Madison Beach Hotel Curio Collection By Hilton

Madison Beach Hotel has an upscale vibe with gray clapboard siding and a wraparound bottom-floor porch. A pathway leads to a private shingle beach with rocks and tide pools. When the weather permits, guests crowd the lawn with their beach chairs on Thursdays for live music and on Tuesdays for kid-friendly movies. Lawns around the property are well-kept and there's a shower to rinse off sand. A fireplace in the reception area creates a homey vibe by the entrance to The Wharf restaurant and bar that’s popular among locals and tourists alike. The grand feature in the lobby is the wooden staircase that wraps around a chandelier. Tiled corridors feature wainscoting and curved architectural details that add to the upscale setting. Prices for rooms are comparable to other nearby upscale properties, but the Long Island Sound views are unbeatable here, attracting both couples -- including honeymooners --- and families with children. 

The Madison Beach Hotel overlooks the Long Island Sound from a private beach. In the surrounding area there are residences, a wharf, and the Madison Country Club. Downtown Madison, where shops and cafes line Wall and Main Streets, is a five-minute drive. Within 15 minutes by car is the Hammonasset Beach State Park. The drive to the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium takes around 40 minutes. It’s 25 minutes to the Essex Steam Train. Getting to New York and Boston by car from here takes about two hours. Bradley International Airport is around an hour drive. The Shore Line East regional train station is a five-minute drive away. On-site valet parking is provided for free -- not including tips -- and there are limited free parking spaces on the wharf. 

The atmosphere in guest rooms is upscale and cozy with a subdued palette of nautical colors and blue paisley accents. Wooden sleigh beds face flat-screen TVs, and gas fireplaces in King Rooms. There are iPod-compatible clock radios on the bedside tables. Blue carpeting and beige tile cover the floors. All rooms have balconies with wicker chairs overlooking the Long Island Sound. King Rooms have private balconies, while Double Double Rooms share outdoor space. Rooms offer one king or two double beds and are divided between the South or East Wings, which have sunrise vistas. Granite-topped writing desks and hutches, which have Cuisinart coffeemakers and mini-fridges, create an elegant look. Light-colored damask wallpaper and silver fixtures create a stylish feeling in bathrooms, which offer showers with rainfall showerheads and/or soaking bathtubs. There are wall-mounted toiletries, and bathrobes are provided. Rooms all have ironing facilities, safes, and turndown service. Wi-Fi is free. Dog-friendly rooms on the first floor are available.

Madison Beach has a full list of amenities that add to its intimate and upscale atmosphere. When the weather permits the lawn and beach are used for social events. Sundays offer brunch on the beach with live jazz music and views of the Long Island Sound from heated dining patios. The nautical-themed Wharf restaurant and bar serves a popular breakfast, lunch, and dinner with emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine and local seafood. Service is busy, so guests typically have to reserve a table in advance. There's also a raw bar. Drink and food service is also available -- when weather permits -- on the beach. In the warmer months, the hotel also provides yoga on the sand. Otherwise there’s a nicely equipped, bright gym with modern machines and a yoga studio.

Gifts and clothing are sold in the hotel’s shop. The full-service spa offers facials and treatments with locally tailored services like Long Island Sound Scrubs and Deep Sea Massages. Weddings are commonly held here with ceremonies on the lawn and a ballroom that can accommodate 200 people. Tides on the Sound is a handsome room for events and private dining, with a wooden bar and French doors. Valet parking is free for guests.