MainStay Suites Hartford Meriden

I kept seeing reviews mention Nicole and how great she was, which seemed a little odd. I never met her, but every person I did meet was hospitable and left a good impression. The room was clean, the linens fresh, and the ice maker worked well. There’s plenty of shopping, restaurants, and gas stations nearby. For the price, it was a very nice hotel, and my 7-day stay was stress-free.

I’ve been here over 6 months, long story, and the team has been great. The manager and assistant manager are amazing, and when guests need something, the staff take care of it. The room is clean and doesn’t smell bad. If a guest causes an odor, just tell the front desk and they’ll handle it. My bed is comfortable, despite what some people say. I like having a kitchen, and the bathroom has lots of room, counter space, and storage under the sink. The parking lot is huge. Believe my review over those from people who stayed a week or less. I’ve been here more than 6 months, and this place deserves 5 stars. I’d stay here again, especially for the kitchen and employees who really care about guests.

The kitchenette worked, with a half stove, dishwasher, sink, and microwave. The sheets and towels were nice, the elevators worked, and the desk attendant was friendly and clearly trying his best. It’s a small, nice hotel, though you can tell it recently changed hands from the signs and decor. I booked a queen bed and stayed five nights. The non-smoking building still smelled strongly of cigarettes everywhere except the lobby. Wi-Fi was too weak for Zoom or streaming, and things mounted to the walls, like towel bars and shower curtains, looked ready to fall out again. It was the cheapest place around, so fine for a night or two, but the problems wore on me after that. We got what we paid for.

The room layout was great, spacious, and comfortable, with a separate kitchen area, a table, an opening window for fresh air, and a refrigerator, microwave, and small stovetop with pots and pans. Everything worked pretty well, except the refrigerator in my first room buzzed loudly. The staff quickly helped me switch to one that was quieter. Renovations were scheduled, and hopefully they’d replace the noisy refrigerators. The hotel was clean throughout, and the staff were friendly and professional on the phone and in person. Both the morning and evening desk clerks were polite and accommodating. The room would easily suit a weeklong stay without feeling cramped, but I only stayed one night because the bed was much too hard for me. They said new beds were coming with the renovation, but I don’t know whether that would take one, two, or three years. I guess I’m like Goldilocks, so I won’t be back. A heads-up for the driveway: there’s a huge pothole in the middle, whichever way you enter or leave, so go slowly. Meriden has a lot of lowlifes, but I didn’t see any at this hotel. It’s non-smoking, and nobody was standing right outside the entrance smoking. I went during the week after New Year’s, and it wasn’t crowded. The pool and fitness room were closed because of covid. They offered a grab-and-go breakfast, supposedly a granola bar and bottle of water. I didn’t take it, and wouldn’t stay here for breakfast. McDonald’s is just up the street, with other cheap breakfast options nearby.