our stay at the inn at harbor hill marina in niantic, ct

Niantic is easily one of my favorite towns in all of Connecticut, and it has been for almost my entire life. My uncle owned a beach house on a private beach in Niantic until I was 17 years old so many of my summers were spent running on the jetty, "rock climbing", and going into town for fried clams, chicken fingers, and the best ice cream in the entire world. The downtown is quaint and cute, exactly how a beach town should be, so I was super excited when I booked my boyfriend Dorian's by-the-water birthday surprise stay at The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina. While I had never really heard of the inn prior (probably because it is tucked away on a street RIGHT behind the main street) the pictures really drew me in and I had high hopes about this place from the start. Luckily, my gut opinion was right on so if you're looking for the perfect waterfront stay in Niantic, make sure to read on about my experience so you know what to expect when it comes to the check in process, rooms, pricing, and what to do near the inn.

HOW TO GET TO THE INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA

The main street in Niantic, CT stretches about 1.5 miles long, complete with local shops, restaurants, bakeries, book shops, and hotels. Right off of Main Street, just past the iconic Dad's Restaurant and before Marker 7 Marina, is a little curve that looks like a side street. If you take that, you'll go around the bend and find The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, as well as the Port Niantic Marina. The inn has its own free parking lot right on the premises, so you can park there and then walk into the largest building on the right of the parking lot, closest to the marina/water. That's where you check in!

OUR INITIAL REACTIONS TO THE PROPERTY

Despite the fact that I've spent so much time in Niantic, I was shocked when we pulled into the property's parking lot because I couldn't believe there was such a nice accommodation so close by that I didn't even know about! The property had multiple little houses spread out as "suites", and as we walked up to the main house to check in we saw chairs lining a covered porch, multiple tables with umbrellas out on the lawn overlooking the water, and, of course, the marina. It was adorable and before even going inside I think both Dorian and I knew this was going to be such a cute, fun stay.

THE CHECK-IN PROCESS & STAFF

We checked in to The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina late at night, around 7:00 pm because we had both had work that day. Normally, check in starts at 3:00 pm the day of your reservation but the offices are staffed until 8:00 pm each night. If you are going to check in later, I would just advise letting them know in advance like we did so that they know when to expect you. When you do walk inside the main building to check in you'll notice a little living room with chairs and a staircase that leads up to all the rooms. We were greeted by the General Manager Julia who was super friendly and showed us to our room. She also gave a little tour of the downstairs of the main house and told us about the complimentary breakfast in the morning.

OUR ROOM RATING & PRICING

I had chosen the New London Harbor room, which was described on the website as "a room with a view" on the second floor of the main house. While it did not have a private deck, it did have wraparound views of the marina, the Niantic River, and the property's gazebo and garden area. The room itself had a spacious queen bed, additional little seating area facing the windows, and a bathroom with a glass shower. There was a flat screen TV in the corner facing the bed, but we didn't use it. We were more focused on enjoying the property and the Niantic area, especially because we were only staying for one night. We did go in early November so the room was about $250 after fees/taxes, but to book the same room in peak season during the summer months is more expensive with a two to three night minimum depending on which exact room you choose. To find exact room rates based on your dates, click here to visit the official Inn at Harbor Hill Marina website.

THINGS TO DO NEAR THE INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA IN NIANTIC

The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina has the PERFECT location if you're looking to explore downtown Niantic, hit the beach, or go fishing. Some of my favorite things to do in this area include:

Whether you're looking for a quick bite to eat after the perfect beach day or a nice dinner with a water view, Niantic has it all. Below are some of the best dining options near The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina:

WHAT MAKES THE INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA SPECIAL?

One of the most stand out qualities about The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina is the location. The Inn is on a beautiful piece of land overlooking a gorgeous marina and the Niantic River, but it's also super close to downtown and multiple different beaches. Each room has a different design and flair to it, and the complimentary wine/cheese hour each evening along with the complimentary pontoon river cruise is definitely something that not many accommodations in the area do. If you're a guest, I would HIGHLY recommend taking advantage of both of these great opportunities. Add in the complimentary homemade breakfast with a view and you've got the PERFECT stay, no matter what time of year you come to visit.

so... IS THE INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA WORTH IT?

Yes, I would most definitely say that The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic is worth the stay. The location is exceptional, especially if you love the beach and to stroll the main streets of quaint little beach towns. There are activities nearby for every member of your group to enjoy, and the property itself is just a beautiful place to stay and spend each evening by the water. I love that they offer multiple complimentary things for guests to do (breakfast, daily wine + cheese mixer, evening pontoon cruises) and that you can upgrade for additional amenities from a variety of well-thought out packages.

OVERALL RATINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

After discussing with Dorian following our November stay at The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, here are our ratings for each of the main categories:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BOOK MY STAY AT THE INN AT HARBOR HILL MARINA?

The best time of year to stay at The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina is definitely between June and mid-September. There are so many beaches nearby and water activities so warmer weather is ideal. In addition, their outdoor seating by the water and their complimentary evening pontoon cruise each night is best enjoyed during the summer months. If you do stay outside of peak season though prices are lower and the location, property, and rooms are still exceptional.

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If you’re looking for a peaceful waterfront escape with charm, character, and personalized touches, The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic is an incredible choice. From the views to the breakfast to the friendly service, our stay left us feeling relaxed and refreshed. If you’re planning a trip to Connecticut, I hope this review helped you decide if this inn is right for you. Scroll down to check out more of my Connecticut travel blogs, or hit subscribe to stay in the loop! I’ve traveled to 17+ countries and love sharing hidden gems both abroad and right here on the East Coast—so there’s always something new to discover.