Sheraton Hartford Airport: Your Luxurious Gateway to Connecticut!
Sheraton Hartford Airport: My Honest (and Slightly Messy) Review – Is it Really Luxurious?
Alright, strap in, folks, because I’m about to give you the real deal on the Sheraton Hartford Airport hotel. Forget the polished brochures; this is about my actual experience, the good, the…well, let’s just say the interesting.
First Impressions (and a Few Glitches):
Landing in Hartford, you're, hoping for a soft landing and a welcoming hotel. The Sheraton, strategically placed by the airport, screams convenience. Okay, fine. But the exterior? Honestly, it's a bit…blah. Kinda mid-range business-traveler-chic, you know? No soaring glass facades, no grand entrances. Just…adequate.
Accessibility: Making it Work
On the plus side, the hotel emphasizes accessibility. They have that. Access, Access, Access. The elevator was smooth, although I did have to wait a couple of times. The hallways were wide, and I recall seeing signs indicating wheelchair access to the restaurants and some of the common areas.
The Room: My Temporary Fortress
The room itself was a mixed bag. (Available in all rooms) – Air conditioning (thank goodness, it got HOT!), alarm clock (who uses these anymore?), bathrobes (score!), bathroom phone (huh?!), bathtub (I love a good soak – more on that later), blackout curtains (essential for sleep!), carpeting (a bit old-school, but comfy underfoot). It had some decent basics, which is nice. There were a few missing things I expected that will be noted later
- The Bed: The extra-long bed was a godsend after a long flight. (Extra long bed) I swear, being able to stretch out without feeling like I'd fall off the edge is a luxury in itself.
- The View: High floor, but the view wasn't amazing. (High floor) Airport views are…well, airport views. I'm not gonna lie, I was hoping for something a bit more exciting!
- The Coffee/Tea: It needed a strong coffee/tea maker in my room! (Coffee/tea maker). If I wake up and can't make a coffee in my room, I'll be a bad mood for a long time.
Breakfast: The Buffet Battleground.
Oh, the breakfast buffet. (Breakfast [buffet]). I’m a sucker for a hotel breakfast. Let me say it wasn't too bad. I'm always hoping for a nice waffle. (Breakfast [buffet]) – it had a pretty decent selection. I saw the usual suspects: eggs (scrambled, over easy), bacon, sausage, pastries that looked suspiciously like they'd been there since yesterday.
- The Silverware Saga: Okay, small rant incoming. The silverware Situation. It was chaos. Dirty forks mixed in with clean spoons, missing knives…it was a disaster zone. I did find a waiter who was very helpful, but it was not the ideal situation.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Foodie Adventures (and a Few Misses)
- Restaurants: The hotel boasts a few restaurants (Restaurants), but I only tried the main one for breakfast and dinner. The dinner was okay, a bit standard, but the presentation was nice.
- The Bar: The bar looked great (Bar). I heard about the Happy hour (Happy hour), but unfortunately, I was too busy to get there.
- Coffee Shop: I didn’t see a coffee shop . (Coffee shop)
- Room Service: The 24-hour room service, however, was a godsend. (Room service [24-hour]) After a late flight, ordering a burger and fries in my pajamas was pure bliss.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: From Bliss to… Meh.
- The Pool: The swimming pool [outdoor] looked inviting (Swimming pool). The pool view was alright.
- Fitness Center: The fitness center. The gym/fitness was a perfectly acceptable hotel gym. I'm not a gym rat, but it had the basic equipment for a quick workout.
- The Spa: The spa. There wasn't one. (Spa)
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe, Mostly
Sanitized and Clean: The rooms were cleaned between stays (Rooms sanitized between stays), and I saw staff regularly disinfecting common areas (Daily disinfection in common areas). I was told about Anti-viral cleaning products (Anti-viral cleaning products).
Hand Sanitizer: Hand sanitizer (hand sanitizer) was everywhere, which is a huge plus.
Internet
Wi-Fi: It was easy to connect to the Wi-Fi [free]. Wi-Fi [free] in every room. That's a lifesaver.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Concierge: The concierge was helpful. (Concierge) and the doorman (Doorman) had many friendly greetings.
- Elevator: The elevator (Elevator) worked well.
- Laundry: Laundry Service. (Laundry service).
For the Kids: Family Friendly? Maybe.
- Family/child friendly: I didn't see many kids. (Family/child friendly)
Getting Around: Super Simple
- Airport Transfer: The car park [on-site] (Car park [on-site]) was straightforward.
The Verdict:
The Sheraton Hartford Airport is a solid choice. It’s not going to blow your mind with luxury, but it ticks most of the boxes for a comfortable and convenient stay. It's a fine hotel for a weary traveler. I'd stay again, but with slightly lower expectations next time.
Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.
