Exclusive | Provincetown: Where to Stay

Rates
Note that the range of rates we list for each property represents the double-occupancy cost of a room during the summer high season. Keep in mind that rates can drop by as much as 70% during winter?s off-season and by 15% to 40% during the spring and fall shoulder months. The rates we list, accurate as of summer 2008, are intended to give you an idea of what you'll pay for the least- to most-expensive rooms during the most expensive time to visit. Don't be discouraged if these rates appear to be exorbitant. If you're flexible, you can find bargains.

FIVE PALMS - EXCEPTIONAL
Ampersand Guesthouse (6 Cottage St; 508-487-0959; $140-200) It's hard not to love the Ampersand, a Greek revival house with a blend of contemporary and antique furnishings. The sundeck and several of the rooms have great bay views; the location is quiet, yet not inconvenient. Some rooms have private decks, and all have cable TV with VCRs. The garden is lovingly maintained and the decor is flawless. There's a blissful air of New England charm and breezy, upscale peacefulness, and owners Robert Vetrick and Ken Janson are great hosts. Homemade muffins greet guests in the morning. Book the separate studio apartment in the carriage house if you're seeking privacy and seclusion. You get all this, and yet the rates are quite reasonable by P-town standards. Rooms=12, mostly men, water view=some.

The Anchor Inn (175 Commercial St; 508-487-0432 or 800-858-2657; $190-400) benefited from a thorough renovation several years ago that left no beam untouched. It now wears a chic, minimalist look, its rooms airy and simple and most with great views. From the elegant lobby to the manicured lawns to the eye-grabbing antique Woody station wagon parked out front, the Anchor Inn is a feast for all the senses. All rooms are buffed out with TV/VCR, CD player, wet bar, mini-fridge, tasteful and handsome furnishings and oodles of extras. Some have fireplaces. Unobstructed harbor views await those with cash to burn. Lower rooms also overlook the ocean across the practical parking lot. It's run by the team behind the Red Inn. The Continental breakfast buffet here is quite impressive. Rooms=23, mixed clientele, water view=many rooms.

Benchmark Inn & Central (6 & 8 Dyer St; 888-487-7440 or 508-487-7440; $225-460) The Benchmark offers the highest level of service and amenities to be found. Rooms are done in an airy and charming minimalist California beach house style. Many rooms have private outside balconies and all have marble bathrooms; six have oversized whirlpool baths. Almost all of the rooms have wet bars and/or fireplaces. The penthouse room has a hot tub. The seven rooms in the newer "Central" building are wonderful studies in smart and refreshing design, with every comfort included. The common space here is a bright and soaring haven that opens out on to the deck of the heated in-ground pool, and there's an adjacent spa with hot tub and sauna. Benchmark even provides nightly turndown service. Rooms=14, mixed clientele, "quaint"=low, water view=some.

Brass Key (67 Bradford St; 800-842-9858 or 508-487-9005; $230-525) From the elegant yet comfortable furnishings to the thoughtful amenities to the professional, hardworking and friendly staff, this is a class act and our top choice in town. This is a luxury gay resort as fine as any in the country. The Brass Key is a destination in and of itself, with its extensive grounds that include a huge hot tub, infinity-edge pool, landscaped brick pool deck, and all-around fabulous resort atmosphere. Rooms boast phones, TV/VCRs, Bose CD clock radios, luxury bath amenities; some even have grand balconies and fireplaces. There are iPods and laptops on request. The location is just steps from Commercial Street. This property is at the highest of Five-Palms excellence. Rooms=42, mixed clientele, water view=none.

Carpe Diem (12 Johnson St; 800-487-0132 or 508-487-4242; $250-475) is one of the most noteworthy Five Palms properties on our list. Tiled baths and Colonial style-elegant furnishings give the guesthouse an air of simple elegance and charm. Your hosts J?rgen, Rainer, and Hans have a flair for warmth and style. The breakfasts are classic American gourmet meets German bounty. An outdoor whirlpool and brick deck are joined by a deck off the second floor. Each room is named after a playwright, writer, or poet (from Rainier Maria Rilke to Oscar Wilde to Jean Cocteau), and there is a separate guest office room for travelers who can't leave business behind (there's Wi-Fi throughout). There?s also a beautiful spa on offer, with a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, and a full range of spa treatments. Exquisite! Rooms=18, mixed clientele, water view=some.

Located on a quiet side street near the Boatslip, the Carriage House (7 Central St; 508-487-8855 or 800-309-0248; $235-395), open year-round, has transformed a formerly basic property into a decidedly fabulous inn, with luxuriously appointed rooms replete with magazine layout-ready furnishings, eye-catching artwork, stylishly efficient bathrooms and a great secluded public sunning area. We recommend splurging and requesting a room with private deck. The gleaming breakfast bar is a standout, and guests can enjoy their morning meal out on the attractive sundeck. A sauna has improved the already handsome common outdoor area. Rooms=10, mixed clientele, mostly men, water view=none.

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