Pros

  • Rooms, suites, and cottages with water views
  • Walking distance to downtown attractions
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Full service spa overlooking the Harbor
  • Brandt Point Grill, one of the few Nantucket waterfront restaurants
  • Free parking in a lot across the street
  • Free car service for in town drop off
  • Small but ample exercise room
  • Afternoon port and cheese hour in the library
  • Free coffee and breakfast pastries every morning
See More Pros

Cons

  • Rooms and baths are on the small side
  • Not open year-round
  • Minimum stay sometimes required
  • No pool or beach on property
See More Cons

Bottom Line

White Elephant Hotel has a prime location, on the water and walkable to downtown. But to get a gorgeous view, be prepared to pay high prices -- though you'll get cozy rooms/cottages with modern features. A spa and a fine dining restaurant give this luxury inn a boost -- but keep in mind there is no pool. Bottom line here is, if you have the money to spend for the waterfront location, this could be a good choice for you. Note that it's closed during the winter months.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

White Elephant – Hotel – Garden Cottages – Lofts

Scene

Quaint inn with amazing water views, at a price

As one of the few waterfront hotels on the island, White Elephant enjoys a convenient location to downtown with stellar views from some of its rooms and its fine dining restaurant.

With an expansive, well-manicured lawn overlooking the water, guests can relax in one of the lawn chairs and enjoy a nice afternoon or sunset. Or if the weather isn’t cooperating, take a seat in the library for a glass of port and some cheese in the afternoon. There’s a fitness center, a small retail shop and a spa to enjoy as well.

See More Scene

Location

Beautiful waterfront location on the harbor and walking distance to downtown

White Elephant Hotel enjoys a perfect location -- right on the harbor and walking distance to downtown Nantucket.

Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, next to Martha’s Vineyard. While the Vineyard boasts some very lovely homes, Nantucket’s real estate puts it to shame. This is where the very rich come to vacation, and the prices around town reflect that. Don’t expect to run into the Hollywood crowd - here it’s more CEOs, politicians, and billionaire businessmen who have their second homes on the island. The atmosphere is relaxed, but polished at the same time.

Nantucket is about history and natural beauty. It features some of the highest concentration of Pre-Civil war structures and oldest operating windmill in U.S. You’ll find cobblestoned streets downtown (always fun to drive over), plenty of historic mansions converted into bed-and-breakfasts, and boutiques shilling expensive brand names. While the shopping and dining is fantastic, don’t forget the beautiful beaches. The south side beaches are key for surfers (Cisco is a local favorite), Madaket has phenomenal sunsets, Jetties is close to town and great for families, and Great Point Beach is accessible only by 4-wheel drive.

In the historic downtown area, it’s easy to walk everywhere to the shops, restaurants, and bars. And if walking isn’t your thing, there are more than 25-miles of bike paths around the island. With the island being less than 4 miles wide and 14 miles long, a car isn’t really even needed. The hotel also offers free car service for in town drop offs.

There are a number of ferries to get to and from the island, but The Steamship Authority ferry from Hyannis is the only way to bring a car across the water, although travelers are strongly discouraged from bringing their cars. During the summer, when the population swells from 10,000 to 50,000 people, finding parking can be next to impossible and you’ll need a 4-WD to get to some of the spots on the island anyway, such as Great Point Lighthouse. It’s easier to rent a car once on the island (plus, the ferry fee for cars can range from $120-$200 each way depending on the season) and just stick with the fast ferry.

  • 45-minute flight from Boston Logan International to Nantucket Airport
  • 1-hour ferry ride from Hyannis, MA on Hy-Line ferry to downtown Nantucket
  • 2-hour and 15-minute ferry ride from Hyannis, MA on Steamship Authority ferry to downtown Nantucket
  • 5-minute walk to Steamship Authority and downtown
  • 10-minute drive to Nantucket Memorial Airport
  • 15-minute drive to Madaket
  • 15-minute drive to Cisco Beach
  • 20-minute drive to Sankaty Head Lighthouse (Siasconset, or ‘Sconset, as it’s known by the locals)
See More Location

Rooms

Rooms, suites, and cottages are beach chic with modern amenities

The White Elephant Hotel offers standard rooms, suites, cottages, and a special loft, meaning couples and groups have plenty of options for choosing their perfect vacation get away. With beach chic decor, the rooms are furnished with bamboo-style chairs, padded leather headboards, and plenty of sailing photos and paintings on the walls. White and tan are the main colors here, with accents of blues and reds thrown in for a punch. Some rooms have patios or decks with stunning water views, and most have working fireplaces.

  • Rooms, suites, and cottages available (plus one family loft)
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Modern tech like flat-screen TVs and iPod docks
  • Free bottled water in rooms
  • Mini-fridge
  • Some rooms have private decks or patios
  • Some rooms have harbor views
  • Suites have a sofa bed and most have fireplaces
  • Cottages have a separate living area with sofa bed
  • Two Bedroom Garden Cottages have a living room with fireplace, den with sofa bed, kitchenette, dining area, 2 baths and a patio
  • The White Elephant Loft has a master suite with living and dining room, full kitchen and 4 full baths
See More Rooms

Features

A relaxing spa with harbor views is relaxation at its best.

