Located just a 30-mile ferry ride south of Cape Cod, the island of Nantucket is known as a summer colony and popular tourist destination. The island earned its moniker from similar Algonquin words meaning "far away land" and was first settled in 1641. The island remained fairly under-developed in its early years until the 1950's when developers began purchasing land on the island to create an upscale destination for wealthy travelers from the Northeast.
Nantucket was deemed a National Historic Landmark District in 1966 and is noted for being the finest example of environment and architecture of a late 18th-century/early 19th-century seaport town. The city has continued to evolve as a summer tourist destination and is popular for its beautiful beaches, art galleries and museums, unique shopping boutiques, and water sports activities. No matter if you are looking for unique boutique accommodations or resort-style luxury, Nantucket has hotel accommodations with the amenities you are looking for.
When is the best time to visit Nantucket?
Due to its location off the northeastern seaboard, the city of Nantucket was designed to be a summer destination. This makes the prime travel season to the island late June through early September. These months are the height of the tourist season in which you can enjoy all of the water and beach activities as well as a plethora of local events.
The only downfall to traveling to Nantucket this time of year is you will find that accommodations and travel to the island are at the highest prices. However, you still can find good deals when the hotels have last minute openings, and you can secure a reasonable rate for mid-week stays; so if you are looking to enjoy everything the island has to offer, it is definitely the best time of year to visit.
If you are looking to travel when you can still enjoy many of the activities but won't have to deal with large crowds and high rates, late September through October can be quite enjoyable. The weather is just slightly cooler, and while the beach scene may die down a little, most of the island amenities are still in full swing. You also will enjoy better rates both for ferry travel and for overnight accommodations.
Accommodations can also be relatively inexpensive during late spring, but you may find some of the places have not yet opened for the season and you may run into poor weather if the winter weather lingers later.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Nantucket, MA:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts displaying average nightly cost trends by star rating class in Nantucket, MA. Analyze these illustrations to calculate the best dates to book a room in Nantucket for upcoming travels.
Does Nantucket, MA have luxury hotels?
4 Star Average Prices: $281.86
The island of Nantucket is known for its luxurious accommodations, and it has multiple luxury hotels to choose from — some with direct access to one of the many popular tourist beaches. White Elephant Village, located on North Water Street, provides you with resort-style accommodations and amazing views. The hotel is equipped with an outdoor pool, complete with cabanas and a poolside bar. They also provide their guests with concierge services, a free beach shuttle, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour fitness center, and ticket and tour assistance. It is located close to Brant Point Lighthouse and provides free beach access.
The Cottages & Lofts at Boat Basin is located on Old South Wharf and is a pet-friendly hotel with picturesque beach views. The hotel is close to the Maria Mitchell Aquarium and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. Amenities include local shuttle service, luggage storage, free Wi-Fi, and laundry service. All rooms include a microwave and flat-screen televisions with premium cable channels.
What low-cost hotels are in Nantucket, MA?
3 Star Average Prices: $361.28
If you are planning your trip to Nantucket and find yourself on a tight budget, you don't have to sacrifice great amenities for a low price. The Nantucket Inn, located right at the heart of the island, offers amazing views and an even more astounding price. The inn has an indoor pool and fitness facility, provides free breakfast and Wi-Fi with your stay, and even has a bar and lounge where you can relax in the evening and enjoy a drink.
If you don't mind taking a ferry ride to and from the island each morning, you can save quite a bit by staying at Clarion Inn Martha's Vineyard located in Edgartown, MA. The hotel is closely located to ferry service to the island as well as Heritage Plantation, National Marine Life Center, and Sandy Neck Beach. The hotel provides guests with a complimentary continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, a bar area, and an on-site restaurant.
2 Star Average Prices: $310.00
What are the best discounts in Nantucket, MA?
If you are a AAA member and are looking to find the best hotel discounts in and around the city of Nantucket, you can save 5 percent on your stay at the Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod located in Hyannis, MA. The hotel features both an indoor and outdoor pool along with a 24-hour fitness center. They also have a bar and lounge and offer breakfast. The Doubletree is just a short drive from Cape Museum Fine Arts, Cape Cod Storyland, and the Sandy Neck Lighthouse.
