Sonesta ES Suites Andover Boston

We chose a ground-floor one-bedroom king suite so we could be near family visiting from the Midwest, even though we usually avoid ground-floor rooms. It was clean and fairly quiet. The HVAC was the one problem: it was loud, and it blew cold air right at our faces while we were trying to sleep.

The staff really stood out. Since the elevators were being serviced, the woman at the front desk helped carry our bags to the room. The man at the desk later gave me two glasses of milk so my wife and I could have them with our chocolate chip cookies. He didn't have to do that, and we appreciated it. Our room had a full kitchenette with plates, cups, silverware, pots and pans, plus a laundry basket. The breakfast was phenomenal. The grounds and property were extremely clean, and the rooms were clean too. I travel for work every week, and the beds were better than I expect at a budget hotel. Do yourself a favor and stay here.

The alarm woke our one-year-old from a deep sleep and threw off the rest of his night. It was a long night for all of us, and management's lack of empathy or accountability made the experience even more disappointing. At checkout, the manager said they don't compensate for “fire safety incidents.” After some back and forth, she reluctantly offered a $50 discount, while repeating that she “really shouldn’t” because it was fire protocol. There was no fire, smoke, or cooking, just shower steam. We were traveling to Vermont and stayed on the night of 10/8-10/9 with our one-year-old. This was our second stay at the Sonesta ES Suites in Andover. The property had recently been renovated and was clean, with very comfortable beds. We put the baby down around 9 PM, and everything was fine until my husband showered at about 11. Less than ten minutes later, our room's fire alarm went off. It was extremely loud and upsetting. We went downstairs and learned the alarm had been triggered by shower steam because the sensors were “very sensitive.” I've stayed in countless hotels and never had this happen. If the alarms are that sensitive, guests should be warned in the room or at check-in. It's a serious disruption for families with young children, not just an inconvenience. A nice room doesn't make up for service that falls short. Sonesta, do better.

For the price, it was a good deal. I had the studio, the smallest room, with a couch at the foot of the bed and a big LG TV. The bathroom was right beside the bed, and there was a small kitchen. Free breakfast, too.