Do a simple web search for Newport lodging, and you'll see plenty of rental and realtor websites will appear. Choose from major hotel chains like Wyndham and Hyatt, and smaller hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. You'll find many vacation rentals as well.
Consider nearby communities if price is an issue. Towns like Middletown, Portsmouth, Narragansett and Jamestown are lovely vacation spots, many with even better beaches than what you'll see in Newport. Yet most of these towns are a 10- to 20-minute drive outside of Newport. On weekends, you'll hit some Newport traffic, but many visitors think that's worth the cheaper lodging rates.
Fly or drive to Newport, which is located in southern New England, about a 1-hour drive south of Boston and about 3 hours north of New York. You can fly to Providence's T.F. Green Airport, which is about 30 minutes from Newport, or take Amtrak to Kingston, R.I., which is only 15 minutes from Newport. The small Newport State Airport is located just a few miles outside the city, and small charter flights can land there. Getting around Newport is easy--rent a car, a bicycle or even a moped. Many Newport hotels offer shuttle service from the Green Airport every day.
Visit the Newport Visitors Information Center at 23 America's Cup Avenue, if you have time to kill before check-in or immediately after check-in. The staff at the Information Center will provide you with maps of the island, tickets to some sites, and tips about beaches, shopping, dining and visiting the most interesting places in Newport. Parking for 30 minutes is free at the Visitors Center.
If you're looking for sun and relaxation, visit Easton's Beach, which is also known as "First Beach." It's a long and narrow beach that stretches into the neighboring community of Middletown. The Middletown side of the beach is more swimmer-friendly and less rocky. There is a nice boardwalk, parking, bathhouses and food stands. For better beaches, try returning to the mainland, where the R.I. beaches of Narragansett and Scarborough offer classic white sandy beaches.
Visit Newport's famed mansions, most of which are located along the scenic tree-lined (and mansion-lined) Bellevue Avenue. Among the most incredible mansions are Cornelius Vanderbilt's The Breakers, the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages"; Marble House, another of the Vanderbilt family's mansions; and Rosecliff, featured in key scenes of the film, "The Great Gatsby." Individual home tours are $11 for adults and $4 for children.
Start shopping in earnest, because the shopping is great in Newport. Some of the best shopping is along America's Cup Avenue, which runs directly through the downtown and wharf area. You will see everything from serious art galleries to vintage clothing stores to chic gift shops. Visit Bannister's Wharf, where you can combine shopping with views of the harbor and some of the most envy-inspiring yachts you've ever seen.
Get out on the water, because you're in Newport. Check out Classic Cruises of Newport, where a 72-foot schooner, the Madeline, or the high-speed yacht Rumrunner II provide tours of Narragansett Bay every hour. Tickets, which can be purchased on Bannister's Wharf, range from $18 to $35 per person, depending on your cruise choice. Most of the island's large hotels will arrange for boat rentals and tours.