Also located in Hyannis, The Best Western Cape Cod offers AAA members up to 20 percent off their nightly rate. It also offers amenities such as an indoor pool with separate children's pool, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. All guest accommodations include a microwave, refrigerator, and LCD televisions with satellite programming.
Active and retired military and government employees can enjoy savings of up to 10 percent at The Holiday Inn Hyannis. The hotel is located close to the Cape Codder Water Park, West Dennis Beach, and Cape Cod's Children's Museum, making it the perfect location for a family vacation. Guests can enjoy both an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a spa tub. During your stay, take advantage of the concierge services to find discounts on area attractions and events.
Where can you find the best hotels for your Nantucket trip?
Sometimes finding the best hotel means finding accommodations that combine the amenities and location you are looking for at a reasonable price. If you are looking for some of the best value hotels in the Nantucket area, you will find plenty of quality options to choose from.
For those looking for accommodations that are a great value and bring you the comforts of home, the Jared Coffin House bed and breakfast is a perfect choice. This B&B is located on Broad Street in downtown Nantucket and is beautifully decorated to fit the theme of a seaside resort town. Many rooms come with their own private bath, and guests are invited to enjoy breakfast each morning. You also can enjoy private terraces, an on-site lounge, and picnic area.
The Wauwinet is the perfect choice for those looking for a seaside resort getaway. Guests can enjoy beach views and access as well as lush gardens for a stroll or a picnic lunch. The hotel is just a short distance from the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, Chatham Lighthouse, Veteran's Field, and Red River Beach. Guests can also enjoy shuttle service to area attractions, an outdoor tennis court, free Wi-Fi, an on-site library, and rooms with private terraces.
What are some of the best things to see and do in Nantucket, MA?
The island of Nantucket can be a relaxing place to enjoy the beaches and boating, but it's also filled with a wide variety of other activities in and around the downtown area.
For those looking to learn a little more about the history of the island and the seaport towns of Massachusetts, you can stop by one of the island's many historical areas and museums. The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is dedicated to the heroic lifesavers who braved the waters after a shipwreck. The Nantucket Whaling Museum takes you through the history of the area and its sea heritage.
No matter which side of the island your accommodations are located on, you can enjoy a relaxing day at one of the island's many beaches. One of the most popular beaches for tourists is Surfside Beach, located on the South Shore of the island. The beach is family-friendly and the perfect spot to enjoy surfing and other popular water sports. It is the ideal place to have a family picnic, enjoy some beach volleyball, or take the kids to fly their kites.
Those who prefer an active nightlife can enjoy a few drinks and some live music at one of the local bars and clubs in the downtown area. Whether you are looking for rock, jazz, or even karaoke, Nantucket has something to suit everyone's tastes.
If your trip to Nantucket is a family affair, there are plenty of activities for children of all ages. You can pay a visit to Nantucket Ice, which offers year-round ice skating, stop by the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium to check out the local marine life, or even embark on a family sailing adventure around the island.
No matter what you have planned for your trip to the island of Nantucket, you can find the perfect accommodations to suit your needs. Whether you are looking for more budget-friendly options or the full resort experience, Nantucket, Massachusetts has it all.
'The world around us can be changed for better. One step at a time. We can do it “ all of us have that power. We just need to be aware of it.,
One of the most beloved presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, said these words in order to explain how he planned on changing age-old racism problems in America. JFK was largely known as a man of flexible principle, believing in surviving through adaptation rather than embracing extinction through stubbornness. As it turn out, JFK was a long-time lover of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, the place we are discussing in this article.
Nantucket is one of the most popular, yet quite strangely, underrated tourism destinations in America. Ask a foreign tourist which city they would like the best in America in tourism point of view, and ten out of ten tourists are guaranteed to prepare lists that feature no mention of Nantucket.
Despite this undercover existence, one fact still remains large and true. Nantucket hits it hard where it matters. It probably believes in quality rather than quantity. So, it doesn't really need millions of tourists who boost the local economy, as it has thousands of rich homeowners who can do the same without blinking an eye.
