Kick Back On Nantucket Island This Summer
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In the latest installation of our "By the Sea" summer destination series, TPG Contributor Drew Limsky holes up in serenely beautiful Nantucket, Massachusetts, just before the summer season hits.
Set 30 miles south of Cape Cod and sprawling over almost 50 square miles, Nantucket feels like it inhabits another era. Its uneven cobbled streets (leave your heels at home) and uniform gray wood shingles set a scene rooted in the early to mid-1800s. The island boasts great bike paths, walkable streets and one charming eatery after another, but most of all, Nantucket delivers a feeling; it’s unspoiled New England seafront at its best.
With summer just about to hit, the weather is just balmy enough for visitors to wear shorts during the day — or even go for a swim — yet comfortable enough at night to throw open the windows and luxuriate in some of the freshest air in the Northeast.
Getting There
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) welcomes JetBlue flights from New York-Kennedy (JFK), Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) and Washington, DC’s Reagan International (DCA), and Cape Air flights from BOS, Hyannis (HYA), Martha’s Vineyard (MVY) and New Bedford (EWB). Nantucket (ACK) is also serviced seasonally (May-September) by Delta Connection from BOS and New York-LaGuardia (LGA), and by United Express/CommutAir from Newark (EWR). Consider taking advantage of British Airways' short-haul Avios awards — a flight from Philadelphia or Washington DC to Boston (BOS) will run you just 4,500 Avios each way, and you can book a separate reservation to cover the short hop on Cape Air.
Where to Stay
A handful of points properties (a Marriott, a Hilton, a Hyatt, etc.) can be found roughly 30-40 miles away in Cape Cod, but in Nantucket, independent hotels and inns dominate the market.
Relais & Châteaux property The Wauwinet, built in 1860, has 32 rooms and four cottages, as well as private beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Bay. When this post was published, a few rooms still could be had this early in the season (grab them now if you can) for less than $400 a night, but $635 and up is more typical. Cardholders of the Amex Platinum and its Business version can book through the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts travel portal to receive a $100 spa credit.
If you hold any American Express card (e.g., Platinum, Business Gold, EveryDay Preferred, etc.) you can exchange Membership Rewards or earn bonus points by booking through the American Express Travel portal. Here you’ll find slightly more modest accommodations at The Beachside at Nantucket, where nightly rates start at $350.
Nantucket Island Resorts properties include The Wauwinet and the White Elephant Village. The latter offers utterly charming, shingle-style lodgings that are convenient to town. Some configurations contain two bedrooms and full kitchens. You'll find complimentary snacks such as fresh-baked cookies and cheese platters, and you can always sign out a bike or take a swim in the cabana-lined heated pool. BMW courtesy cars can drop you into town, and the staff is unfailingly gracious. Nightly rates range from $350 for a deluxe room to $3,550 for a three-bedroom residence.
Looking to spend way less? Check out the laid-back local lodgings on Airbnb, where you're more likely to spend $125 to 200 per night for private rooms in cottages, cabins, apartments and more. Entire homes range from $275 to upwards of $1,000. Check out Maximizing Points and Miles with Airbnb and VRBO, and keep in mind that Airbnb is a Membership Rewards partner, allowing you to redeem points for Airbnb gift cards in denominations of $100 or $250.
What to Do
The actual town of Nantucket is great for strolling and shopping, but not so much for biking, due to the narrow roads, one-way streets and cobblestones. But never fear: The island is crisscrossed with well-maintained paved bike paths that lead to scenic harbors, beaches (such as Surfside) and off-the-beaten-path eateries.
On my first day, the recommendation of a White Elephant Village staffer sent me straight to Sayles Seafood, located right across the street from bobbing fishing boats, for the sensational baked swordfish. The stuffed quahogs and the little neck clams are also favorites.
That was just lunch, and scarcely satisfied my need for seafood. So my friend and I booked a dinner at the Straight Wharf, which proved to be an excellent choice for its sweet-spring onion soup (served with a parmigiana gougère and local lobster salad) as an appetizer, and the oversized dayboat scallops entrée accompanied by roasted cauliflower, bacon, snap peas, smoked shiitakes and citrus relish. The atmosphere and the adorable servers made us feel as if we were in someone’s especially well-appointed saltbox kitchen (with a sea view).
The following night I was in the mood for an Italian spin on New England seafood, so we met at another of Straight Wharf chef/owner Gabriel Frasca's venues, Ventuno, where we paired the line-caught halibut with a Puglia red after beginning the meal with delectable pork and beef meatballs and spicy chicken sausage topped with pecorino and broccoli rabe. The house-made gelato is crafted in a Pacojet — one of the niftiest kitchen gadgets ever created — resulting in brilliant chocolate and coffee flavors.
For a breakfast, you can have no finer meal than the buttermilk pancakes with blueberries and 100% maple syrup at the always-popular Black Eyed Susan's — it's like summer on a plate.
The walk back to the hotel was just as intoxicating; on the cusp of summer high season, we enjoyed Nantucket's chilled salt air, tinged with the toasty taste of a fireplace in someone’s living room — in a hearth most likely laid in the early 19th century.
What are your favorite things to do, see and eat on Nantucket? Please share them with us in the comments below!
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.