The Lathis Hotel, Brattleboro, VT
Under normal circumstances, were I to lose sleep because of where I was staying, I would rate the hotel a big, fat zero.
This past weekend, my daughter and I were in New England for her graduate school commencement and decided to stay at the art deco Lathis Hotel in Brattleboro, VT. This old, yet quaint hotel had been recommended by close friends whose judgment we valued. Once we got there, we checked in and left for dinner where we met three other people who were staying there and loved it. In fact the one couple comes back yearly on Kentucky Derby day and always stays at the Lathis.
Because I had booked the room last minute, I was under the impression that we had received the last room available with two beds. I was appreciative that we had found a place to stay.
Around midnight we turned off the television and were surprised at the noise level in the room. My daughter went next door and found that we were located right next to the hotel’s condenser or whatever it is that ventilates, heats, and cools the entire hotel.
I believe I could have adjusted to the noise, but within an hour I began to feel “car sick.” My bed was right next to the wall, and it actually vibrated! (Friends laughingly tell me I should have been charged more for a vibrating bed.)
I sat in the chair for a while but was totally uncomfortable, so I decided to move someplace where I could possibly fall asleep, away from the noise, away from the vibration. The only place I could think of was the bathtub! I took the cushions, pillows and blankets and nestled down in my cold cocoon from 1 a.m. top 6:15 a.m. Sleep was rather elusive, and my fear was being too stiff to get out of the tub.
Long story short: in the morning I went to the desk, explained my plight, and requested I pay for only half of the bill. The night manager was so nice and so sympathetic, telling me she would have moved me in the middle of the night had I called, but of course I didn’t know that. The morning manager arrived, listened to my story and to my request, and so very kindly said, “I’ll give you a full refund.”
As long as you don’t stay in room 106, I would still highly recommend this hotel for its quaintness but most of all for the kind, courteous service we received!
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