Getting a Room at the Surf Hotel

I would like to take my wife away fro a romantic weekend on Block Island. I have seen the Surf Hotel and love the location and the porch. Can I get a room for a long weekend before July and is it a good place for a young couple?

Your help is appreciated.

Glenn

Getting a Room at the Surf Hotel

i am a loyal surf hotel guest and would be happy to fill you in honestly on the place. the thing is in order to reserve in advance for in season dates, a six night miniimum is required. if, at the last minute, a room is available the owner will rent it for just the weekend but you have to get really lucky for that to happen. better to try for a stay mid week. it is a very special spot.

Getting a Room at the Surf Hotel

She said it.

There%26#39;s a reason the Surf doesn%26#39;t advertise. It%26#39;s been run by the same family for over 50 years. You can book your next stay when you check out, as much as 12 months in advance, and a lot of people do. I lucked out big time once by walking in on an off-season afternoon and scoring a room, but I think that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

As far as ';good for a young couple,'; that all depends. The only food service there is the free breakfast - no bar or restaurant. Unofficial curfew is 11 PM, with the lobby darkened by 10:30. I guess if you head out to one of the places that stay open late, it wouldn%26#39;t be fatal since there%26#39;s a night watchman. (Yes, that%26#39;s what they actually call him - and it%26#39;s always a him.) You%26#39;d just have to tap on the front door and tiptoe back to your room.

And, speaking of rooms, it%26#39;s much nicer on the ';ocean side'; than on the ';street side.'; On the ocean side, you%26#39;ll hear nothing but the ocean; on the street side, you%26#39;ll hear whatever%26#39;s on the street. During the summer months that can mean drunken yelling and screaming and laughing into the wee hours. None of the rooms have a private bathroom, just a sink, and the walls are on the thin side.

But I wouldn%26#39;t stay anyplace else on BI. Your best, though still slim, chance of getting a room would be if it%26#39;s raining or foggy. Fog closes the airport, so ';fly-in%26#39;s'; who can%26#39;t make the hour-plus drive from the mainland airport to the ferry docks are out of luck. Then there are the ';weather wimps'; who scrap their plans because of less-than-perfect climate conditions. And also, of course, life happens and unforeseen circumstances can bring on a hotel vacancy too. My two suggestions would be to communicate with the Surf by mail or phone - they have NO Web site or even an e-mail address - and ask to be put on a waiting list: PO Box C/Block Island RI 02807//(401) 466-2241; and, keep your fingers crossed but don%26#39;t get your hopes up too high.