Hotel Viking

The best part of our stay was the staff. Everyone was pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful. Other aspects of the stay were less auspicious: the hotel itself is dated (opened in 1926 with minimal subsequent updating), the room was not well furnished, the bathroom was split on the two sides of the entryway and very small, there was little room to hang clothes, and the $45 per day valet parking charge (there seemed no alternative) was pretty annoying.

The Viking...a beauty to behold...has a definite curb appeal as it is really is the Grand Dame of the town. Newport has so many beautiful hotel options, it was a difficult choice for me. But the definitive feature was the jaquizzi as my child wanted to soak in a hot tub during our stay, so the Viking won! The hot tub was adaquate as it was hot, but no jets. The pool is conveniently housed inside an indoor space which is key during cooler months. There is a gym across the way from the pool. Plenty of towels and water are provided. The hotel had a kind of eerie "this place must be haunted" sort of feel to it, which I like. My 11-year old daughter really liked that part and she tried to find the "elevator boy" ghost. We were upgraded to a jr. suite w/ a four poster step up bed and the room was large--especially coming from NYC. We enjoyed the space! The hallways are long so there is some walking. The hotel is well maintained and the common areas are lovely. The staff were wonderful, especially Emily at reception who is professional and polite. The bartender was not very friendly, but the drinks were fine and the lounge area quite comfortable. The location is great, I didn't mind the slight stroll from Thames to the Inn. I enjoy walking through Newport as it's so quaint so I enjoyed the walk. If you want to be close to Thames and the shopping district over there, American Cup wins! The Jailhouse Inn is across from White Horse Tavern. The Viking was a lovely stay. Parking before the month of May is quite easy on the street should you wish to avoid the valet fee. Newport is such a special town!

The Hotel Viking is the epitome of my oft-repeated travel philosophy that the equivalent (or less) cost of a mid-range trip requiring air-travel is better spent on a luxury trip within driving distance of home. This is especially true as the toxicity and total price (including the expense of getting to and from the airport) increases. There have been many times that my mellow has been harshed in the interval between checking out of a hotel and flying home. The starting point this time is that the 1926 Hotel Viking was good enough for Jackie O to put up her father Black Jack Bouvier when she married a charming young Irish politician from Boston. Black Jack enjoyed the hotel bar enough to get thoroughly polluted on the day of the wedding. On a more general level, the hotel proves the real-estate adage of location, location, location. It is on historic Bellevue Avenue at the edge of the highly historic Newport business district. This makes it an easy drive to the Viking, where you can fully trust your vehicle to charming young Irish valet Connor. The numerous restaurants and quaint n shops of the not-so-bustling heart of the city being a breezy stress-free 10-minute stroll facilities leaving your car under the watchful eyes of Team Connor during your entire stay. The first personal bliss of this New England native was the hotel awesomely putting me up in the sublime two-bedroom Kingscote Suite. This accommodation easily passed the happy happy joy test on entering it. The cleanliness added to the glee. The main room is most true to the original era of the hotel, which is sn awesome alternative to cookie-cutter lodgings that look identical if you are in Des Moines or Dallas. The large sitting area, complete with fireplace and private terrace, is comfy with classic furniture. The sleeping area has the same timeless style. I slept in the second bedroom because the full bathroom for that accommodation is directly adjacent to that area. That bedroom is a little more Four Seasons than historic property but still is very stylish. The bed is awesomely comfy, and both bedrooms having alarm clocks with charging ports for your devices is a valued rare touch in an era in which hotels have us rely on our phones to tell the time. The comfy robes and spa slippers add to the serenity of this terrifically quiet space. Although Bellevue Avenue generally is quiet, the modern windows (which open) eliminate any traffic noise. The dual-zone HVAC system that offers both heat and AC further contributes a mellow that getting home will not harsh. My decompression included an expert massage at the on-site spa, which already has many merits and is slated for renovation. I did not eat at the on-site restaurant, but it looked quite nice and the food looked good. Room service is available for those of us looking to avoid the not-so maddening crowd. All of this adds up to the incredible hospitality and classic style of the Viking making it my literal go-to place the next time that I must escape the trauma-and-drama of the modern version of The Roaring 20s.

For what you are paying (we paid over $400 for one night in April), it’s not worth it. Rooms are dated, dirty and smelly. Our room alone had peeling wallpaper, trash still left on the floor from previous guests. We called about the smell and best they could do was spray the carpet? It did not help. I was so disappointed from start to finish. Oh and when we checked out they printed off and gave me someone else’s bill. Which felt weird, but then no apology for me having to come back to give back someone’s personal info and get my own bill. Just a terrible stay. Only two stars because of the location.

We stayed a few nights for a quick family getaway to Newport! Overall our stay was fantastic. I loved that they had movie night each night for the kids with games and snacks. It was a relaxing way to wrap up our day! We also like the proximity to Thames St and Americas Cup Avenue while it was a few minute walk it was nice to be off the busy streets at night made for a much quieter night. We also loved the little cafe in the main lobby area it was perfect to grab a quick breakfast and coffee each morning. It was also delicious! My little girls loved the indoor pool. The outdoor fire pit was also huge and beautiful. The rooms were spacious enough for our family and the beds were comfy. Over all the hotel had so many nice features and made for a very comfortable stay.