Rodeway Inn & Suites Branford - Guilford — Hotel in Branford

This stay was nothing to write home about. The room was clean and outdated, but it was a decent room, the bed was comfortable. I got a great price and we couldn’t beat the location – easy access on/off I-95.

Based on the "Excellent" and "4.2 star" ratings this hotel received plus the fact the room fell within the price point I needed, I made our reservation. Live and learn! Had I delved deeper, had I read the most recent reviews rather than relying on the ratings alone, I would not have booked with this venue. I understand every place has an off day, maybe that’s what I ran into here, but there is no way you could pay me to come back. Not intending any disrespect, as the front desk attendant/owner was very pleasant, affable and gracious.

Upon check in, my reservation was not found and to accommodate for the confusion, we were put in the best room. If this was the best room, I do not wish to see the others. Maybe my expectations were too high. We were, after all, coming back from a week’s vacation at an ideal resort in Tennessee. Or perhaps my expectations had been set higher based on our stay at a Quality Inn in Troutville, VA – that had a similar rating and price point as this hotel – en route from Maine to Tennessee that was unexpectedly and extremely enjoyable. I just do not know.

I do know that advertised free continental breakfast was sub-par; my husband’s description of this breakfast offering was more colorful. There was a display of plain bagels and what appeared to be store-bough pastries and muffins. There was a carafe of coffee, however, no milk or half and half, just powdered Coffee Mate. I recalled seeing some of small half and half creamers in the fridge in our room, so after my husband grabbed a muffin and – at insistence of the manager – a Styrofoam cup of orange juice, we headed back there. I opened one of the tubs of the half and half and, rather than the anticipated pour into my coffee, I got a clotted and clumped “PLOP” of expired product. Thoroughly disgusted, I tossed the remaining creamers in the trash so no one else would be blessed with that experience. Additionally, the orange juice was fermented and the...

The first thing you should know is to not expect this to be a five-star hotel. This is a very clean, updated "old-school" drive up motel. There are two floors but no elevator, and all rooms open to the outdoors, not an inside corridoor. As long as you are okay with that, the entire rest of your stay will be a pleasant surprise.

Our room (220) was spotlessly clean and surprisingly up to date. The size of the room was surprisingly large - we stayed in one of their 2-queen-beds rooms, and not only was there plenty of space to walk around the two beds, the room also held a table with two chairs as well as a closet (which contained an extra blanket).

The bathroom has obviously been remodeled as it had granite counter tops and modern tile flooring, as well as a spacious shower with a curved shower curtain rod. Very CLEAN bathroom.

Along the lines of the clean bathroom, I REALLY appreciate that hotels are switching over to now using shower curtains and bedding that can ALL be washed between guests. The idea of covering up in comforters and blankets that have been used by all the past guests has never been appealing, and having fresh, recently laundered bedding (and shower curtain) really adds to the relaxing nature of the room.

There are features that are dated looking, just not as modern as high end hotels, but for the price that we paid, I am VERY satisfied. We would definitely...

I generally do not stay at Rodeway or EconoLodge because I do not like motels, and because they are generally not as nice as the Inns or Suites part of the chain. However, this place had a high overall rating, and I needed an overnight stay quick. They were able to accommodate my daughter and me. Overall the room was acceptable; it was just a bit better than expected from a Rodeway - not much more as hinted by the high overall rating. It was clean, it smelled good, it felt fresh and airy from the open windows when we arrived. Out the back window I could see the remnants of the wisteria that must've flowered over the summer, and I was sad to have missed it. My complaints are 1.the windows did not lock - there were only blocks of wood to keep them shut, 2. the freezer in the fridge did not have a door, so the ice packs I had to keep my cold food cold did not freeze overnight (which means my perishables spoiled before I got home), and 3. there's no sound-blocking - I could hear other people leaving the next morning very clearly, which was annoying. The yeast doughnuts the next morning were delicious, and anyone who expects an elegant spread from a Rodeway Inn for a continental breakfast is fooling themselves. Bagels and doughnuts are what is always offered - I knew that when I booked. So again, it was good overall except for...