NYC P.
Yelp
The location is great (1 minute from the ferry, the harbor, and Circuit Ave.) and staff (are very nice, they help with restaurant suggestions, directions, and supplying beach coolers, towels, and chairs....they even called me to let me know that I left my I Pod charger, and they are going to mail it to me) so if I were reviewing just the staff and location I would give Madison Inn in Oak Bluffs/Marthas Vineyard 5 stars. Unfortunately hotels need to be rated on service, amenties and accomodations as well as staff and location.
The experience you get here is similar to that of staying in the guest room at an aunt's house that used to be occupied by your adult cousin when she was still a minor (frilly curtains, old painted furniture). It's basically a very clean, but old rooming house functioning as a hotel that charges big city room rates, there is no one to help with luggage, there is no elevator, there are no meals served, the front desk closes at 10 p.m. There is a small porch with about 4 comfy chairs if you wanna sit out front and watch traffic or the back lots of Circuit Avenue stores and restaurants which house dumpsters and parked vehicles of employees of those establishments.
They supply ice in a large bin in the freezer component of the communal refrigerator thats located in a room next to the front desk/lobby, you have to scoop it up with a small scooper that sits in the bin which is not very sanitary because everyone's hands touch the scooper.) There is free coffee available all day, they also put out a few pastries (apple fritters that are cut up into several pieces) and fruit in the morning, during the afternoon a plate of warm cookies is left on the table by the front door for all to enjoy.
The room that I stayed in was $249 per night plus tax which amounted to over $700 for 3 nights but was cramped with low ceilings. There is no phone (you have to physically go down to the front desk if you need anything, keep your cell phone charged and make sure you have roaming minutes so that you can access the outside world without your calls dropping), no iron (you can go down to the front desk and ask for an iron and ironing board but be careful not to trip over the board and/or iron cord while taking it up a flight of stairs to your room), no dresser and no closet. There were a few hooks behind the room door to hang clothes on. The bathroom was small with a small shower and toilet both are on a large step (not adequate for an older guest or a disabled individual) the bathroom door squeaked, there is no shelving in the bathroom for toiletries. They are serious about their 11 a.m. check out. I was ready to leave with my luggage sitting outside my room with the door opened at 11:01 a.m. when I saw a hand come to knock on the door to make sure I was checking out.
They'll hold your luggage for you if you arrive early or if you want to stay in town after 11 a.m. checkout, be sure not to leave any valuables in your luggage because it won't be locked up it sits in the room with the fridge and beach towels or in the lobby right by the front door, I didn't have a problem but better be safe than sorry.
This is a nice cozy place to crash but its wayyyy overpriced, expect a bed and breakfast without the breakfast and with 4 star hotel rates. Not being negative, I just feel that reviews should make potential guests aware of whats available and whats not. I think that this is probably one of the best hotels in Oak Bluffs based on the reviews that I've read, however pricing should be adjusted according to room size, service, amenties.
Tip: Martha's Vineyard is a great place to get away from the big city but its pretty pricey , and there's not much to do besides going to beaches and touring the island which does have a few beautiful scenes.....don't expect great nightlife, or franchises, only two of the six towns (Oak Bluffs and Edgartown) are wet and last call is at 1 a.m.
I would recommend going to MV as a daytripper.
Next time around I will try to go to Nantucket or Cape Cod, or event Falmouth and maybe take the ferry over to Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven should I attend another event on the island.