Oceanic Hotel — Hotel in Rye

The Oceanic Hotel is a time capsule. The historic property provides rare glimpse into and experience of staying in a turn-of-the-twentieth-century inn. The minimally updated building retains much of its original character and furnishings.||The island setting is spectacular. There are numerous opportunities to take in expansive views of the ocean from the island, its network of walking trails, and the hotel’s large, covered front porch and rocking chairs. ||Star Island is clearly a special place for people who’ve been going there for years. There are charming traditions like the communal meals, evening candlelit service in the stone chapel, and refreshing lime rickeys available in the café. Most of the guests staying at the property while I was there were return visitors (many had been coming for decades) and knew others. While people were friendly, I couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place, as if I had crashed a private party or summer camp. The person at the check-in desk provided minimal orientation to the property and its customs.||The guest room was disappointing. It had a single bare bulb light with a pull chain overhead, mattresses on rough wood platforms, wooden window shutters that came apart, and a bare wood floor with remnants of floor adhesive.||I am a fan of historic properties and simple lodgings. I have stayed in many across the US that offer spare rooms with bathrooms down the hall and cafeteria-style meals. The Oceanic was more expensive in comparison and did not match the quality. More attention to the quality of service and accommodations is required to be competitive and attract guests outside the typical...

These people are completely unprofessional and uncaring. I went to purchase the only food allowed to me as a day visitor at their outdoor "grill," a food trailer or roach coach. At lunch time it turned out the thing was closed and the only person who was getting any food at all was the young adult staffing it when I went around to the back to find out why they were closed. He was shoving a burger into his mouth as he explained it took 45 minutes to cook his burger because his grill ran out of gas. He said there would be no food today but he was sure to get some for himself. These people didn't even have a back up tank or the courtesy to offer what ever food they might have had that didn't need a grill. When I informed the gift shop employee that the grill she sent me to outside for food because I wasn't allowed in the hotel due to covid, she made no attempt to fix the problem or find a solution for getting some lunch for a day visitor. I asked if she could get me something from the snack bar she informed me the snack bar is closed at lunch time and offered me no help when I was with a 7 year old who was getting no lunch. This place is poorly run and doesn't care at all about their day visitors'experiences. Don't get me started about the disgusting and unclean shared unisex bathrooms where the men pee all over the floor and leave the toilet seat up! Yuk and...

Booked a one night stay “personal retreat” for the weekend and stayed in the main hotel. Reason for staying was to explore Smuttynose Island via kayak. Here are some observations:

Food: lunch was pretty humorous both days. First day consisted of deli meat buffet with numerous waiters oddly hovering around. Second day(Sunday) lunch is a “light affair” consisting of chips and snacks due to Sunday being “changeover day”.

Atmosphere: The overnight experience is pitched as an opportunity to disconnect from electronic devices and enjoy nature’s beauty. Unfortunately the “Pelicans” (help staff) who consist of discontent teenagers (think Parks and Rec Aubrey Plaza) didn’t get the memo. Constant yelling and techno echo through the historic hotel walls. Do not expect to have any fun in the water on Sundays throughout the summer. The lifeguards take a much deserved break from their post, so no one can either swim or rent a kayak the entire day. Thus is the experience of “changeover day”. Final takeaways: Smuttynose Island is beautiful if you can get a kayak reservation. Wickerman 2.0 could be filmed on...