Is there anything better than relaxing on a beautiful beach in the summer? Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a popular oceanfront summer vacation destination, offers many different types of lodging options, including luxury resorts, chain hotels, roadside motels, family hotels, and vacation homes. If you would like to splurge and spend your vacation time in luxury, here are 5 (plus 2 bonus) luxury resorts in Cape Cod Massachusetts to consider.
We’ve stayed at Ocean Edge at no cost but have also paid our own way. We’ve also stayed at the White Elephant at no cost. All opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
4+ Best Luxury Resorts in Cape Cod Massachusetts
Chatham Inn, Chatham MA
The Chatham Inn is the ultimate boutique luxury resort on Cape Cod. It’s the Cape’s only Relais & Châteaux and Forbes Five-Star hotel and offers 18 luxury guest rooms and suites that were recently renovated with modern amenities. Note that this is less of a family hotel on Cape Cod and more of a romantic hotel.
Location: The Chatham Inn is located right on Main Street. It’s within walking distance of the shops, cafes, and restaurants of downtown Chatham as well as Lighthouse Beach. This convenient access means you won’t necessarily need to drive everywhere.
Chatham, arguably one of the most luxurious towns on Cape Cod, is located on the “elbow” of the Cape. There are many great attractions, including beautiful beaches to enjoy during your luxury Cape Cod escape.
What makes it luxurious: A Forbes 5-star rating, fireplaces and/or balconies in some rooms, valet services, and the complimentary use of a Volvo XC90 (a fun way to take a short drive and explore the area) are just some of the features making this a fantastic hotel for a luxury vacation on Cape Cod. This is an excellent choice for a romantic getaway.
Key Features:
- Use of backpack beach chairs, sunscreen, and beach towels
- Complimentary a la carte gourmet breakfast
- Fine dining at the on-site restaurant – Cuvée at Chatham Inn Relais & Châteaux
- An outdoor firepit
- Luxurious linens and towels in the rooms
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Harwich, MA
The Wequasset Resort and Golf Club is a beautiful luxury resort and a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts. It’s very family-friendly and offers a variety of room types, including suites, cottages, villas, and even a three-bedroom private home.
Location: The Wequasset Resort and Golf Club is located in Harwich, north of Chatham. It’s located on the waterfront, with a private beach and a daily boat service to the Cape Cod National Seashore. This is a great area of the Cape, where you can also take day trips to attractions and other towns.
What makes it luxurious: Beautiful accommodations, Twenty-Eight Atlantic (the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star restaurant on property), a tennis center, and access to the acclaimed 18-hole Cape Cod National Golf Course make this a luxury Cape Cod resort.
Key Features:
- Evening firepits
- Adult lap pool and jacuzzi
- Leisure pool
- Cabanas for rent
- Outdoor dining at Outer Bar & Grille
- Thoreau’s Tavern
- LiBAYtion beachfront bar
- The Verandahs outdoor dining
- Some suites with outdoor hot tub
Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham MA
The Chatham Bars Inn is a luxury, historic resort that first opened in 1914. It has a wooden boardwalk with a private beach, as well as an oceanfront heated outdoor pool. The Chatham Bars Inn Resort is rated five stars on the Forbes Travel Guide and has been rated the #1 Hotel in North America by Preferred Hotels and Resorts (in 2022). It’s a family-friendly resort offering children’s programs in the summers.
Location: Based in the upscale town of Chatham, MA on the elbow of the Cape, the Chatham Bars Inn has a beautiful oceanfront location.
What makes it luxurious: Luxury features at the Chatham Bars Inn include a full-service spa, Har-Tru tennis courts, complimentary bike rentals, a state-of-the-art fitness center (with complimentary classes), and luxury rooms including suites and cottages.
Key Features:
- A private farm
- Stars, the Sacred Cod, the Beach House Grill, the Verandah, and the Bayview Terrace dining experiences
- A private clambake experience that you can book (additional fee)
- Kids’ activities and programming
- Family movie nights
- 2023 Lexus Ultimate Beach Drive Experience (additional fee)
- Tennis
- Nearby golf
- Complimentary Boat Launch Service
Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club, Brewster, MA
Ocean Edge Resort offers two different sections, including a mansion building and villas. This resort is very family-friendly, with kids’ programming and activities in the summer and during school vacations. It’s one of the best places for an awesome vacation because it has many fun amenities and room types.
