On May 24, 2022 The Wayfinder Hotel suffered a four alarm fire. The hotel had only been opened for two years after undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration. All guests and employees made it out safely but three firefighters were injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Due to the extent of the damage, the hotel will be closed until further notice.
The Wayfinder Hotel in Newport is the perfect option for families looking for affordable accommodation while not sacrificing on style or amenities.
Newport is a great coastal town to visit in New England, but the biggest hurdle to overcome is finding a nice place to stay that is family-friendly. Many hotels are in historic buildings with a handful of rooms that aren’t really set up for kids. When you do find a hotel, the prices can be astronomical.
When I heard about the new Wayfinder Hotel, I knew I had to check it out. The prices were so low from what I was used to seeing in Newport, I thought there had to be a hitch. Then I pulled into the parking lot of what looked like an old Best Western and wondered what I got myself into.
As it turns out, it was an old Best Western. But don’t let that facade fool you. The entire hotel has been refurbished from top to bottom, reopening in 2020 and, well, we all know how that story goes. The hotel is now warmly welcoming guests with many safety measures in place.
The Wayfinder Hotel offers a touch-less check in where you can scan your phone and get your room key. If that is too much technology, there is a friendly receptionist ready to welcome you.
The lobby has a retro vibe that would make any hipster happy. Funky modern art hangs around a lounge area with a really unique fireplace. I loved the color scheme so much, I would have taken paint samples if they were offered.
There was a cozy corner with infused water for guests surrounded by more botanicals than the Amazon.
The cool dude vibe made it’s way up to my room. My bed had crisp white linens and pillows for days. There was a sitting area with a retro hanging lamp and art made by local artists adorned the walls.
I had the most basic accommodation which I paid about $150 for. It seemed like a steal compared to the last place I was going to book. I had considered another boutique hotel in town, but wasn’t even able to book the room online. I had to book over the phone because they wanted to explain just how small the room actually was so there were no surprises upon arrival. And that room was $300 a night. No thank you. At the Wayfinder Hotel, I paid half the price for more than double the amount of space.
While I was alone on this trip, I did go check out the pool and it was awesome. I will definitely be bringing my family back here. The pool is outside but even in October, it was still open. There were string lights and plenty of lounge areas. I noticed in the lobby there were nightly events, one of which was a movie night at the pool.
Now for the negatives: the hotel is a 5 minute drive from downtown Newport. Five minutes is nothing, but parking in Newport can be a nightmare and an expensive nightmare at that. I drove in for dinner one night and paid $30 to park after driving in circles for 20 minutes. There is something to say about leaving your car at the hotel and walking everywhere but that’s not an option here.
The plus is that the Wayfinder Hotel has ample free parking. There are also bikes that you can borrow if you want to ride into town.
There is a great restaurant at the hotel, but it is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the two nights I was there. I was so tired and ready to crash, so driving back into town was a pain. In the morning, there was a grab and go coffee area open with pastries which was really convenient.
The positives so far outweighed these small inconveniences. I would recommend checking out the Wayfinder Hotel in Newport for your next trip. There are also deluxe suites with sitting areas which are great for larger families. The Wayfinder Hotel is dog friendly, but will have an added cost of $50 per night for up to 2 pets.
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