In summer months, Nantucket is known play host to thousands of tourists, travelers and regular visitors. Hundreds of Wall Street professionals own luxury mansions and resorts on Nantucket Island, further helping Nantucket rise in the social quotient hierarchy of American tourism.
What Nantucket has in store you can only be found out by visiting. So, take a step forward, let plans come true, let arrangements fall in place, and enjoy your holiday on Nantucket Island “ one of the last places where you will confront sorrows of the world!
Living Cheap, Living Easy in Nantucket
Nantucket is a great place to spend your holidays in. There should be no real doubt about that. But while effusively praising Nantucket, we should also take a little bit of time to mention that there exists another side to the story, as usual.
Nantucket is often cited to be one of the most expensive places in America to buy real estate in. According to surveys published by US Magazine in 2013, Nantucket real estate was deemed to be more expensive than other top-class favorites “ Miami, Los Angeles and Seattle.
So, as a result of this expensive real estate scale, Nantucket makes life difficult “ money wise “ for tourists who visit. There are not many cheap hotels to be found here “ a fact that most tourists who are used to juggle their tour budget quite acrobatically would rue!
Cliffside Beach Club is among the best in few cheap hotels that you can find here. It is situated close from the waterfront, and is known to be a gracious host.
The Chestnut House and 76 Main are two similar choices that do not have much in way of luxury, but everything in way of affordability, comfort and cleanliness.
Posh Resorts and Hotels in Nantucket
Tourists who prefer luxury over affordability will sure be delighted to know that Nantucket is home to some of the best luxury resorts in the country. These are, as one can guess pretty easily, some of the costliest in the country, as well. The price to pay for luxury is, however, dwarfed by the kind of amenities that these luxury resorts provide to their guests.
The Wauwinet is the first name that would come to the mind of those who are in the know of Nantucket hospitality scene. It is an old mansion that has been turned quite remarkably well into a fully-fledged luxury hotel. It features vast expanses of grasslands around it, making the stay here resemble quaint English countryside.
The White Elephant is the next in line for the top rank among various luxury hotels in Nantucket. It offers its guests a rather finer balance between luxury, convenience and utmost comfort.
Boat Basin Cottages present a different sort of luxury arrangement for tourists. Arranged in neat little row-house schemes, these cottages are extremely pleasant and elegant in the outlook.
Alternative Accommodation in Nantucket
There seems to be a certain sense of confusion in Nantucket regarding a clear and unambiguous classification of hotel and resort establishments. Many of Nantucket hotels double up as summer houses come summer, while many of residential units are converted into luxury condos.
Nantucket is known as the capital of summer houses in America. You can easily find a summer house that can replace your plans for more conventional hotels in Nantucket very easily.
Moreover, it's quite cheaper to stay at a summer house, than to stay at a luxury resort. What remains to be seen is the viability of the affordability of this option in the long run, as most summer houses are not leased for a period that stretches longer than 2 weeks.
Must Do/See Things in Nantucket
Brant Point Light is the most popular sight in Nantucket. Built over three centuries ago, it is the second oldest lighthouse in America.
Maria Mitchell Aquarium is a private aquarium that can be a great source of entertainment for adults and children, alike. Nantucket Whaling Museum is another must-see sight in Nantucket, featuring an illustrious whaling history of the region.
Kayak Rentals Corp. provides a great opportunity for adventure seekers to test the waters of the Atlantic. If you are well-and-truly exhausted after a morning of kayaking, do feel free to enjoy your beautiful afternoon in the bespoke Ice Cream Cruise around Nantucket Harbor.
Local Transportation in Nantucket
Bicycles are the most popular mode of getting around in Nantucket. Riding bicycles in Nantucket is a surreal experience, as the island has very low traffic density.
Nantucket Regional Transit Authority operates regular buses to-and-from various popular tourist points on the island. Renting a private car can also be a good option, if you are not able to ride bicycles. Nantucket hotels usually assist their guests in such matters.