absolutely charming, picturesque resort located on northeast end of Nantucket Island. It is nestled in an old New England seaside setting offering views of both the Nantucket Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The friendliness and helpfulness of the staff at The Wauwinet sits it apart from other resorts we have visited. The room decor remained me of what would have been in a late 19th century New England luxury seaside cottage; simple, but elegant. A special touch that I have not seen at any other resort was the personalized cards waiting for us on the bed.

We were advised to be sure to watch the sunset over the Nantucket Bay as it would be spectacular. I have to say it was one of the most amazing and unobstructed sunsets I have seen.

The Wauwinet’s internationally acclaimed restaurant, Topper’s, offers a relaxing, yet elegant, dining atmosphere.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Wauwinet. I believe they achieve and exceed what they state: “A sense of the exceptional distinguishes The Wauwinet, which is dedicated to providing an unmatched guest experience. Here, you’ll find a gracious and attentive staff that is second to none. You’ll also find a wealth of special touches and complimentary activities that add exceptional value to your stay.”

The ultimate measure of a hotel’s (or inn’s) quality may perhaps be assessed by posing the question "would you be willing to recommend it?” Having just spent 3 days at this Inn (October 13 through October 16), I am able to say without hesitation: “for a relaxing, sophisticated, adult, retreat in an extraordinarily special location where the comfort and convenience of guests is the staff’s prime concern, I absolutely and strongly recommend that you stay at the Wauwinet Inn on Nantucket Island.”

The Inn is located on the west side of Nantucket (approximately 8 miles outside of the Town of Nantucket). Don’t be dissuaded because you are away from the Town – the Inn runs an hourly shuttle for guests into the village from early morning until 11:00 pm at night. The service is very reliable, free and negates the need to rent a car if you decide that you don’t want to pay the high cost of bringing your vehicle over to the island.

What is refreshing and unique about Nantucket is the community’s commitment to keep their island from being overdeveloped and turned in to tourist town. Commercial and retail property certainly exists but zoning by-laws and town ordinances have tightly controlled the islands appearance and ambiance. Within minutes of arriving on the island you will immediately sense that this is what Martha’s Vineyard or the Cape must have been like 75 years ago (before its unique character was undermined by commercialization).

The Inn, itself, is situated on a narrow isthmus with its property abutting Nantucket Bay on the west side and the Atlantic Ocean on the east side. The landscaping and grounds are beautifully groomed and well laid-out. As you arrive, you immediately get the sense that you have stepped back in time – you are warming greeted by a delightful gentleman named James, a staff member who has worked for the Inn more than 20 years, who sets the tone for how you are going to be treated by every staff member during your stay. The Reception and Concierge staff are not merely polite and professional – they engage you on a personal level leaving you with the distinct impression that you are the most important guest staying at the Inn.

The Inn is about 100 years old and has always been used for its original purpose – don’t be concerned, however, about its age. The Inn is well constructed and offers all accommodations an experienced traveler would expect of an upscale hotel or Inn (very personalized service, taste furnishings, parking, room services, fitness equipment, a spa, high quality linens, bedding, flooring, flat panel televisions, Bose stereo, and other luxury amenities).

On the Bay side, immediately connected to the Inn is a wide sweeping lawn that provides a panoramic view of the bay and the village. The Inn has lawn furniture neatly laid out affording a perfect vantage point to watch breath-taking sunsets while enjoy your favorite adult beverage.

On the Ocean side, within a few hundred steps of the Inn’s front entrance is the beach. Massachusetts has numerous, beautiful beaches but few compare to what you will find on the east side of Nantucket. This is a beach that does not have public access (the Inn has a special leasing arrangement with property abutters that allows its guests to access and use the beach). They are clean, unspoiled and never crowded. You can literally walk for miles without seeing anyone else –the waves are big and each tide brings myriad of shells - one morning I found a good size whelk (Penion cuvieranus) - somewhat of an unusual find given the New England location. If you enjoy seeing wild life, there are a variety of birds, waterfowl, rabbits and deer – the seals also routinely cruise the shoreline along the beach.

Their restaurant, Toppers, is excellent offering legitimate fine dining with an extensive and impressive wine list. The menu is creative; the food is impeccable in preparation, presentation and taste, fairly priced, and with enough diversity that even the fussiest diner will not experience difficulty in finding an entrée to their liking. Toppers sommelier is a true professional – he understands that his role is to aid and educate a diner in making a wine selection that meets their taste and budgetary requirements. He works at his craft without pretense or attempting to upsell you – just a very knowledgeable and pleasant person to deal with.

The Inn’s lounge is a perfect place to have lunch, kick back for a while or have a drink before dinner – staffed by two great guys: Mitch and Joshua. They are obviously experienced and skilled bartenders who remained unflappable even when the bar was crowded and drink orders numerous, complicated or unique.

This was our first time staying at the Inn but it will not be our last. We are truly looking forward to a return visit.

Really enjoyed our anniversary overnight at the Wauwinet. The hotel was smaller than I had imagined which cave it a wonderfully cozy and boutique-like feel. Granted it was just after the season (day after Columbus Day) but the service was outstanding. We were met at the ferry by a van that took us out to the hotel which is at the far end of the island. The front desk staff remembered to wish us a happy anniversary and we got a great room right off the main lobby/living room area with a deck and ocean view. When we reported a problem with or heat/AC unit, someone was there within minutes to fix it. After a great massage in the spa, the shuttle van took us into town to our dinner restaurant and picked us up for the return. The next morning we had breakfast and biked around that part of the island before heading into town for some shopping. They were nice enough to hold our bags at the hotel and deliver them to dock in time for the return ferry. They might want to get some newer bikes but otherwise the whole experience could not have been better.