Exclusive | Provincetown: Gay Life Part Two

You can drive from Boston by taking the I-93 south to Route 3 south to U.S. 6, but beware overzealous police in Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro. Driving time from Boston is about two and a half hours, five from New York (barring bad traffic -- U.S. 6 can be painstakingly slow, and there's no alternative).

You can take a ferry from Boston with Bay State Cruise Company (877-783-3779) or with Boston Harbor Cruises (617-227-4321 or 877-733-9425). Bay State offers its regular ferry (which takes three hours) and the high-speed Provincetown Express Catamaran ferry (which takes 90 minutes; reservations highly recommended). Boston Harbor Cruises offers only high-speed service (again, 90 minutes). Ferry service of one kind or another is available from late May through early October, and during the busiest summer months there are both conventional and high-speed ferry runs a few times daily. Perhaps the easiest way to get here is via Cape Air (800-352-0714). Joint fares are available from many cities, with easy connections in Boston, particularly from Delta, JetBlue, USAir, American, and Continental.

On the whole, it's hard to beat Provincetown's collection of gay, straight, and mixed guesthouses. In the past the focus was more on genuine New England charm than resort-style facilities and amenities. The past few years have witnessed a significant upgrading of accommodation options across the board from budget-oriented to high-end properties. As more and more properties have made upgrades, rates in general have risen, and it's now difficult to find rooms for under $150 per night during the summer season. Inspired by the success of such premier accommodations as the Brass Key and Crowne Pointe, many properties have undergone extensive renovations, and are now more likely to offer amenities such as TVs with DVD players, phones with voice mail, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, whirlpool tubs and mini-refrigerators.

Many historic buildings have been painstakingly restored to their earlier splendor. Properties are increasingly likely to be landscaped and many feature sundecks and hot tubs. Most inns offer at least a serviceable Continental breakfast in the morning (this might merely mean coffee and pastries) but some provide more extensive Continental and even full breakfasts. Many guests prefer to eat breakfast in town and would be wasting money on a property that does provide a lavish breakfast. At most inns, even those in our one- and two-palm categories, you'll find quaint rooms and friendly hosts.

While more and more accommodations include free parking for their guests, many still do not. If you plan on driving to P-town, be sure to ask your innkeeper about the sort of parking options available. Many inns provide pickup service to and from the Provincetown airport and ferry and bus terminals.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Related Articles:
Provincetown: Introduction
Provincetown: Where to Stay
Provincetown: Where to Eat
Provincetown: Where to Play
Provincetown: What to See & Do
Provincetown: Where to Shop
Provincetown: Artistic/Cultural
Provincetown: Resources