The Best Luxury Hotels in Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
- Wequassett Resort and Golf Club (Chatham; tel. 800/225-7125 or 508/432-5400): This institution occupies its own little peninsula on Pleasant Bay and offers excellent sailing and tennis clinics. It is also next to the Cape's premier golf course; guests have members' privileges. You'll be tempted to just relax, though -- especially if you score one of the clapboard cottages, done in an upscale country mode, right on the water. The on-site restaurant, 28 Atlantic, is one of the Cape's best.
- Captain's House Inn (Chatham; tel. 800/315-0728 or 508/945-0127): An elegant country inn that positively drips with good taste, this is among the best small inns in the region. Most rooms have fireplaces, elegant paneling, and antiques throughout; the rooms are sumptuous yet cozy. This may be the ultimate spot to enjoy Chatham's Christmas Stroll festivities, but you may need to book your room a couple of years in advance.
- Brass Key Guesthouse (Provincetown; tel. 800/842-9858 or 508/487-9005): The Brass Key Guesthouse, a compound consisting of five historic buildings, is the place to stay in Provincetown. With Ritz-Carlton-style amenities in mind, the owners have created a paean to luxury. These are the kind of innkeepers who think of everything: Pillows are goose down, showers have wall jets, and gratis iced tea is delivered poolside.
- Cliffside Beach Club (Nantucket; tel. 800/932-9645 or 508/228-0618): Right on the beach and within walking distance (about 1 mile) of town, this is the premier lodging on the island. It may not be as fancy as some, but there's a sublime beachyness to the whole setup: simply decorated rooms; cheerful, youthful staff; a sea of antique wicker in the clubhouse; and, of course, the blue, yellow, and green umbrellas lined up on the beach. Every Fourth of July, guests get a front-row seat for the fireworks show at nearby Jetties Beach.
- Charlotte Inn (Edgartown; tel. 508/627-4151): The only Relais & Châteaux property on Martha's Vineyard, this cluster of 18th- and 19th-century houses linked by formal gardens in the center of Edgartown has old-world charm. Rooms with the flavor of an English gentlemen's club are sumptuous. The restaurant on-site is top-notch.