Location: Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is in Brewster, MA along Cape Cod Bay. It’s in the “lower” Cape section. The hotel does have a private beach, but not all of the room types have access to it. There’s also a public beach that’s within walking distance from much of the resort.
What makes it luxurious: There are loads of luxurious amenities including five pools, a spa, tennis courts, and a golf course. The wide variety of lodging options includes some gorgeous villas and some rooms with private balconies.
Key Features (some at an extra cost):
- Accommodations in the Mansion and Villages section of the resort (on opposite sides of the street)
- Five pools (two of which are indoor)
- Tennis courts
- Spa treatments at the on-site spa
- Cape Cod’s only Nicklaus Design golf course
- Dining at the Ocean Terrace, Bayzo’s Pub, the Linx Tavern, the Front Lawn, the Beach Bar, and the Shark Bah.
- Pickleball
- Canoeing and kayaking (extra fee)
- Bike rentals (Extra fee) – great to explore the local bike trails including the Cape Cod Rail Trail
- Live entertainment at Bayzo’s Pub
Bonus resorts: The Islands
While the Islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket aren’t officially on Cape Cod, they can often be combined as a longer vacation. There are some beautiful hotels on the islands that are perfect for a luxury vacation.
Getting to the islands does involve either flying or taking a ferry. It takes some advance planning because you’ll need to book those things well before your trip. The car ferry especially fills up well in advance. You’ll want to book your stay at these luxury resorts in advance as well, especially during peak season.
Ferries depart from Cape Cod, so you can easily combine a stay at two of the resorts on this list.
Harbor View Hotel: Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard
This historic hotel has been around for over 130 years. It was renovated in 2020 and is family-friendly.
Location: The Harbor View Hotel is located in Edgartown, which is one of the more popular tourist destinations on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s located close to downtown and the Chappaquiddick Island ferry.
What makes it luxurious: The resort offers luxurious linens, fantastic service, a Mercedes-Benz drive program, and beautiful grounds.
Key Features:
- Hotel rooms, cottages, and one, two, and three-bedroom suites
- Outdoor heated pool
- Fitness center
- Three on-site restaurants including Bettini Restaurant, The Clubhouse at Bettini, and Roxy Pool Bar
- Complimentary usage of bikes
The White Elephant, Nantucket
The White Elephant on Nantucket is an iconic luxury resort right in the center of town. It has just completed a renovation of common areas, rooms, and cottages for the 2023 summer season.
Location: The White Elephant is located within walking distance of many of the popular restaurants, shops, and cafes right in town, so you won’t even need your car.
What makes it luxurious: This beautiful resort offers lots of luxurious touches including a pre-arrival concierge, an in-town courtesy vehicle service, and complimentary ferry transfers. Accommodations include one, two, and three-bedroom Residences, cottages, and main inn rooms.
Key Features:
- Beach cruiser rentals
- The White Elephant Spa by Darya
- Towels, sunscreen, and beach chair usage
- Baby products like diaper genie and bath amenities by request
- Pool cabanas to rent
- Two fitness centers
- A seasonal outdoor pool
- BMW self-drive vehicles (on limited availability)
Frequently Asked Questions
July and August are peak travel months and can be crowded. But everything will be open and busy. June and September are quieter times that may be more fun to visit, and you may be able to get a lower price on the Cape Cod resorts.
I really like staying in Chatham, which is centrally located. Two of these Cape Cod resorts listed above are great options in Chatham.
You can take a ferry to both islands from Cape Cod. There are also airports on both islands.
Boston (BOS) is the largest nearby airport, while the much smaller Cape Cod Gateway Airport is located in Hyannis on Cape Cod.
Yes, you’ll definitely want a car to get around the Cape. You can check rental car prices and availability here.