Blue Water Resort

The location made it easy to drive to Cape Cod's scenic spots and to the ferry to Nantucket, and the neighborhood was lovely for walks and runs. We had a well-appointed kitchenette, so we could make some meals instead of eating out. The beach was nice, with lots of deck chairs on the sand and on a deck overlooking it. The hotel is old and a bit rustic, so don't expect anything spiffy. The poolside snack bar was out of half the items on its one-page menu, which made ordering lunch comical. Our first room smelled musty, and we found mold in the air conditioner vents, yuck. Staff moved us to a roomier, clean unit, which we appreciated.

The employees were helpful and even gave us a late checkout, and the beach was a huge plus. Still, Blue Water felt more like a motel than a resort and could use a deep clean. We weren't inspired to use the heated pools or hot tub since they didn't seem especially clean. Our friends said they'd come back, but my partner and I would choose somewhere else next time. It's a reasonable place if you arrive with the right expectations.

For what we paid, this was a terrible experience. The beach wasn't that great either. The sand was nice, but there was a constant wall of seaweed in the water that was hard to get past if you don't like it. I even had to argue with a staff member to get an umbrella. She said one umbrella was provided for every two people, though there were three of us. I explained that one wouldn't cover all three, and we're pretty pale. For the amount we paid, I don't know why that had to be an argument. The room service was another frustration. At over $500 a night, you'd think daily service would be standard, but you have to request it. I requested it on our second day and they didn't clean until the third, so we slept in sandy sheets for two nights. With tile floors and no daily vacuuming, it's hard to keep sand out. Staff were often on their phones. At the beach, I had to get the attention of all three attendants, who were looking at their phones. When I texted to ask for extra pillows, nobody answered, so I went to the front desk. The two people there said I could have texted, then found my message and just said, “Oh.” We also had to pay $25 a day to park on top of the premium room price. Apparently the fee was buried somewhere in the fine print, though I couldn't find it in my reservation. I was surprised when a text arrived the day before we got there. I could understand the charge if there were enough activities within walking distance or transportation was provided, but this isn't all-inclusive. It really felt like a bunch of teens woke up one morning and decided to run this “resort.” There are more things I could say, but this is long enough. Just know there's even more!

Our room looked updated and nice, but the wall next to the neighbors was so thin I could hear everything, including their TV blaring, all night. That made it hard to enjoy the stay fully. The rest was excellent: the gardens were beautiful, the beach was immaculately maintained, and the pool area and outdoor bar and kitchen were a huge hit. The in-house restaurant had some good eats too. I wish I could give the full five stars. Thanks for a nice stay, Blue Water, but please insulate the interior walls a bit!