Exclusive | Provincetown: Where to Stay Part Two

Five Palms continued...

The Commons (386 Commercial St; 800-487-0784 or 508-487-7800; $165-275) Set just off the main drag and associated with LEVEL Restaurant (see below), this house received a dashing, modern makeover in early 2006. Owner Jerry Scally has taken the vibe and aesthetic of the place up a notch or two; rooms are outfitted with a mix of sleek contemporary and homey traditional pieces. Rooms on the third floor offer water views. One of the best all-around full-service inns in town. Rooms=14, mixed clientele, water view=none.

The gleaming Victorian Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa (82 Bradford St; 508-487-6767 or 877-276-9631; $239-627), situated above the center of town, boasts 35 luxurious rooms, suites, and apartments. Several gloriously renovated buildings cluster around a bricked garden, and sunning area with two Jacuzzis and a small heated swimming pool. The resort's Shui Spa has an indoor steam room, sauna and mineral bath. Massages, facials, wraps, manicures and pedicures are all on the menu. The decor in the common area and in the rooms is faithful to the period. A full hot homemade breakfast is cooked fresh daily, and cookies are on offer in the afternoon. Reserve far in advance for one of the less pricey rooms. For demanding guests who expect the best and insist on the all the modern conveniences and luxuries, this is the place to stay. Rooms=35, mixed clientele, water view=some.

Fairbanks Inn (90 Bradford St; 800-324-7265; $145-275) is an exceptional, lovingly restored and maintained 1776 Captain's house, which was also once home to a bank. You can bank on falling in love with its romantic and historic atmosphere. The choice of authentic period furnishings and modern accents are exquisite (the broad floorboards were formerly the decks of ship). The style is authentic Colonial, done with great attention to detail. Twelve working fireplaces and a comfy common room lend charm and warmth. There are attractive, more modern cottage accommodations on the property, too, with their own decks. You might also enjoy a snooze in the garden's hammock. The inn is run very well by two women, Alicia Mickenberg and Kathleen Fitzgerald. Rooms=14, mixed clientele, water view=none.

Inn at Cook St. (7 Cook St; 888-266-5655 or 508-487-3894; $115-315) Rooms in this 1836 Greek Revival house in which gay author Michael Cunningham lived for a winter years ago are refined and urbane, with plush linens, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, Wi-Fi, modern reading lamps, and tasteful furnishings. The quiet East End location makes this a good choice for visitors who prefer not to be right in the thick of things. Some of the units are detached from the main house with their own private entrances. The winding back garden is bucolic and welcoming. Rooms=8, mixed clientele, water view=none.

The Oxford (8 Cottage St; 888-456-9103 or 508-487-9103; $189-319) occupies an 1850 Revival property surrounded by a meticulously landscaped English garden. Its seven units feature plush appointments and an understated, light and airy decorating scheme. Rooms (named after colleges that make up Oxford University) feature TV/VCR, Wi-Fi, refrigerators, CD/radios and plush bathrobes. There is also a welcoming drawing room with fireplace, where sherry and port are available to guests, as well as an extensive video library. Rooms=7, mixed clientele, water views=some.

Snug Cottage (178 Bradford St; 508-487-1616 or 800-432-2334; $195-250) is a real New England Colonial, built in 1825, with sun-filled rooms and junior suites, authentic furniture, and a number of modern amenities (phones with voice mail, Wi-Fi, TV/VCRs, CD players, and modern tile baths). The inn is surrounded by spectacular, well-tended gardens, far enough from the bustle of downtown but still close enough to walk to bars and restaurants. All but two of the rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, and five of them are full suites with separate sitting rooms. Snug Cottage feels like a refined country estate -- relaxed, charming, and convivial. Rooms=8, mixed clientele, water view=some.

The Tucker Inn (12 Center St; 800-477-1867 or 508-487-0381; $140-245) is a lovely 1872 home on a quiet street just off of Commercial. The clientele is mixed and the well-furnished rooms uniformly boast warm and authentic decor and tasteful attention to detail, plus flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, refrigerators, CD player/clock radios, hair dryers, and fireplaces. Some of the rooms are a bit small, but the 12-foot ceilings keep them from feeling too cozy. Pets are permitted on a case-by-case basis. The seven-person hot tub is a great place to relax with friends or meet new ones. The Tucker Inn is one of the finest smaller guesthouses in town. Rooms=8 plus a small, attractive cottage, mixed clientele, water view=none.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six

Part Seven | Part Eight

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