Hilltop Inn - Niantic, USA 

Friends and I attended the Steamed Jazz Festival in Essex during the summer of 2007. I had a room upstairs and my friends were placed in a downstairs room. Both rooms were clean, odor-free and average in appearance. The bedding was fine and the beds were comfortable. The breakfast was actually above average. We stayed two nights and I noted the hot breakfast items changed from day to day. All I can say about the poor reviews regarding this hotel (and many others) which promote "Sleep Inn or another Days Inn or we moved on to the Clarion" seem to have been authored by the hotel mentioned by the so-called 'guest'. I wouldn't discount any hotel if there were at least a few decent reviews, of which this is one regarding the Hilltop Inn. I will attend this year's festival as well and we are staying at the Hilltop once again.

My wife and I stayed here over the Memorial day holiday. I must admit that the staff is what made us stay put and not try and find another hotel on a major holiday weekend. I'm not going to slam this hotel by stating all of our concerns and upsets, but I will say that they really need to take care of the moldly and musty smell that you encounter upon walking into a room. It done near bowled us over - beside the fact that our room had to be 90 degrees when we walked in. I mentioned these things and others to the front desk staff and they were remarkably kind. They moved us to another room, (which for the record was no better than the first) and we stayed....we figured most of our trip was goign to be spent with family & friends so our room time would not have amounted to more than sleeping.....I must admit that the staff at Hilltop was outstanding. They will do anything for you, and repeatedly apologized for the musty odor. Granted, if this hotel were near the water that odor could be explained but because the beach is about 4 miles away explaining the odor became more difficult. I say for the money this is an "average" hotel - don't expect much and you won't be disappointed. Once again, the staff is lovely and we would go back just for them.