I booked a room at this hotel based on the reviews I had read on tripadvisor.com. You never really know what to expect when you book a hotel and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. When my husband and I checked in, we were told we had been upgraded to a Junior Suite (I had booked a Studio King room at $159) - probably because it was a quiet time of year. The room they gave us was great, as I'm sure all the rooms are. The decor was tasteful and the room was cleverly designed. It was very quiet at night, even though the hotel is located near busy Thames Street. It was probably partly to do with the fact that it was April, but I suspect mostly because the building is an old mansion - high ceilings and thick walls. Nice!

On the Saturday evening, we had a drink in the hotel bar which was cozy, and then dinner near the fireplace which was nice. The menu is not extensive but the food was good. There are plenty of other choices of restaurants and bars in Newport if you want something different. Breakfast was served in the conservatory and that was very pleasant also - quite relaxing.

For the people that wrote in their reviews "suspect reservation practices" and "hidden parking costs" - well, the parking cost of $18 a night is definitely not hidden - it clearly said it on my reservation which was emailed to me and I was also told over the phone when I made the booking. I do not consider $18 to be unreasonable, bearing in mind that finding a parking space in Newport can be very difficult, to say the least. It couldn't have been more easy - pulling up to the front of the hotel and handing over the key. They have a secure car park. And I can't imagine that they would try to pull the wool over anyone's eyes when making a reservation.

The Vanderbilt kind of reminded me of the Four Seasons but on a more cozy and intimate level: excellent service, friendly staff, exceptionally clean rooms and a great bathroom with L'Occitane bath products.

I would not hesitate to stay here again.

The reviews to date are accurate, this is a wonderful property, conveniently located in-town. The website pictures are accurate as well (to view hotel room descriptions and pictures one will need to go to 'reservations'). The hotel renovation was beautifully done; it is fresh, open, charming and inviting. The spa/gym is new, well done, save that there are no locks on the bathroom doors in the women's locker room and the door to the common pool opens directly into the women's locker room, just in front of the shower. The hotel is a bit gerrymandered, could access our 4th room room from one elevator to the 3rd floor and from another elevator to the 4th floor. A bit Alice in Wonderland, however, this is an old home with an addition - falling down the rabbit hole is part of its charm. Our room was a studio (king) - the hotel's smallest room. The room was perfect for a 2 evening stay, where we spent most of the day out and about. While the room (412) faced the small patio, parking lot, tree tops and historic homes, this didn't pose an issue as our room was sunny and quiet. The bed was comfortable and the shower large with excellent water pressure. The room tends to be warm, so thankfully all the windows opened (even in February). Our only issue was with some suspect reservation practices. We had called ahead to ensure that a room was available for Thursday evening; we were assured a studio king for $159/night would be available (we did not make formal reservations in case of weather). When we walked-in we received the room promised, however, we decided to stay another night. We were initially told that the studio we booked was only available that evening, however, Loft Suites were available for $329/night the remaining evening(s). We requested to view the Loft Suites, while they were lovely (311 was a bit dark, 302 was brighter with private access to the roof top deck), we could not personally justify double the rate. When we went to discuss the room situation, we noted that we would of course prefer to stay in the studio room both evenings . . . miraculously the room became available. Certainly someone may have canceled within the last few minutes or perhaps the front desk manager was wrong in her original understanding. However, we had a similar situation when making Valentine dinner reservations. We were told that the only table for 2 was available in the Conservatory (not the main dining room); only to be seated in the same room with a family with an infant (no other tables were occupied). Not to disrupt our dinner, nor theirs, we requested (quietly) to be seated in the main dining room. This took several minutes, only to be seated in a dining room where certainly the 2 tops were occupied, but there were several 4 tops (easily converted to 2 tops) that remained open all evening. Why would you seat 2 adults for a special dinner next to a family of 6 with an infant? We appreciate that the hotel was hoping for walk-in dinner guests, but bird in the hand during quiet season? This is truly a beautiful hotel, however, the staff could be a bit more observant of their guests. They were painfully looking out for their own bottom line. This is not meant to discourage anyone from staying at this beautiful hotel, simply stay vigilant. Also, this is not to say that we did not receive excellent service during our stay. Patrick was wonderful, assisting us with our room as well as arranging our daily activities. Once seated in the dining room, we received excellent service.

I stayed here back in 2004 and did not write a review but this was Vanderbilt Hall Inn back then and it was great! The place is situated in a great location right near the downtown and overlooking the harbor! It is a very large Inn/Hotel and one of the larger ones in Newport (I have stayed at quite a few). The lobby and interior were a bit dated but I am sure they spruced it up since it became more condos and partly an inn. The rooms were very nice and had plenty of room. The staff was very nice and directed me to places to eat around the area. I would recommend this spot as I am sure it is much better than it was back 04 since it was redone!

We booked a two night stay at the Vanderbilt for Thanksgiving for a short getaway. We expected a lovely hotel but this far exceeded our expectations. Our room was immaculate, and included a kitchenette and living area. The bed was extremely fluffy and comfy. The staff on duty went out of their way to make us feel welcome each time we entered the building. When we returned on Thanksgiving evening from sightseeing, the dining room was busy with guests. At that point, we were hoping to relax with a glass of wine in front of the fire. The manager actually directed us to another living room area and instructed someone to start the fireplace for us in there, which they did. Then our drinks were delivered to us in front of our own roaring fire. First class all the way, even on such a busy night! The only downside to our trip had nothing to do with the hotel. Just be aware that if you are in Newport on Thanksgiving day, you will be hard pressed to find a place to eat outside of the hotel. We were not looking for the traditional dinner since I'm vegetarian, so we drove a distance up the road and absolutely everything was closed (even the chains). Uncle Rocky's Pizza saved the day for us with freshly made vegetable calzones that were delicious. We actually could have gotten some light fare at the hotel, but decided to pass since we knew they were busy with two settings for their Thanksgiving feast. We would highly recommend this hotel and look forward to returning again someday. Our sincere thanks to the manager and staff for providing outstanding service!!