travel

a much needed escape to mansion house, vineyard haven

in

11.09.20

This past week, my mother, youngest Leekah, and I (missed yoouu Laetitia) spent the past week "resting"  at the Mansion House Inn & Spa in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard. I say "resting" because well... it was election week and... need I say more? Nevertheless, in spite of the stress-induced week that we all (literally all of us) just experienced with the 120 hrs long Election day, it felt a bit comforting to navigate the past week in a space that wasn't just somewhere away from home, but quickly became our safe haven.

In this post, I share my thoughts on our stay at Mansion House, as well as the few images that I captured during our stay.

Price

Rates at the Mansion House vary depending on whether a stay is booked during peak or off-season. Thankfully it is currently off-season on the island, therefore we got prices that are at a fraction of peak season prices ($350+/night). Currently, street-view rooms average at about out at $150+/ per night and $200+/ per night for harbor-view. Not to mention, they were running a "one extra night free with a 3-night stay" special that I just had to take advantage of. We stayed in a harbor view room and the peaceful sunrises and dreamy sunsets were absolutely worth it.

Food

Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, Mansion House only offered limited dining options. For breakfast, they provided a limited selection of breakfast items, including coffee/tea, muffins, fresh fruits, etc. We are not really a breakfast clan so that was satisfactory for us.

Staff

The staff at Mansion House was so kind and welcoming. From our call over the phone to book our stay, we already knew we were in good hands! The staff was very attentive and dedicated to ensuring that we really enjoyed every minute of our stay. It felt great to be well taken care of by the entire staff at Mansion House.

Location

Mansion House is situated in what I would deem a conveniently central location, Surrounded by various coffee shops, restos, gift shops, vintage stores, etc. Mansion house is a mere 5-10 min walk from the Vineyard Haven ferry station. And just across the street are the post-office, Stop and Shop, and other convenience stores. Hint: there is a cute little harbor-side park right up the road on Norton Ave., literally a 10 min walk from the hotel. In case you need an escape during your stay. Somewhere to breathe and recenter.

Getting around Vineyard Haven, in my opinion, is pretty easy. Well, that is if one overlooks the fact that 8 out of 10 streets are one-way, so you'll find yourself driving in circles quite regularly.

Tips

  • If you love to people-watch, get a street-view room. The main street is very high traffic, so you would really appreciate spending a few minutes (hours) on the balcony (on a cool morning) watching the world slowly come to life at the crack of dawn. I am a sucker for both a quiet, peaceful rise and also the light buzz of the morning commute, so I'm indifferent. I did thoroughly enjoy the harbor-view from our balcony, with the beautiful sunrise/sunsets, and peaceful sounds of the water, and the ferry arriving at the station at night. But I am excited to book a street-view room during our next stay (because we are def going back!).

  • The rooms conveniently come with a retractable clothing line in the shower, which was very useful for drying our clothes overnight after our pool escapades the first night we got there. [The nap afterward was immaculate btw!]

  • I really enjoyed the little routine I developed of grabbing a large iced coffee, toasted croissant and butter, and fresh macarons from the little French bakery across the street every morning. I really miss those warm, fresh croissants. And the staff was very kind and welcoming. Really enjoyed chopping it up with the ladies for a bit as I scarfed down chocolate macarons. Pure bliss.

One unique thing

The one unique thing about Mansion House that really stoodout to me is its accessibility. As I've already alluded to, Mansion House is conveniently situated in the "heart" of Vineyard Haven. Honestly just drive all the way down Main Street, there is so much to see between the beautiful homes, shops, and waterfront park nooks.

Connecting with the Locals

This wouldn't be a complete review if I didn't mention my experience with the local community in Vineyard Haven and MV at large, right?!

The locals were so kind, respectful, approachable!!! Like people greet you in the street, smile wave, and are quick to answer questions or give directions. On our last day, some lady literally stopped her car for quick banter about our stay and went on to help us capture a cute lil family photo. And we experienced this generosity everywhere on the island in restaurants, convenience stores, parks everywhere. This place is legit magical.

For more details & to inquire about a stay, head to their site Mansion House Inn

1.508.693.2200

Mansion House Inn & Spa

9 Main Street Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard

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