Holiday Inn South Kingstown

There’s not a lot to say about this Holiday Inn. Filled with business travelers during the week, and families visiting their kids at the University of Rhode Island on the weekends, it offers little more than a comfortable place to crash at affordable rates.A typical chain hotel lobby leads to the elevators. Once guests reach their floor, they should be prepared for a possibly long walk -- the hallways are very long. There's not much to look at as far as decor goes, but this isn't the kind of place where you’ll be hanging at the hotel all day. Aside from a tiny fitness room, and a seasonal pool, there’s not a whole lot going on at the hotel itself -- except a restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.It’s about 20 minutes from downtown Newport, although you should be prepared for an $8 round-trip toll over the Pell bridge.

Kingstown is not exactly next door to Newport -- it's about a 20-minute drive to downtown. It is very close, however, to the University of Rhode Island, and a number of nice local beaches. So it's a good choice for families visiting their college kids who might want to hit the beach while in town. Alternately, if you want to check out Newport but can't afford the town's prices, this might be an option for you.Newport is located in Rhode Island, and is famous for the restored, historic New England mansions dotting the coast, and its downtown area. Architecture and history buffs will find plenty to explore in the National Historic Landmark District, at the Newport Historical Society, and all along Bellevue Avenue where some of the most impressive homes are located, such as the famous Breakers Mansion. Some of the mansions are open for guided tours.Aside from being rich in history and architecture, Newport also plays hosts to a number of music and film festivals each year, including the Newport Jazz Festival (past performers include Miles Davis and Duke Ellington), Newport Folk Festival in Fort Adams State Park, and Newport International Film Festival.Tennis, yachting, and golf are popular in Newport, as you might be expect of an area teeming with wealthy individuals. The International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Newport Country Club are both in town.If nature is more your thing, check out Gooseberry Beach located on Ocean Drive or enjoy the extremely popular Cliff Walk. It’s been designated a National Recreation Trail and runs about 3.5 miles along the shore.Sometimes you just want to shop and eat, however. Downtown Newport is bursting with shops, cute boutiques and galleries. After you’ve exhausted your credit card and feet, pop into one of the many waterfront restaurants serving up fresh seafood and other local cuisine.- 17-minute drive from Kingston, RI Amtrak

• 25-minute drive to T. F. Green Airport
• 90-minute drive from Boston Logan Airport
• 19-minute drive to Cliff Walk
• 20-minute drive to downtown Newport
• 20-minute drive to Museum of Newport History
• 22-minute drive to Newport Harbor
• 24-minute drive to Breakers Mansion
• 4-hour drive to New York City

The rooms at this mid-range hotel aren't that exciting, but offer pretty much what guests expect from a suburban Holiday Inn -- dated patterned rugs, simple wood desks, and patterned chairs. A few perks: coffeemakers with free coffee, free Wi-Fi, and premium cable. Some guests complain that the walls are thin (noise carries) and the bathrooms are so tiny you can barely shut the door.Rooms can either have views of the pool or of the the street.- Free Wi-Fi and local phone calls

• Coffeemaker and free coffee
• Tiny bathrooms
• Bath and Bodyworks bath products

• Small outdoor seasonal pool
• 24-hour fitness center with one treadmill, one bicycle, and one stair stepper
• Business center with internet, fax and printing for guests
• Two "beach" volleyball courts (on a patch of sand in the grass)
• View full list of amenities