  • Full service, serene spa overlooking the Harbor
  • Brandt Point Grill, fine dining overlooking the harbor (open all day/night; steak and seafood specialties
  • Free (limited) parking in a lot across the street
  • Afternoon port and cheese hour in the library
  • Free coffee and breakfast pastries every morning
  • Small fitness center and business center
  • Gift shop in the lobby sells souvenirs and necessities
See More Features

Things You Should Know About White Elephant – Hotel – Garden Cottages – Lofts

Also Known As

  • The White Elephant Hotel

Address

50 Easton St, PO Box 2580, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554-2258, United States

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

White Elephant – Hotel – Garden Cottages – Lofts

Scene

Quaint inn with amazing water views, at a price

As one of the few waterfront hotels on the island, White Elephant enjoys a convenient location to downtown with stellar views from some of its rooms and its fine dining restaurant.

With an expansive, well-manicured lawn overlooking the water, guests can relax in one of the lawn chairs and enjoy a nice afternoon or sunset. Or if the weather isn’t cooperating, take a seat in the library for a glass of port and some cheese in the afternoon. There’s a fitness center, a small retail shop and a spa to enjoy as well.

See More Scene

Location

Beautiful waterfront location on the harbor and walking distance to downtown

White Elephant Hotel enjoys a perfect location -- right on the harbor and walking distance to downtown Nantucket.

Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, next to Martha’s Vineyard. While the Vineyard boasts some very lovely homes, Nantucket’s real estate puts it to shame. This is where the very rich come to vacation, and the prices around town reflect that. Don’t expect to run into the Hollywood crowd - here it’s more CEOs, politicians, and billionaire businessmen who have their second homes on the island. The atmosphere is relaxed, but polished at the same time.

Nantucket is about history and natural beauty. It features some of the highest concentration of Pre-Civil war structures and oldest operating windmill in U.S. You’ll find cobblestoned streets downtown (always fun to drive over), plenty of historic mansions converted into bed-and-breakfasts, and boutiques shilling expensive brand names. While the shopping and dining is fantastic, don’t forget the beautiful beaches. The south side beaches are key for surfers (Cisco is a local favorite), Madaket has phenomenal sunsets, Jetties is close to town and great for families, and Great Point Beach is accessible only by 4-wheel drive.

In the historic downtown area, it’s easy to walk everywhere to the shops, restaurants, and bars. And if walking isn’t your thing, there are more than 25-miles of bike paths around the island. With the island being less than 4 miles wide and 14 miles long, a car isn’t really even needed. The hotel also offers free car service for in town drop offs.

There are a number of ferries to get to and from the island, but The Steamship Authority ferry from Hyannis is the only way to bring a car across the water, although travelers are strongly discouraged from bringing their cars. During the summer, when the population swells from 10,000 to 50,000 people, finding parking can be next to impossible and you’ll need a 4-WD to get to some of the spots on the island anyway, such as Great Point Lighthouse. It’s easier to rent a car once on the island (plus, the ferry fee for cars can range from $120-$200 each way depending on the season) and just stick with the fast ferry.

  • 45-minute flight from Boston Logan International to Nantucket Airport
  • 1-hour ferry ride from Hyannis, MA on Hy-Line ferry to downtown Nantucket
  • 2-hour and 15-minute ferry ride from Hyannis, MA on Steamship Authority ferry to downtown Nantucket
  • 5-minute walk to Steamship Authority and downtown
  • 10-minute drive to Nantucket Memorial Airport
  • 15-minute drive to Madaket
  • 15-minute drive to Cisco Beach
  • 20-minute drive to Sankaty Head Lighthouse (Siasconset, or ‘Sconset, as it’s known by the locals)
See More Location

Rooms

Rooms, suites, and cottages are beach chic with modern amenities

The White Elephant Hotel offers standard rooms, suites, cottages, and a special loft, meaning couples and groups have plenty of options for choosing their perfect vacation get away. With beach chic decor, the rooms are furnished with bamboo-style chairs, padded leather headboards, and plenty of sailing photos and paintings on the walls. White and tan are the main colors here, with accents of blues and reds thrown in for a punch. Some rooms have patios or decks with stunning water views, and most have working fireplaces.

  • Rooms, suites, and cottages available (plus one family loft)
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Modern tech like flat-screen TVs and iPod docks
  • Free bottled water in rooms
  • Mini-fridge
  • Some rooms have private decks or patios
  • Some rooms have harbor views
  • Suites have a sofa bed and most have fireplaces
  • Cottages have a separate living area with sofa bed
  • Two Bedroom Garden Cottages have a living room with fireplace, den with sofa bed, kitchenette, dining area, 2 baths and a patio
  • The White Elephant Loft has a master suite with living and dining room, full kitchen and 4 full baths
See More Rooms

Features

A relaxing spa with harbor views is relaxation at its best.

  • Full service, serene spa overlooking the Harbor
  • Brandt Point Grill, fine dining overlooking the harbor (open all day/night; steak and seafood specialties
  • Free (limited) parking in a lot across the street
  • Afternoon port and cheese hour in the library
  • Free coffee and breakfast pastries every morning
  • Small fitness center and business center
  • Gift shop in the lobby sells souvenirs and necessities
See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.