Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center

This is a great place for an event: a car club cruise, retro flea market, reunion, you name it. It has a great location and good bones, though it could use some love and was a little musty. Remember, it's a real vintage complex, not a newly built modular hotel. Some people's allergies may get triggered in winter when the envelope is closed up, while a summer cruise has more airflow.

The staff were nice, and it was easy to get to. There's also a CVS and McDonald's at the end of the parking lot, which is handy if that's useful to you. But I came for a work function and would never stay here again. On paper it seemed to have everything I wanted, but the place needs help. My king mini-suite was huge, with two TVs, a couch, and a desk all in one open space. Still, there were no outlets by the bed or desk. One side of the bed had a lamp and clock plugged in, the other had a lamp, and the desk outlets were taken by the TV and coffee maker. The only free outlet was at the far end of the room. The exterior glass pane was cracked and had pieces missing. The hotel is very old, and although there are signs of renovation, it looks like they've been working on it since 1980. The layout is bizarre: wings and halls don't connect, and the room numbers make no sense. Room 531 is on the third floor. The central courtyard on the first floor is strange, with gazebos, banquet tables, seating areas, and patios overlooking it. The pool is there, too, but the courtyard was always dark except for daylight coming through the ceiling. The fitness center was sad, with no weights and only four cardio machines. The arcade had four or five games that looked like something from the 80s or 90s, when that was cool. There's no working restaurant on site, though they have space for one and perhaps outside catering. It's a conference center with a ballroom and event space. Honestly, I should have stayed at the Hampton Inn down the road. That would've been much better.

I came for a great antique show and booked the weekend, then regretted it right away. The place has potential, as the photos show, but it was a complete dump. There was no heat in the rooms, there was mold and mildew, and the ceiling leaked. Common areas were falling apart, and the hallways smelled awful. Sleeping in my car would've been better. At checkout I asked why the place was a dump. They said the new owner was taking his time with repairs. When I asked when he bought it, they said five years ago. A cheap local motel with zero stars would be an upgrade.

The reception staff were helpful, and they agreed to a noon late checkout when I asked. My kids liked the large indoor pool, and the water was quite warm. The place is run down, though. The rooms are aging, with old mattresses and electrical outlets coming away from the walls. The walls are thin, so there was a lot of noise overnight. The pool atrium needs more attention and lighting, and the cushioned seats by the pool badly need updating. In the evening people hung out at the bar in the atrium, almost in the dark because there were so few lights.