Great Island Inn

In the years since apartment-sharing nearly took over the hospitality world, a new breed of hotels has learned the right lessons — that some travelers crave self-sufficiency at least as much as others demand service — while retaining the high standards set by boutique hoteliers. This is how you end up with a place like the Great Island Inn, in New Castle, New Hampshire: a beautifully restored 19th-century house whose décor is traditionally informed, but thoroughly contemporary, and whose six studios feature residential comforts like full-size kitchens and en-suite laundry. Here you’ll live like a local who happens to have exquisite taste in interiors — and for choosing restaurants or day trips, the advice of an authentic local is only a phone call away.