Many people know Newport for it's touristy aspects and nautical vibes. However, Salve students know Newport better than any of the millionaires that summer there. Salve Regina University is home to around 2,000 undergraduate students located right in the heart of this tourist hot spot. Once Labor Day ends, so does the hustle and bustle that thrived here all summer long. So when the cruise ships stop floating by, and the rich and famous retreat to their winter homes, we'll still be here. This is what it's like to live in a tourist town when tourist season dwindles down.
1. Prices return to normal.
Similar to any other tourist town, the price of just about everything gets jacked up. As anyone who has visited Newport knows, there is no parking. Parking lots charge $20 a day during the summer, but return to five to ten bucks when the tourists leave. Lots won't offer restaurant parking validation either in order to keep some more money in their pockets. Anything from gas to groceries seem to become less expensive during this time... coincidence? I think not.
2. Stores close their doors until next summer.
There are quite a few stores and establishments that close for the colder months. Since the town thrives during the summer months, many businesses rely on making the bulk of their money just in the summer.
3. The streets become empty.
Looks a little different from the previous picture, right? No one is asking you for directions to the Breakers on your way to class, and the beach traffic is nonexistent. That's due to the fact that no one wants to come to a beach town in the winter (duh, who would?). Newport looks like a ghost town during the winter. I'm sure no one would be surprised to see tumbleweed rolling down Thames St. during mid November.
4. The Bean Boots come out.
It's almost as if everyone at Salve owns a pair of these duck boots (myself included). I know snow is the last thing on your mind, but the muck and slush of a New England winter is definitely not suitable for your summer Sperry's.
5. Ubers aren't as easy to get.
If you've ever talked to an Uber driver in Newport, they'll tell you that the summer is prime time for them. What can be made in a week during the winter can be made in just a few hours during the summer. That means getting an Uber to go out on Saturday night is either impossible or crazy expensive due to the surge price. Just picture a hundred students trying to get to the same spot when there are only a few Ubers working the area. You do the math.
Our beach town definitely dies down after the summer, but hey if it means paying less for gas and having less tourists crowding the streets, that's fine too!
