A Room at the Comfort Inn Mystic

Are you a New Englander or New Yorker embarking on a family road trip this vacation season?  Looking for a budget-friendly destination with great activities for the kids, good prices, and reasonably priced lodging?  Mystic, Connecticut may be the perfect destination for you.

Mystic Connecticut, located near the Rhode Island border and right off route 95, is offering the 2010 Mystic Pass, which costs $23-$59 depending on age, and offers some great discounts. With each pass, you’ll receive one admission to Mystic Seaport, one admission to the Planetarium Show, one admission to Mystic Aquarium, one free soda at Mystic Aquarium’s Penguins Cafe, and one aluminum reusable water bottle. In addition, you can receive up to 15% off your stays (promos vary by hotel) at national chains, local inns and campsites with the pass, discounts and freebies at twenty-five local Mystic shops, discounts at five additional area attractions, and discounts at ten local restaurants. You can find out more information about the pass at the Mystic Web site.

One hotel where you can receive a discount with the pass is the Comfort Inn, Mystic.  The Comfort Inn is conveniently located right off of Route 95, and offers some great amenities like free deluxe continental breakfast (with hot food too), free wireless high-speed Internet access, and an on-site exercise room.  It’s a great travel “home-base” for your Mystic adventure.

Comfort Inn Mystic
48 Whitehall Ave.
Mystic, CT, 06355
(860) 572-8531

Photo credit: The Comfort Inn Mystic

The Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa

Mystic, Connecticut was one of my all-time favorite day trip destinations from when I lived in Rhode Island.  Now that I’m a little further away, in suburban Boston, it’s more of an overnight trip.  The good news is, there’s loads of wonderful lodging options in the area – some of which are offering great packages for the summer.

One great family package is the Mystic Family Escape at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa.  The Mystic Family Escape package includes the following:

• Overnight accommodations at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa for two adults and two children
• Family admission to the Mystic Aquarium for up to two adults and two children
• Family admission to the Mystic Seaport for up to two adults and two children

To purchase this package either enter the promotional code ARN in the Corporate/Promotional code box online, or call 1-800-228-9290 and reference promotional code ARN.

The Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa is located in Groton, Connecticut, and offers 285 guest rooms, all with the signature Marriott Revive bed with luxurious linens, fluffier pillows, and down comforters.  The hotel is conveniently located near Bradley Airport in Hartford CT, TF Green Providence Airport in Warwick, RI, the Amtrak station in New London CT, and route I-95.

The Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa
625 North Road (Route 117)
Groton, Connecticut 06340
1-860-446-2600

Photo credit: The Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa

Bedroom of a Study at Yale Suite

The Study at Yale, a new boutique hotel located in downtown New Haven, Connecticut, right near Yale University, is offering several packages and specials this holiday season.

The New Years Eve Package, available on December 31, includes overnight accommodations at the Study at Yale, two tickets to The Temptations Review performing at The Shubert Theater on December 31, a special post-show party in Heirloom (the hotel restaurant/bar) with open bar, and hors d’oeuvres, a midnight champagne toast, and late check out.  This package is $395 per couple, based on double occupancy (does not include tax).

The Study at Yale is also offering a holiday shopping package, available through January 15, 2010.  This package includes overnight accommodations and a hot mulled brandy cider at check-in or after shopping.  In addition, shoppers can redeem their receipts for either a free drink or movie passes (or both).  Rates start at $149 (excluding tax).

Art lovers who want to visit the nearby Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery can enjoy the Connecticut art trail package, which includes breakfast for two, valet parking, and overnight accommodation.

The Study at Yale offers 124 rooms with high-speed internet access, flat screen HD TVs, and workstations.  There are also seven suites as well as one three-bedroom Presidential Suite with personal butler service.  The Study at Yale also offers an on-site restaurant, Heirloom.  In-room dining is available.

The Study at Yale
1157 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 503-3900

Photo credit: The Study at Yale

Stamford Marriott Hotel, Connecticut

Next time you need a hotel in eastern Connecticut, I can strongly recommend one to avoid: the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa. Although the property is highly rated, it’s clear that they have low regard for the safety and comfort of their guests.

In 2006 a woman was raped at gunpoint — in front of her two toddlers — in the parking facility at this Marriott.

The rapist, Gary Frick, had been hanging around the lobby and parking garage and acting suspiciously for several days. However, hotel security didn’t notice him or make him leave. They also failed to stop the assault. The victim was only able to summon help when another guest drove up, she screamed, and Frick ran away. He was caught three days later in New York state, and confessed immediately.

Frick is serving 20 years for the crime. The victim then brought a civil suit against the Marriott for failing to provide adequate security in their parking facility.

The victim isn’t looking for a big payday. Her suit asks for a mere $15,000 in damages. What’s amazing is that the Marriott, and their legal team, are so petty that instead of apologizing and settling the case, they decided to fight back. By blaming her!

The Marriott said that the victim “failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children and proper use of her senses and facilities.” In other words, not their fault that she was raped on their property. They also “outed” her as a rape victim to friends and colleagues by subpoenaing them to appear at the trial. As if her pilates instructor would have something relevant to say about Marriott’s security!

The internet is aflame with this story, and unsurprisingly everyone is on the side of this poor victim. Over the weekend the owner of the hotel issued an apology, but too little, too late.

Just don’t stay at this Marriott. Ever.

Photo: Marriott Hotels