The Best Hotels in Massachusetts

A room in this Nantucket Island hotel is one white elephant gift that won’t disappoint. Set along the harbor, White Elephant’s waves of luxury will wash over you from your suite to the spa. Embrace island life at its fullest with fresh oysters at BPG Bar, lounging in a private poolside cabana, or exploring the area on a complimentary Priority Bike Cruiser. Kids in tow? They won’t feel marooned at this resort. Pint-sized amenities including a Nantucket Kids Adventure Guide, boogie boards, and scavenger hunts will keep them entertained from start to finish.

Every New England escape requires at least one night in a coastal cottage and we think the 200-year-old Life House mansion will suit you just fine. Quaint guest rooms with Revival New York-brand linens and Marshall speakers are your invitation to ease into Nantucket nonchalance. Soak up the afternoon sun on the garden terrace then spend warm nights by the fire pit. Should you wish to play innkeeper for the week, you can rent out the entire cottage and spend your days strolling from bed to beach to bar and back again.

Whether you’re a Harvard alum or an admirer of the famed university, one night at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge will make Harvard Square feel like your old stomping ground. You’ll be royally entertained – without even needing to leave the hotel – with jazz sessions at Regattabar, house-made pasta at Benedetto, and nightcaps at Noir. And that’s before you contemplate long hours of relaxation and rejuvenation at Corbu Spa & Salon. Top marks if you give into Ivy League indulgence and book the Dean’s Suite.

Rest assured – Harborview Nantucket’s clocks all run on island time, and the establishment’s dedicated concierge team goes way beyond the call of duty to make you feel at home. They’ll take care of your grocery shopping, housekeeping, and car service. They’ll organize kayaks, paddleboards, and other beach toys for whenever you need them, and will happily arrange spa sessions, tee times, restaurant reservations, or any other activity on the island. Which just leaves you to focus on making every moment memorable – and believe us, you will.

At this luxury boutique hotel and spa in Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll spend your entire vacation enjoying the vine and the divine. The only urgent appointments involve pampering yourself from head to toe in their Rejuvenation Spa, indulging in massages, private yoga sessions, and steamy saunas. If you’re treating a special someone to a romantic getaway, the deluxe suite with a private stairway will guarantee you both ample seclusion. On the rare occasions that you wish to get outside for some fresh air, Hob Knob can fix a sunset dinner of lobster and clam chowder.

While most visitors stay near the harbor, at 76 Main you get to live like a Nantucket local – right on Main Street. A block from the heart of town, this laid-back hotel has everything required to keep you busy doing absolutely nothing. There are waffle kimono robes in which to laze around in your room. Pour a drink and spend an evening with friends and good conversation around the courtyard fire pit – there’s even a BYOB cocktail bar, so get set to get shaking.

Vino what you’ll do next summer – if you like wine, that is. The Charlotte Inn, in Martha’s Vineyard, is in the business of uncorking quaint holidays, inviting you to inhale the romantic notes of a yesterday not quite forgotten. Antique furnishings and oil paintings adorn rooms, surrounding you with luxury, history, and most importantly, tranquility. Fine French dining at the Terrace teams like a dream with local wines. After you’ve indulged in a bottle or two, wander around the inn admiring the leather-bound books in the library or chatting with other guests by the fireplace in the back living room – intimate the Charlotte may be, anti-social it isn’t.

A unique culinary experience awaits foodies just a few miles beyond Boston. A weekend at the Inn at Hastings Park is a tastebud-teaser, with nearly a full day of cooking instruction, dining, and wine tasting. Epicurean escapades aside, indolence is the order of the day in the Main House, the Barn, and the Isaac Mulliken House – choose between a range of room styles, from Accessible King to the Barn Suite. No matter how picky you are, each will shower you with the luxury amenities and superior service you deserve. Believe us, you’ll leave with a full stomach and a wide smile.

Right in the heart of historic Beacon Hill, XV Beacon is that rare thing in the world’s great cities: a flawless, funky-yet-timeless boutique hotel with layers of international-class comfort and not a whiff of corporate. Check the landmark Beaux-Art building, the marble staircase, the mahogany paneling, and the old elevator as graceful as spun-sugar. Luxury-room decor never rises above calm colors (taupe, cream, espresso), and the concierge will happily bring you and your lover food, beverages, and other treats so you’ll never need to leave your suite.