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Escape to Paradise: Aonang's Lakeside Bungalow Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your Instagram-perfect itinerary. This is a real traveler's journey, warts and all, set at the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport, Windsor Locks, CT. Consider this your "Unfiltered Connecticut Adventure":
Day 1: Arrival & Imposter Syndrome at Bradley (and a Really Bad Burger)
1:00 PM: Touchdown at Bradley International Airport (BDL). Ugh. Airports. They all smell the same - a weird mix of stale pretzels, disinfectant, and the faint whiff of desperation. My immediate thought? "Do I REALLY look like I belong here? I feel like I wandered in from a different planet wearing the wrong shoes."
1:45 PM: Shuttle to the Sheraton. It's one of those generic, comfy, but ultimately forgettable hotel shuttles. The driver was… well, he wasn't unfriendly, just incredibly quiet. I kept half-expecting him to turn around and say, "This is your life now."
2:00 PM: Check-in. The lobby is… fine. Beige. Lots of beige. The front desk person was nice, though! I'm always relieved when the people checking me in seem relatively happy. I got my room key and headed up, praying there weren't any creepy clowns lurking.
3:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance. Okay, not bad. Standard hotel room. Cleanish. I immediately check for bed bugs (yes, I'm paranoid). Crisis averted. Then I promptly spill coffee on the pristine white duvet cover. Dammit.
4:00 PM: Hunger pangs. I decide to eat something at the hotel restaurant. Big mistake. I order a burger. It arrives looking forlorn and tastes like sadness. The bun was stale. The patty was dry. The cheese was… well, let’s just say it didn’t seem to care if it was cheese. I sent it back. Twice! In a bizarre twist of fate I ended up talking with the server who, after finding out I was not enjoying my food, took extra care. She was a sweetheart! It's the little graces that make the difference.
6:00 PM: Staring out the window. Watching planes take off. Feeling vaguely existential. This is the beauty of travel, sometimes, just the plain and simple contemplation of things.
7:00 PM: Decide to walk around the hotel. There is a small pool that I briefly consider plunging into until another guest looks at me oddly. Perhaps another time…
8:00 PM: Back to the room. I'm fighting with the TV remote, and losing. Decide to just give up. This is a good time to read my book.
9:00 PM: Early to bed. Airplane mode on. Praying for a decent night's sleep and hopeful the next day won't be a burger-induced disaster.
Day 2: Connecticut Charm (Maybe?) & The Quest for Decent Bagels
7:00 AM: Wake up feeling… okay. Coffee from the in-room machine. It’s surprisingly decent! Blessings on the little things, right?
8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. I’m wary after the burger debacle, but decide to give it a shot. Surprisingly, the breakfast buffet is quite good!
9:00 AM: Off to explore Windsor Locks. (I'm renting a car, because public transport feels daunting). My navigation is a nightmare. I get lost, twice. My first impression is that Connecticut… is very green and… very residential. No real "character," just a vast expanse of houses, and people's lawns, all the same.
10:00 AM: I find a coffee shop. It's quaint. Cute. But the coffee… I've had better gas station coffee. I'm starting to think Connecticut's coffee game is… a work in progress.
11:00 AM: The quest for a decent bagel begins. I visit two bagel shops based on Yelp reviews. One is closed. The other is basically just… bread rings. The search continues. I am now emotionally invested in finding a proper bagel. This will be a running theme for the day.
12:00 PM: Lunch. I find a diner. It feels like a movie set. The waitress calls me "hon." The grilled cheese is epic. Score one for Connecticut!
1:00 PM: I drive down the road and visit the Connecticut Air & Space Center. It's not amazing, but it's a nice way to kill a couple of hours. I find it quite interesting.
3:00 PM: THE BAGEL! Finally! A tiny bagel shop in a strip mall. The everything bagel is… divine. It's everything I've ever wanted in a bagel. I buy three.
4:00 PM: Back to Sheraton. Nap time. I’m exhausted from the bagel quest and the sheer effort of being in a different place.
6:00 PM: I'm feeling good about my adventure. I'm ready to go out to dinner.
7:00 PM: I find a pub in Windsor Locks. I settle in with a good book and a local IPA. The food here is good. I'm starting to like Connecticut.
9:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I'm full, happy.
Day 3: Departure & the Crumbling of My Connecticut Dream
7:00 AM: Another coffee. Today is departure day!
8:00 AM: I venture down for breakfast one last time.
9:00 AM: Check out is smooth. I head to the airport and return the rental car.
10:00 AM: Security. It's the same song and dance.
11:00 AM: Waiting. Delayed flight. I am incredibly annoyed.
12:00 PM: The flight is coming up, and I'm ready to leave.
1:00 PM: Goodbye, Connecticut. I probably won't ever be back! (Just kidding!)
This, my friends, is a whirlwind of a trip. It wasn't perfect, it got messy, and I didn’t always love it. But that is what made it real. That's life, and that’s travel. And hey, at least I got that bagel. Everything is worth it, just for that!
Escape to Paradise: Hotel Gajeta, Gaeta, Italy - Your Dream Getaway Awaits!
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