USA: Ocean House, Watch Hill, RI

New England's Grand Hotel, Restored

Ocean House has stood on the bluff above Watch Hill since 1868, back when parasols and steamer trunks came up the lawn and croquet was a competitive sport. The yellow Victorian you see today is the result of a restoration that reopened in 2010, and the remarkable thing is how little of the original spirit got lost in the process. The scale is still grand, the porches still run the length of the building, and the Atlantic still fills every window. What changed is everything behind the walls.

The result is one of only about fourteen resorts anywhere to hold Forbes Five-Star ratings for the hotel, its restaurant, and its spa all at once, and the first property in Rhode Island to earn Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond status. Coast handles the fine dining with a menu that changes nightly around what the boats and farms brought in, while the 12,000-square-foot Ocean & Harvest Spa is a destination in its own right. Downstairs there's an indoor saltwater pool facing the water, and below that a private beach where they run lobster boils on select Friday evenings. Rooms are done in warm woods, linen and chenille, with marble bathrooms, Anichini throws, and an in-room iPad for anything you need.

Life at Ocean House

• 49 guest rooms plus a collection of signature suites, all recently renovated in coastal New England style

• Coast, rated Forbes Five-Star, with a nightly changing farm-to-table menu built on local seafood and foraged ingredients

• Dalia for contemporary Mexican on the Seaside Terrace, The Verandah for summer raw bar, plus the Bistro and guests-only Dune Cottage

• The 12,000-square-foot Ocean & Harvest Spa, one of a small number of Forbes Five-Star spas worldwide

• An indoor saltwater pool with Atlantic views and a private beach with Friday lobster boils

• Complimentary daily activities from guided yoga to classes at the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts

• Gratuities included in the resort fee, along with afternoon refreshments and 24-hour floor valet

• The Ocean House Cottage Collection: five private residences with full access to both Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn

• Open year-round, pet friendly, with babysitting available

Why Ocean House, Why Watch Hill

• One of the very few triple Five-Star resorts in the world, and the only one in the state

• A genuine grand hotel experience without crossing an ocean to find it

• Under an hour from Providence, roughly two from Boston, and drivable from most of the Northeast

• Watch Hill itself: a small, beautiful, largely private stretch of coastline that most people never think to visit

• Real appeal off-season, when the fires are lit and the beach belongs to you

Ideal For: Couples wanting a polished coastal escape close to home, spa-driven travelers, and multigenerational families who need the space of a private cottage with hotel service attached.

Gold Coast Travel Perks

Unlock Virtuoso amenities when you book with Gold Coast Travel:

• Complimentary daily breakfast (up to $45 per person, per day)

• $100 resort credit

• Stays of 7+ nights will receive an additional $200 Resort or Hotel credit (for a total of $300 during stay)

• Bookings in the Tower Suite, Morgan Suite, or Penthouse Suite will also receive complimentary roundtrip private airport transfers a customized welcome amenity that includes floral arrangement and take-home gift

• Early check-in / late check-out, subject to availability

• Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability

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