Providence Travel Guide

Providence is becoming such a popular destination for tourists and business travelers that new hotels are being built to accommodate the demand. The city's small size, attractive, Venetian-style downtown and the historic East Side draws visitors from all points.

Downtown

If you want to stay in a decent downtown hotel in Providence, within easy walking distance of both the Financial and Arts District of the city, you have many choices. Just below the Italian neighborhood called Federal Hill, you'll find the Holiday Inn-Downtown Providence. Rooms offer air-conditioning, TV, high-speed Internet access, and extras like hair dryers and irons. More uniquely, this Holiday Inn also features a restaurant and lounge, which offers casual European and American food. A little further downtown is The Westin Providence, which is attached to the Rhode Island Convention Center. This hotel offers all the modern conveniences one expects from Westin, including 18,000 square feet of meeting space, 23 suites, and aerobics classes in the Capital Club Fitness Center. They also offer American fare at the Agorarestaurant, cigars and cognac in the Library Lounge and a sports bar.

The nearby Providence Biltmore is the elegant grand dame of Providence hotels. Perched right in the center of downtown, across from the Fleet Skating Center and just down from Providence City Hall, the Biltmore offers old-style luxury, and a glass elevator that will whisk you to their 17th floor ballroom while you take in a spectacular view of the city. They also have a business store on the premises for purchasing supplies. The Providence Courtyard by Marriot is the newest downtown hotel and is very convenient to everything from the train station to Waterplace Park & Riverwalk. This Marriott has a fitness center and pool, and some of the rooms offer Jacuzzi tubs.

East Providence

Cady House Bed and Breakfast, at the edge of the Brown University campus, is a handsomely-appointed home, which includes a collection of primitive folk art. Cozy and lovely accommodation is offered here, and the owner, a professional caterer, offers a breakfast you won't forget. At first, the Annie Brownell House seems like just another of the several Colonial Revival homes on Angell Street, only a few short blocks to Brown University and the Thayer Street shopping area, right on the RIPTA bus line. But the interior of this B&B is attractively decorated and comfortable, offering a luxurious, restful stay and a tasty full breakfast.

India Point

At India Point Park sits Providence's sixth major hotel, The Radisson Hotel. This hotel offers all the usual Radisson accommodations, and has a restaurant right on the premises along with its own parking lot. Its chief distinction may well be the fact it sits on the harbor offering some spectacular views, but it is also near the edge of the popular and elegant East Side and the restaurant and shopping area of Wickenden Street. This hotel features shuttle service to and from the T.F. Green Airport, 20 minutes south in Warwick.

Outside the City

A few minutes outside Providence in Seekonk, Massachusetts is the Historic Jacob Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn. This handsome old Colonial house offers luxurious rooms with some special features, sumptuous breakfasts, and a quiet place with nice grounds outside the busy city.

Across the bay in Wickford sits The Haddie Pierce House Bed and Breakfast just a few minutes from the quaint and charming Wickford Village shopping area and historic homes, and down the road a short way from a pleasant bay beach. Staying here also puts you about 12 minutes from an ocean beach in Narragansett, but out of the way of the hectic tourist activity.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 220