Ocean House Rhode Island Cottages: A Seaside Escape at Watch Hill
Imagine a seaside getaway where historic charm meets world-class resort amenities.
The Cottage Collection is a group of eight homes available for rental interspersed among the historic homes of Watch Hill village in Westerly, Rhode Island.
These luxurious spaces are perfect for unwinding—an idyllic setting for group getaways, family getaways, or exclusive business retreats steps away from the Atlantic Ocean.
What Makes The Ocean House Rhode Island Cottage Collection Unique?
The term “cottages” is a bit of a misnomer because these properties range in size from two-bedroom bungalows to 11-bedroom mansions. They are dubbed cottages—the same nomenclature that Gilded Age millionaires used to refer to their mansions in Newport.
Each bespoke cottage in the collection is privately owned and exudes its unique style, personality, and history, but all are rented and managed by Ocean House Rhode Island, an iconic five-star Relais & Chateaux resort.
Where Are The Cottages Located?
The Ocean House cottages command prime locations in Watch Hill, an affluent summer enclave in Westerly, Rhode Island, considered less ostentatious than Newport.
Since the 1800s, the natural beauty of Watch Hill has been a magnet for visitors with the means to spend their summers at the seaside—either as residents in the shingled, Victorian-style homes (many of them handed down over generations) or as guests at the handful of hotels and inns in the area.
Like the Ocean House resort, some of the cottages sit on the peninsula at the southwesternmost tip of Rhode Island, surrounded on three sides by water and unspoiled beaches.
In 2021, the intimate neighborhood had a population of 274 people, including a $17 million mansion owned by Taylor Swift and a vacation home owned by Conan O’Brien.
Ocean House: A Luxury Resort As Neighbor
At a time when a growing number of hotels and resorts are owned and operated by faceless corporations, Ocean House stands out. This independently owned boutique luxury property has only 49 rooms and 20 signature suites.
Many of its guests are fiercely loyal, returning year after year. Forbes Travel Guide named it a 5-star resort, and Travel + Leisure cited it as one of the best hotels in the world.
Privileged access
These exceptional cottage rentals offer unparalleled privacy and space along with all the privileges and services afforded to Ocean House guests. Many of the cottages are within a short walk of the resort.
While in residence, cottage guests have access to the Ocean House beach and cabanas, the intimate Member’s Club and its private dining room, and the full-service Ocean & Harvest Spa (the only Forbes five-star spa in Rhode Island), which includes a fitness center, yoga room, and heated, indoor saltwater lap pool.
Food enthusiasts (including children and teens) can partake in private or group classes and tastings at the onsite Center for Wine & Culinary Arts at Ocean House.
In addition to a white sandy beach, the family-friendly resort offers surfing and paddle board lessons, scavenger hunts, age-appropriate movies in the screening room, croquet clinics, babysitting services, special holiday happenings, and excursions to local attractions.
Golfers can enjoy the putting green and access to the Rees Jones Lake Isles course, less than 30 minutes away.
The hotel offers complimentary transportation for guests to its nearby sister property, Weekapaug Inn, whose dining room is noted for its excellent contemporary cuisine.
Finding the Perfect Luxury Cottage
These bespoke cottages are indeed a warm and welcoming home away from home, ideal for group get-togethers and memory-making. They vary in size, location and cost, depending on the needs of each group.
For example, one of the cottages where we stayed, Intercrest, is remarkable for its light-filled rooms and expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Narragansett Bay on the other. It sits on the same footprint as the home built in 1898 for J.F. Champlin, the original proprietor of the Ocean House Hotel.
The 5,100-square-foot cottage has seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, an oversized gourmet kitchen with upscale appliances, living and dining rooms with ample seating, two entertainment areas with large-screen TVs, a laundry room, high-speed internet, and an elevator that affords easy access to its four levels.
Designed for relaxed entertaining, this spacious gathering place can comfortably accommodate 16-18 people. It’s a perfect retreat for multigenerational families or groups of friends who want a mix of time spent together and time apart.
The layout promotes a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living, with more than 1,500 square feet of porches, decks, and balconies, many with water views.
There’s no need for guests to bring anything with them (aside from clothes) because the turnkey residence is fully equipped with everything a guest could want, ranging from the juicer and icemaker in the kitchen to the Molton Brown toiletries and Matouk linens.
Some of these Rhode Island luxury cottages offer private, seasonal swimming pools, laundry facilities, seasonal fireplaces, and hot tubs.
Guests have the added convenience of a dedicated cottage concierge to coordinate requests before and during their visit. When we woke up late one morning, a kind concierge came to our door and brought us freshly baked muffins and pastries.
Learn more about the Ocean House Rhode Island Cottages
For information and booking, download a Cottage Collection brochure on the Ocean House website.
IF YOU GO
- A minimum 7-night stay is required from the last week of June through Labor Day, a 3- night minimum from mid-September to mid-June.
- Rates range from $4,500 – $20,000 per night in season and $3,500 – $16,000 off-season.
- Ocean House is approximately a 3-hour drive from New York City (2-½ hours by train to the Westerly Amtrak station); two hours from Greenwich, Connecticut; 1.5 hours from Boston; and 45 minutes from Newport and Providence, Rhode Island.
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Previously on More Time To Travel:
- This post is an updated version of a post that appeared on Forbes.com.
Disclosure: The writer was a guest of Ocean House but any opinions expressed in this post are her own.
All photo credits (unless otherwise shown): Jerome Levine
