Hilltop Inn Niantic, Niantic

Since all Best Western's are independently owned they set their own policies that vary from one location to the next. The typical policy for most non resort locations (December in Connecticut) is cancellation by 6PM on day of arrival. When I arrived at the location 0n 12-11-06 it was about 5:00PM. At this time of year on the east coast it's already pitch black. The lights were burned out in the parking lot by the entrance. The only car in the lot appeared to be abandoned and had flat tires. I decided that I didn't want any part of this property and left to find another hotel. I found a room at the Hampton Inn a short distance away in Groton where I got a room. I then called the Best Western Hilltop to cancel my reservation. They refused to cancel and insisted I pay the one night no show. They said to call custopmer service which I did. Customer service represents the overall chain. They took down the information and made an enquiry. The next day I heard back from them. I talked to the supervisor who said all they could do was offer a $30 credit towards the $57 I had been charged on my card. I told them to keep it and I'll just file a dispute with the credit card company. Hotels have cancellation policies so that they can resell a room. The property in question has 90 rooms. With no cars in the lot at 5:00 it's not likely they would experience a situation where they have more demand for rooms then they have rooms available. You would think that in the interest of creating a loyal clientelle they would consider waving their policy so as not to receive a negative reveiw such as this. Instead. they're so deperate for a few dollars they don't care who they annoy. Hopefully they spend some money on the property, get the abandoned vehicles towed and the light fixed. One staff memeber at the Hampton said she lives down the street from the B.W. She drives an extra 10 miles to work at the Hampton. She says the locals don't think much of the BW. Hampton Inn ~$100 BW Hilltop $57 Hampton = worh it. P.S. I stay about 100 nights/year in hotels. I've never ben compelled to write a review of a hotel before. I only ask for a clean, quiet room with internet access. I don't make many demands but this place is just wrong.