The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection

As you walk into the The Vanderbilt with a glass of champagne in hand, you are immediately transported to Newport's Gilded Age, with all its splendour and opulence when impeccable service and taste were the norm. This after all is the Rhode Island resort famed for its fabulous summer mansions, commissioned in the early 20th Century by some of Americas elite families such as the Astors. As its name suggests, the Grace Vanderbilt was originally built in 1909 as a private house by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. A century on and after a serious facelift the Grace Vanderbilt is now one of Newport’s finest luxury boutique hotels blending the building's original Beaux Art features with elegant modern design.

The hotel features 33 luxuriously-appointed rooms and suites, decorated in soft hues which enjoy views of the Historic Hill neighbourhood, Trinity Church, Thames Street or Newport Harbor. A pillow and even fragrance menu come as standard and the minibar can be pre-stocked with your drink of choice. Some of the rooms and suites interconnect which makes them ideal for families.

Food is a real treat at the hotel. From the champagne breakfast or lingering over brunch in the sunlit Conservatory to light lunch or an al fresco cocktail in the Garden Terrace to the more formal gourmet restaurant, Muse by Jonathan Cartwright, guests will enjoy fantastic service and the best of New England produce. In summer head to the rooftop deck to soak in the stunning 360-degree panorama of the city and yachts in the harbor, or enjoy one of the outdoor cinema nights, with old classics accompanied by bowls of truffled popcorn. After dinner the cocktail bar comes with a dash of Gatsby-esque glamour, and where better to shoot some pool in the wood-panelled Snooker Room.

Other facilities at the The Vanderbilt include a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools and a relaxing spa.

With its enviable location in the heart of historic Newport with its chic boutiques, restaurants, galleries and markets, why not see how the other half lived and tour the island’s many splendid period mansions along the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk. Newport’s allure hails from the sea, and this is a sailing town through and through, with sailboats crowding the harbor in summer. There is the Tennis Hall of Fame and a number of notable music and food festivals throughout the year. Across the bridge are award winning wineries and further along the coast explore the Mystic Seaport with its museum that recreates the atmosphere of America’s maritime past.