missjanna

I'm booking a surprise trip for my BF for our anniversary (yes he's still just my BF LOL) to Mohegan Sun. Right now I'm showing the Best Western Cristata Inn and the Microtel Uncasville available.

Considering they're both suites, and it's only a $25 difference between the two, which is better? I know Best Western has complimentary limo service to the casino, but it's the more expensive one. Both were rated well on tripadvisor.com. Help!!!

AHaugeto

Hi missjanna - The Microtel is a bit newer, and if you've never stayed in one before then the reason why they're cheaper is that, in general, the rooms are a bit smaller and so are the furnishings (TV, especially). I know both hotels do heavy business, so they must be doing something right. Disclaimer: I've not stayed in either, but my folks have stayed at the Microtel. If it was me, I think I'd just stay at the cheaper location and use the extra $$ to have a drink or two at Leffingwells' or upgrade dinner a bit. If you haven't had them before, the sweet potato fries at the MJ Sportscafe are to live for, and the Irish pub just got good food reviews in the local paper... Have a great trip!

rb_travelerxATyahoo

I stayed recently in Sturbridge MA at a Quality Inn that had been recenly converted from Microtel. While I realize that some of the amenities has been upgraded, I seriously doubt much if anything had been done with beds & room furnishings and fixtures.

I was quite pleased. I like how they make a "window-seat" from how each window protrudes from the rooms, and a small child could actually use it as a bed. There were 2 drawers under the window seat, and an "armoire", with the TV on TOP of it, mounted at an angle making it easy to lie in bed & watch without propping pillows underneath. There was only 1 chair in the room at the desk. There are no drawers in the desk nor the nightstands, which I like as who uses drawers much for a short stay (especially guys) and if you put anything into those "shelves" you can easily see if you've left anything behind when you check out.

Another thing I liked was that all lighting fixtures were "built in" and had more than adequate wattage (that might not be true if it hadn't been a Q.I.). I HATE checking into a hotel at night, flicking on the switch, and nothing heppens because the switch controls an outlet, but the lamp plugged into that outlet has been turned off. The lightswitch at the entrance should always control a permenantly wired fixture.

I will probably give a "real" Microtel a try sometime as a result of that stay, and hope you'll report on it, should you select the Microtel.

hockeymom

I stayed at the Microtel about 1 1/2 years ago and it was fine. I know they had transporation weekend nights to the casino - I don't know about during the week. The rooms may be a little smaller, but that's not what you're there for. They're certainly adequate. I found the people very nice and they had a nice continental breakfast - also I think coffee, etc., 24 hours. When I went it was about $65 a night with AAA. The price was great.
Good luck!!

missjanna

We ended up at the Best Western. We utilized the complimentary limo service, and it was great. The room was actually pretty big, very nicely decorated, although the "kitchen area" was nothing more than a sink with a microwave above it and a cabinet on top. However, the proixmity to Mohegan Sun cannot be beat, we were there in under 5 minutes from the hotel!!

We checked out one of the rooms at the Microtel, and although it was nice and clean, it was a LOT smaller than ours at the Best Western, so I believe we made the right choice. However, I will not rule out Microtels in the future.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Thank you for the update, missjanna, and thanks for your comments too, hockeymom. (ps: I was a hookey player too <g>