Saturday, May 16, 2015

A Comprehensive List of the Best Rhode Island Hotels for Surfers



A lot of tourists are checking out Rhode Island hotels because they’ve heard a lot of great things about the state so they want to check it out themselves. They’re a little more specific on their search. They’re looking for Rhode Island beach hotels. This is because they want to do one of the things that the state is known for – to surf.

Are there any Good Hotels in Rhode Island?

The state is not as popular as other states like New York and California when it comes to tourism so this is a valid question. Think of the state as a niche tourism state. It offers fewer attractions, but they’re amazing attractions nonetheless. This is especially true if you’re interested to surf.

Now, it’s important to note that there are only a few Rhode Island hotels on this list. This is because the state is offering cozier accommodations worth mentioning. Instead of hotels, you can see more inns, bed and breakfast establishments, cottages and the likes. This is not to say that they are lacking. There are actually a lot of amazing accommodations that you can check out. Whether you’re looking for Rhode Island beach hotels or you’ll make do with other forms of accommodation, this list can help you.

List of the Best Accommodations and Hotels in Rhode Island

Check out this list and do further research on them to see the best one for you:

  • Village Inn at Narragansett Pier Hotel and Conference Center
If you’re headed to Narragansett to surf, and you should, this is probably the best choice for you. This is actually one of the best Rhode Island hotels and it’s not just for surfers. It’s one of the bigger establishments in the area so you have everything covered.

It’s located right along Beach Street so it’s one of the most popular Rhode Island beach hotels. As a bonus, it’s very near Warm Winds so you can easily pick up a surfboard and gears or attend surf lessons.

  • 1900 House
Are you looking for something cozier? This inn is for you. It’s one of the highest rated inns in the area so feel free to have high expectations. It wouldn’t disappoint.

  • The Break Hotel
This is considered to be the first boutique hotel in Narragansett. It’s one of the few Rhode Island hotels that truly embrace the surf culture of the state. 

There are only 16 rooms so the hotel doesn’t get too crowded and chaotic. Make sure to book early if you want a room with a view of the beach.

  • Newport Beach Hotel & Suites
This is very close to Easton’s Beach. In fact, it’s less than a 10 minute walk. This hotel is packed with a lot of nice amenities like an indoor pool and a fitness center, but who cares about amenities if the water is inviting you to surf?

  • The Break Hotel
One advantage of this hotel is it’s very near Point Judith. This is a good place to stay at if you’re an advanced surfer because Point Judith is very challenging. 

  • The Attwater
It’s not really near the surfing water unlike the other Rhode Island beach hotels on this list, but it deserves a mention for the amazing accommodation that it offers. If you’re traveling with a loved one, you should check it out. 

Since you’re looking to surf, your best bet is the 2nd beach (Sachuest Beach) in Middletown.

Check them Out Now!

There are a lot of other great Rhode Island hotels for surfers, but this list is a good start. Check them out to see which one is the best option for you!

Friday, May 8, 2015

How to Read and Understand the Rhode Island Surf Report

Once you discover your passion for surfing, there are a few things that you have to figure out. One of those is how to read a surf report. Surfers want to see what’s going on out in the water before they venture out there. Checking the surf report is a great way to make sure you’ll have a good, safe day on the waves.


Where to Find a Surf Report

rhode island surf report


Since I’m in Rhode Island I refer to the Rhode Island surf report. I count on this website to give me the most accurate and up to date surf report information. All of the information presented can be a bit daunting for beginning users. That’s why I am here to help. I will explain the surf report and how to accurately read and interpret it.


How to Read the Rhode Island Surf Report


The first few things you’ll see are: the weather and temperature for the day, the wind direction and speed, a buoy report, when high tide and low tide are, and the water temperature. These are at the top of the report and are represented by icons. Further information can be gathered if needed by clicking on the icons and following the links.


Below this is a swell and surf chart for the next few days. It is color coded with green meaning clear, blue meaning fair, and red meaning choppy waters. It also indicates how high the waves are: from knee to overhead. This chart also tells you beach direction, either south or east.


Further down are pull down links which if clicked on will pull up a swell table, weather forecast, tide chart, and wind table. The center of the page has  SIG wave height chart, which shows the current wave distributions. This again is color coded and you can click on certain points on the chart for different surf locations.


Below all of this is another table with surf reports from local areas including: Narragansett, Point Judith, and Gilgo Beach. This is why it’s also treated as a Narragansett surf report. Some of these locations have surf cams with live footage of the ocean. To the right is a surf forum where you can chat with local surfers about current conditions and forecasts.


The left side of the page has summaries of the conditions for the day. It tells you how the surf will be and what the day’s conditions are and will be, in words. This is arguably the best place on the page for beginners to gather their information as it’s clear to interpret and understand. There is also wind and swell information and a weekly forecast of wave height.

As I said, your first few times reading the Rhode Island surf report can be confusing, but once you get used to it you’ll find it very useful. My advice is to go and explore the site for yourself. Take your time looking at all the different charts and information. Explore all of the various links and extra information that the site will give you. 

photo credit: January rush via photopin (license)