The Spa at Norwich Inn

The manager acknowledged our problems at checkout and offered to take $100 off the bill for the inconveniences. My husband thanked her and left, but that felt like the wrong gesture. We had spent far too much of a four-hour period dealing with issues that shouldn’t have been ours to manage. I left feeling I could have stayed at any motel along the 95 corridor for much less and with far less hassle. We’d hoped to come away with a good story, but were ironically invited back to hopefully have a better stay at our own expense. We were in Villa 324 for a wedding nearby, choosing this place instead of the Marriott in Mystic. The room looked clean at first, but there were stains on the kitchen floor. The toilet and bath seemed clean, though the rings in the porcelain might have been set in from infrequent use. We asked for someone to come while we went to lunch, but couldn’t tell whether they did; there was no note, and nothing looked better. The outside doorknob was literally hanging off the door. Staff should have reported that, and I worried we might not be able to get back in late after the wedding. We called, and maintenance fixed it. The room temperature was almost 80 degrees and wouldn’t change. It was hard to get dressed and do hair and makeup, so we called again about the AC. By then we were almost an hour late to the wedding. My husband runs a cleaning business in Fairfield County, and I have an Aesthetic practice, so we know the difference between real problems and nitpicks.

Kensington was a highlight, with incredible food and spectacular service. I also had a great day at the spa. The robes and slip-ons, quiet rooms, and attentive care from the providers all made it feel special. I loved my CBD pedicure with Amy, facial with Wendy, and massage. A few younger “ladies” were very loud while drinking alcohol in the jacuzzi, which I didn’t enjoy. The juice bar was overpriced and tasted terrible. I had the parfait and the Beach Day. I also bought some products at the store, including masks and an orange/clove hydrating moisturizer, and look forward to using them.

We stayed one night so my girlfriend and I could use the spa. The room was clean and nice, though pretty small, and the staff were friendly and helpful. I was hoping to try a yoga or exercise class, but there weren't any on Monday or Tuesday. The spa itself was smaller than I expected. The steam room was out of order on the first day and working again the next. The pool and hot tub were crowded, and everything, including the pool, closed at 7. We took the shuttle to Foxwoods, but it stopped running at 11, so we had to be back in time. The inn had a strange, musty smell. Maybe it came from the restaurant, though later I noticed fragrance being sprayed in the hallways as I headed upstairs.

The property is tucked among trees and feels peaceful, and the sauna was a comfortable temperature. I liked having complimentary tea, spa water and vegan bark, and Melanie in the locker room was kind and helpful. My massage with Jordan was excellent too. He was professional, very accommodating, and gave a great massage. I drove two hours to visit the Spa at Norwich Inn for my birthday, so I came with high expectations. Some details made the visit feel disappointing for the price. The massage began about 10 minutes late but still finished on time, making the 80-minute service feel even shorter. I could barely notice the CBD oil or aromatherapy, which felt like a missed opportunity here. The biggest letdown was the atmosphere. The quiet area wasn't kept quiet consistently. A group of adults came in wearing street clothes, eating their own snacks and talking, and it disrupted the calm. The staff member at the juice bar was also loud while closing things down early. Toward the end of the day, staff seemed keen to close, snacks and drinks were put away early, and checkout felt abrupt and unfriendly. The whole visit seemed rushed. The facilities were clean, but dated. The gym and yoga studio felt old, and the spa didn't feel especially luxurious or modern. The locker room products also seemed underwhelming for the price. I noticed a large clump of hair in the shower drain, another detail that shouldn't be missed in a spa. There were some genuinely good parts, but the experience didn't come together or feel worth the time and cost.