- Friendly, resolutely cheerful, fun-loving staff can help you plan as much or as little as you'd like
- Room decor balances understated style with kid-sensible practicality
- Outstanding recreational facilities, from tennis courts to yoga classes to dune and kayak tours
- One of the best restaurants in the state, and with both adult and family-oriented dining options
- Secluded, south-facing location 250 yards from beach and ocean
- It's an upscale resort on an upscale island - not a good choice for families on a night budget
- It's 3 miles from downtown Edgartown, a little far if you want to be close to downtown
- It's on an island, which makes it a little harder to get to than many mainland resorts
- 31 Dunes Rd., by Katama Beach, 3 miles south of downtown Edgartown, on beautiful, gay-friendly, and upscale Martha's Vineyard
- Accommodations include 50 1- to 4-bedroom suites at Winnetu Inn, and 62 privately owned 3- and 5-bedroom condos nearby.
- Winnetu rooms have cable TV, Wi-Fi, clock radios, kitchens/kitchenettes, balconies or decks, and some washer/dryers.
- The condos rent by the week and have fireplaces, private decks, full kitchens, washer/dryers, and most have broadband.
- Book online or call 508-310-1733 or 866-335-1133. The resort is closed Nov. through mid-Apr.
- Guests of both Winnetu and the Mattakesett condos enjoy full use of tennis courts, pool, gym, beach chairs, and much more.
- Rates vary depending on season and size of unit. Studios run $200-$400/night, 3-br condos run $1,500-$5,800/week.
- Winnetu's clientele is mainstream, with more couples spring and fall, and more families in summer. It's very gay-friendly.
- Edgartown shopping, dining, and nightlife are 3 miles away, and the bustling town of Oak Bluffs is 9 miles away.
- Winnetu has its own superb restaurant, Lure, which serves some of the best seafood on the island, plus a general store.
If you're going to overnight on Martha's Vineyard, and especially with a family, you're going to spend a lot of money - at least $500 per night for anything enjoyable in high season. If you're not daunted by this prospect, read on. Winnetu Oceanside Resort offers typical Vineyard rates, but the property also provides guests with tremendous value and outstanding service - you receive everything you pay for.
It's absolutely possible to come here and do your own thing - just chill out, laze about the property's cushy rooms and beautifully manicured grounds, and eat absolutely stellar and innovative seafood in the resort restaurant, Lure. But Winnetu also offers guests the chance to custom-plan their very own island adventure - if you book your trip on Winnetu's fantastic website, you'll find an extensive menu of both complimentary and a la carte add-ons, from VIP ferry passage and transfer to guided bicycle and kayaking tours to teen and children's programs to excursions to Nantucket and whale-watching tours - even weekly clambakes and barbecues.
The resort's hands-on, enthusiastic staff offer assistance at every turn, and there's not a stuffy or grumpy employee here. The easygoing, welcoming vibe is contagious, and indeed, guests seem warmer toward one another here than at impersonal chain resorts. You aren't going to find the visible gay presence here (or anywhere on Martha's Vineyard) that you would in Provincetown, but you're definitely at a resort that's welcoming of everyone.
Winnetu comprises a beautiful, rambling main inn, around the corner from which is a community of condos for rent. The latter are ideal for privacy and independence, the former to feel truly taken care of and like the guest of a fine resort. But there are no subpar rooms here - Winnetu is one of the most enchanting resorts in New England, through and through.
