A Good Neighbor Indeed!
During the week of the freak October snowstorm and massive power outages in CT, many people were scrambling to find hotel rooms, myself included. I tried calling the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT which was less than a half mile from my house, but phone service all over the area was sketchy.
On the second day after the power went out, I walked to the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT to see if there would possibly be a room. I learned that their phone service was out, but they did have a waiting list for the hotel which was booked solid. I was #56 on the list, so I didn't have much of a chance, especially since we all knew it was going to be a long haul and people wouldn't vacate after a day or two.
As I was leaving, though, I decided to ask if I could charge my cell phone, and was told that I could not only charge my cell phone but I could use the WIFI in the breakfast room/lounge anytime I wanted. Over the next week, the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT became my home away from home.
For several days, I just hung out in the breakfast room/lounge. I was able to stay warm, stay in touch, and observe and talk with people in the same situation. I was also able to overhear conversations at the front desk. Over and over, people stopped in to see if there were any rooms available because phone service was out for several days. Without fail, the people at the front desk were courteous, even though they were asked the same questions ad nauseum. They offered phone numbers for surrounding hotels, acted as a clearinghouse for any available openings, gave directions, and were cheerful, in the face of dismal circumstances. At one point, I overheard one of the employees at the front desk say that they had turned away 3,000 people in one day (rooms could still be booked over the internet).
On the 4th day of the power outage, I received a call from the front desk saying that they had a room available for one night if I was interested. Of course, I leaped at the chance and checked in immediately. The opportunity to return to civilization for even a night was extremely gratifying. The staff was exceptional! At one point, we had to ask if we could keep my granddaughter's bottle in a refrigerator and they brought up a portable refrigerator to our room. Although every employee was working hard (and were probably overworked at this point), everyone without exception was very friendly, cheerful, and helpful.
We got our electricity on after eight days of being without it; it was a long haul but the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT was the one bright spot in our ordeal. I would recommend Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT without hesitation if you ever need lodging in the greater Hartford area.
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