Stamford, Connecticut Now a No-Car-Required Beach Escape

[Steve Mirsky]

Is it possible for a Courtyard by Marriott to actually be a boutique hotel? Lately, it seems that mainstream chain hotels are strategically inserting themselves into prime urban locations walkable to top amenities rather than buried in the anonymity of suburban strip development.

Marriott's Courtyard Stamford Downtown exemplifies this trend with a sumptuous lobby wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows affording sweeping views of surrounding architecture and street life. Its 70-minute train ride from Manhattan makes it a bullseye for New Yorkers plotting their weekend escapes just far enough away from the chaos and grueling press of big city living.

Car-free packages like their "Downtown Beach Escape" include round-trip Metro North rail tickets from Manhattan's Grand Central Station with free shuttle connections to the hotel. Courtyard Stamford Downtown then provides chauffeured door-to-beach access with complimentary water and towels. This normally requires beach pass purchase, checking in at the gate, and the hassle of crowded summer parking, None of that here.

When night falls, you have three  theaters and a multitude of eateries lining Bedford and Atlantic Streets within a one-block radius of your room. Napa & Co., the hotel's on-site restaurant, showcases organic American fare along with an elegant lounge perfect for its signature cocktails of barrel-aged spirits.

Many rooms have living rooms and master bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto city views which give you the feeling you're retreating to your own pied à terre rather than a hotel room.

Photos courtesy of Courtyard Stamford Downtown. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.