The Covered Bridge Inn

For the price, this is worth a try as a base for a southern VT getaway. The setting is quaint, under five minutes from downtown Brattleboro and about an hour or less from some great hiking. The inn has no elevator, so request a first-floor room if stairs are an issue. Breakfast runs 7AM - 10AM, with basic options like bagels, cereal, items from the fridge, coffee, and tea. Our king bed was comfortable, and the room covered the basics: clean bathroom, two nightstands, dresser, long table, desk chair, simple coffee maker, small fridge, and microwave. Turning the microwave dial to 4 minutes worked best for heating food. The carpet looked like it needed replacing in a few spots, though it wasn't damp. The walls are thin, so we heard people next door and above us. We had trouble getting the TV to connect at first, but the front desk fixed it within minutes. Hopefully your stay is better than some of the other guests' experiences. Good luck!

The only reason I stayed at the Covered Bridge Inn was that I'd prepaid and it was the only vacancy nearby. Otherwise, I would have gone elsewhere. I paid over $200 a night for a very poor stay, and wouldn't recommend it. The room had a strong wet-dog odor. Running the AC or heater made it worse, like an old wet kitchen rag coming from the vents. The carpet between the beds was damp, and the room felt uncomfortable and unclean. The toilet lid wouldn't stay up unless I held it with my leg, and the tub only drained properly if I held the stopper down with a hand or foot while showering. The walls were dirty, with writing that said, “Mel, I love U,” which looked tacky and made the place seem neglected. Though the room was marked non-smoking, it clearly had been smoked in. I saw another guest go into her room with a cigarette in her mouth. Pets are allowed too, which may be part of the lingering smells. Save yourself the trouble and stay somewhere else.

Breakfast was limited, but fine for eating on the run. Getting checked in was a hassle: I rang the doorbell and waited about 15 minutes for someone to come. The side entrance wouldn't lock and faced a questionable lot. The hallway smelled musty and of cigarettes despite being non-smoking, and our room had a strange smell too. It was clean, but the tub finish was peeling and the toilet tank lid badly chipped. Furniture was worn, with some broken pieces, and there were only enough towels for two even though the room sleeps "four." The room was dark with few lights and no clock. The TV wasn't hooked up. There weren't many outlets either, so charging a phone meant bringing an extender or unplugging the lamp, which I wouldn't want to do in such a dim room. I won't stay here again.

I stayed seven nights and never felt safe. The hotel sits by a fairly busy highway, with fast food places and supermarkets nearby, but there were many people asking for money and cigarettes on the street, including at the parking lot entrance, and many unhoused people outside. Inside, the lobby had a foul smell, and the corridor smelled of spoiled food mixed with strong cigarette smoke. People smoked around the building constantly, and I even saw smoking indoors despite the signs. My next-door neighbor smoked marijuana at night; I reported it to reception and nothing happened. A fire alarm went off and there was a strong smoke smell in the building, but nobody from the hotel came to check. My room was dark and smelly, and the bathroom smelled disgusting. I tried to get a refund for the remaining nights and couldn't. I would never stay here again. I believe it serves as a shelter for homeless people with no minimum hygiene standards.