Faraway Nantucket

Faraway Nantucket, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a charming and stylish boutique hotel experience in the heart of Nantucket's historic downtown. It is celebrated for its exceptional location, distinctive design, and attentive service, though some guests note the compact size of certain rooms.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Faraway Nantucket is highly positive. Guests frequently rate its location exceptionally well, with scores of 4.9/5 on Destinia and 9.9 on Hotels.com. The hotel maintains a "Very Good" rating of 8.2 based on 67 reviews on Hotels.com and a guest feedback score of 17.6/20 on Tablet Hotels, indicating a strong overall guest experience. Many reviewers praise the hotel's charm and unique "vibe".

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Faraway Nantucket:

• Location: The prime location in Nantucket Town allows guests to walk to all shops, restaurants, and the ferries, making a car unnecessary.
• Design & Ambience: The hotel is praised for its "perfectly designed" and "incredible" aesthetic. It's described as a blend of contemporary-classic maritime New England style, with interiors that marry antique details with modern chic, featuring bold prints, natural textiles, wooden accents, and rattan touches. The "Instagram-friendly Courtyard Lounge" serves as a charming central hub for relaxation.
• Amenities: Complimentary amenities like bikes, beach chairs, and towels are highly appreciated by guests. The presence of free Wi-Fi throughout the property is also a consistent positive.

3. Room Quality

Faraway Nantucket is comprised of six different houses, some dating back to 1846, offering 58 unique rooms and suites. Room sizes and layouts vary considerably; those in the Meeting House tend to be more modest, while the Roberts House offers more lavish options. Rooms are generally described as clean, comfortable, breezy, and bright, with a stylish maritime New England decor.

Amenities include Bellino linens, Bluetooth radios, TVs, curated mini-bars, and Byredo bath products. Some guests note that "Petite" room types can be quite small, sometimes lacking space to fully unpack a suitcase. A few rooms in the historic buildings may feature slanted roofs or, in the case of some Meeting House Petite rooms, shared bathrooms. Housekeeping service is available upon request by notifying the front desk each morning.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features Sister Ship, an on-site café, restaurant, and bar. Sister Ship offers seafood-focused, Mediterranean-accented cuisine, alongside inventive cocktails in a stylish setting. It is open for dinner service from Tuesday to Saturday, typically from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with the bar extending to approximately 11:00 PM.

While the property is temporarily pausing full breakfast service, guests can request coffee, tea, and water from the front desk. Additionally, a "Cafe by the STRAND" located in the lobby offers fresh coffee and morning pastries daily from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

5. Service & Staff

Feedback consistently highlights the helpful and friendly nature of the staff. Guests appreciate the multilingual staff and the 24-hour front desk, which also provides recommendations for local dining and attractions. Specific mentions praise individuals for excellent service.

6. Location & Accessibility

Faraway Nantucket boasts an "excellent" and "perfect" central location at 29 Centre Street in Nantucket Town. Its downtown position means guests can easily walk to all shops and restaurants. The hotel is a short walk from the Steamship Authority ferry landing. Popular attractions like the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket and Quaker Meeting House are nearby. Several beaches, including Children's Beach, Francis Street Beach, Brant Point Beach, and Jetties Beach, are all within 1 kilometer.

The Nantucket Memorial Airport is approximately 2.8 miles away, an 8-minute drive depending on traffic. It is important to note that parking is not available on-site, and guests are encouraged not to bring a car to Nantucket due to limited town parking. The hotel offers complimentary bikes as an alternative way to explore the island.

7. Value & Pricing

Nantucket is known for being an expensive destination, and pricing at Faraway Nantucket reflects this. While rooms can be "very affordable for the offseason," particularly in December, which sees an average 57% drop in price, August is the most expensive month, with an average 118% rise. Average weeknight prices can be around $436, and weekend nights average $553. Some guests feel the hotel can be "overpriced for what you get," especially considering the smaller room sizes during peak season, while others find it a worthwhile stay given the Nantucket market. A 5% destination fee and a $100 deposit per stay are applied.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Small Room Sizes: The most frequent complaint is that some rooms, particularly the "Petite" categories, are quite small, which can be an issue for guests with luggage.
• Noise from Courtyard: Guests in rooms facing the central courtyard have reported noise, especially when events or parties are taking place.
• No On-site Parking: The lack of dedicated parking can be an inconvenience for those who do bring a car, although the hotel's central location often negates the need for one.
• Housekeeping on Request: Housekeeping services are not automatic daily and require guests to notify the front desk each morning if they wish to have their room serviced.
• Temporary Pause of Full Breakfast Service: While coffee, tea, and pastries are available, the temporary halt of a full breakfast service is a point of note for some guests.

Sources

1. destinia.com
2. booking.com
3. tablethotels.com
4. michelin.com
5. expedia.com
6. farawayhotels.com
7. booking.com
8. boutiquehotelhub.com
9. thehotelguru.com
10. anniewearsit.com
11. forbes.com
12. life-house.com
13. hotels.com
14. farawayhotels.com
15. momondo.com
16. kayak.com