Look first for house rentals advertised by the island’s eight or nine real estate firms. Most of the Realtors, including Sullivan Real Estate and Block Island Beach, include virtual tours and photos of the homes for rent (see Resources below). Expect to see everything from ultramodern homes to older gray-shingled beach cottages that have stood on the island since the 1800s.
Check Block Island tourism websites, like BlockIsland.com and BlockIslandInfo.com, which also provide direct links to homes for rent by owners and agents as well as links to photos and contact information.
Search for homes for rent directly by owners on websites like Vacation Rentals by Owner and Cyberrentals, which list homes that you can rent directly from the owner at locations throughout the country. A recent search of Vacation Rentals by Owner pulled up 50 Block Island rentals, with summer weekly rents ranging from $1,200 to $8,000.
Don’t rule out guest houses and bed and breakfasts, particularly if you’re planning a brief weekend stay on Block Island. The Block Island Tourism Bureau lists 36 guest houses and bed and breakfasts on the island.
Book a room at one of Block Island's many hotels, including the National Hotel, the Hotel Manisses, Champlin's Resort, Spring House and the Atlantic Inn. They can all be found on the Web, and rooms can be reserved online. Most of Block Island's older, stately hotels are a bit creaky, so don't expect them all to include central air (some even have shared hall bathrooms). But most have been renovated and modernized. Many are grand places with huge front porches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
