The Wauwinet

The Wauwinet

The Wauwinet sits ten kilometers from downtown Nantucket, past Squam Head and Quidnet Beach, on a stretch where the property backs directly onto its own private beach. That distance from town is the point: guests take out the hotel's bicycles along the sandy roads, cast a line off the point, or walk the trails on the property, and a shuttle is on hand for anyone who wants the town's shops and restaurants without driving. Thirty-two rooms spread across a handful of layouts, from the 215-square-foot Deluxe King Room with its bay view to the 495-square-foot Standard King Suite and a 200-square-foot one-bedroom cottage for guests who'd rather have a door of their own. The restaurant and bar anchor the evenings, breakfast and packed lunches cover the days spent outdoors, and a library and spa fill the hours between. Rooms carry bathrobes, slippers, and a DVD player rather than the latest gadgets. A wheelchair-accessible Standard Queen Room and wheelchair access to the restaurant extend the welcome to more guests. Pets are not allowed, so this is not the trip for a dog. Couples wanting a private stretch of sand and a quiet bar rather than a walkable town, and anyone happy to let a shuttle handle the trip into Nantucket, will find the distance from the center works in their favor. Those who want to step out the door into shops and restaurants at any hour should look closer to town instead. The private beach out back is the rare thing here: most hotels nearby can point you toward the water, this one owns a piece of it. Ten kilometers from town, The Wauwinet has its own private beach, bicycles, and a shuttle for anyone who wants Nantucket's shops instead. Good for couples seeking seclusion, not for pet owners or those wanting to walk to dinner.