I have been coming to Provincetown since I was 17 years old and I am 53. I still party and love the Boatslip. I was there Sept !7,this year for a wedding and the swim for life event was taking place too. The time spent there is wonderful. I will be staying again this Halloween,that's the last weekend before they close for the season.I have stayed in dozens of nicer houses there of course but the Boatslip is a staple and we should be happy it's still here.Think of the alternative.

This place is well known throughout P'Town for only being interested in how much of your money they can pull out of your pocket. The money is the only reason they are there. When I'm traveling, there are times I want to "veg" out which is IMPOSSIBLE here. Since as one reviewer stated, I am not a horny 20 year old any more, tea dance, (the only reason to come here), is not something that I have to do. This place might be alright for the circuit boyz, but if that is not your thing, there too many other places to stay where the staff is friendly and efficient and actually care about your needs and if you enjoy your stay. Also are much better maintained and cleaner. Stay at one of these places and if you have to go to T-dance, use the money you save on a better place at a cheaper price. Many are within a 2 to 5 minute walk.

While I've never actually been an overnight guest of the Boatslip, I have gone to their bar and to their "famous" Tea Dance several times, and each time I keep asking myself "Why? How did I get talked into this?" The experience, a staple for many in the circuit lifestyle, and a mid-afternoon dance-fest for those who live to party, I frequently just find the whole scene agoraphobic.

While there are several ways to get drinks during the Tea, the lines at each and every bar station are usually just ridiculous. After paying to get in, there's very little to do except dance, drink, or people-watch. You can dance elsewhere (often with more modern music), drink elsewhere with better-made drinks, and people-watch for free absolutely everywhere. I won't assault the Tea for being what it is, but it certainly isn't my cup of... well, you know.

As for the pool, before Tea, which is open to the public but charges for chairs/towels, I will say this: The Crown & Anchor does this so much better. Their pool's bigger, cleaner, and kept to a more refreshing temperature. I'm used to chair charges & bring my own towel, so I'm not offended at that stuff, but don't expect to read a book or paper or to just zone out & relax. The Boatslip's pool scene is very cruisy and chatty, and books are looked at as though they're props. I apologize to Joan Didion for the neglect, but I couldn't finish a paragraph without constant interruption.

The small bar out front is friendly, but loud, and the drinks were a bit strong. What the bartender lacked in mixology, he did make up for with charisma.

I've seen one of the rooms facing the pool a couple years ago while making a pit stop with a couple of friends who opted to stay there. The room was dingy and looked outdated and unclean, but their view of both pool & bay were beautiful. They loved Tea, the crazy party atmosphere, and the noise, but you could not pay me to suffer the same.

All in all, the Boatslip is sold to tourists as a "must", especially Tea Dance, but I find that most independent wanderers like me will find it garish, unpleasant, crass and obvious in its meagre trappings. One can cruise in front of Spiritus for free, without cover, with less noise, and they even make a good coffee...

I'll start with the positive - Great location. With that said, the famous teadance and deck facility is no more than a 5-10minute walk from most hotels in P-Town. Definitely places you want to visit, but no need to stay at this hotel. For the usd250 per night we paid, we should have gotten alot more. (to be honest, even if we paid usd59 per night, i'd be upset by the condition of the room as for my Labor Day holiday we wanted to "spoil ourselves" with the best, not settle for old and rusty - our goal was not to save money but to treat ourselves to the best). Rooms are old, not renovated, and not clean. Our carpet was so full of dust (no matter how handsome the cleaning guy was...his vacuum just wasn't strong enough to pull up 40 years of dust). Electric wires are strawn all over the room with lights connected by extension cords. The sink faucets are leaky and loose. There are rust stains in the sink. One of my "self-indulgent" activities at a nice hotel is to relax in a hot bath. There was no way I would sit down in that rusty old tub. The toilet seat was cracked. I will not complain about noise as we were advised of that prior to arrival. My complaint is about the lack of upkeep of the entire facility. Breakfast (called "continental") is coffee and donuts. No eggs, no cheeses. All kept to a minimum. I had no problem to pay the price, but for usd250 per night i expect more than rusty, old and mimimal. I was definitely return to PTown, but not to this hotel.