Architects Inn -- George Champlin Mason - Newport

The service was fabulous, Nick was very welcoming and helpful. Our room was lovely and breakfast was great, something different each day. The hosts knowledge of the area was great it helped us to make the most of our 2 day stay in Newport. I would definitely come back if I was in this part of the world again

I thought I was booking into a bed and breakfast, having been fooled by the picture of the pretty dining room, but when we arrived we were informed that because we had booked through a booking service, we had booked the room without breakfast, and would we like to add breakfast (for an additional fee of course). Apparently, when you book through a booking service, the inn books the room without breakfast to make the rates appear lower. I would not have stayed here at the rate I paid if I had known that breakfast was not included. I felt defrauded. Adding to the insult, we were required to remove our shoes at the door, to protect the floors. Our room was in the attic at the top of a steep, narrow, treacherous flight of stairs, totally devoid of charm, with a chamfered ceiling for you to bump your head on, and a bathroom door that would not close. Nothing like the pictures in the ads with charming four poster bed etc. The only good things I can say was that it was well located and clean.

The inn is located on a hill about a kilometer from the center of town. The house was funereal, dark on the lower floors even on a sunny day. One has to remove one's shoes upon entry, and walking around the place in stocking feet could cause some older people to slip and fall. The place was so filled with bric a brac and extraneous objects that I was fearful that a misstep could send something crashing to the floor. Definitely not a hip place for young people, more along the lines of a sedate resting home. Out of the more than 300 inns, hotels, etc in the area, I would most likely choose one closer to the action, or one that is less sad and forlorn.

Nick and Brian made us feel very welcome. We ended up in a room in the basement with a nice fireplace and special shower. They brought breakfast down for us each morning which was s nice touch.

Overall our stay was excellent......Nick and Eric were excellent attentive hosts. All the information that Nick gave us about Newport was dead on correct. The restaurants he recommended were perfect for us.....Bravo you guys.