Sonesta Select Newport Middletown Hotel

The room was a fair size for the $246 we paid for two nights, and there’s plenty of free parking. It’s also close to Newport, with plenty of diners and restaurants just a one-to-three-minute drive away. Our double-queen room was clean and had enough space for our family of three, and the front desk staff were kind and helpful. The pool was smaller than at similar hotels we’ve visited, the water was cold, and the jacuzzi was broken. My child and other guests swam once, then didn’t want to go back because they were shivering in their towels afterward. There was no warm breakfast provided, just a small cafe where you can buy muffins, bagels, and similar items to heat up yourself. We won’t return because of the cold pool and lack of a complimentary hot breakfast.

I was disgusted to see the housekeeper rinse the toilet brush in the sink after using it on the toilet. I brush my teeth and wash my face there, so the thought of that dirty brush in the sink is revolting. Manager, please make sure employees know not to do this. Anyone would be bothered unless they didn’t care about cleanliness.

The hotel looked great at first, but our check-in was nearly 3 a.m. and took about 45 minutes. The woman checking us in seemed intoxicated or highly inebriated. We’d booked through Booking.com and paid for a deluxe king with a balcony, but the room we got wasn’t the one we paid for. It was meant to be a one-night stay. I was initially pleased with how Sydney, the manager, handled things when I spoke with her before checkout. She said I’d get a $30 refund for the inconvenience, and I left it at that. Later I saw a $407 charge on my card, even though I had already paid through Booking.com, and no refund had come through. I’ve had to spend time disputing it. Calling the hotel from home hasn’t helped, as they hang up while I’m waiting for someone to get the manager. The pool and hot tub were noisy, and we didn’t even have towels in our room. Not worth the headache.

Sherry at the front desk was lovely. My boyfriend and I stayed here for the first time, and she was kind at check-in and greeted us whenever we came or went. When something unfortunate happened with our room, she was understanding and accommodating. She really made our stay. Thanks, Sherry!