Trumbull Marriott Shelton: Amphitheater Weekend & Cash+Points Redemption (August 2022)

Executive Summary & Field Verdict

I surprised my wife with tickets to Jason Mraz with Raining Jane this past weekend. They were playing near where we live at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater — a really nice venue that was converted from a minor league baseball stadium.

The show wasn’t far from us — less than an hour from our house. A couple weeks before the show, I thought it would be nice to add a night at the local Marriott as the hotel is less than 10 minutes from the venue: Trumbull Marriott Shelton.

5th-floor Concierge Level King bedroom layout at Trumbull Marriott Shelton featuring classic wood furnishings and plush bedding.

Booking Strategy: Unlocking 2.7¢ Per Point on Cash + Points

I checked rates and while a King room was $338/night for Saturday night, there were some points rooms available. I had an option for a King for 19,000 points or $75 plus 9,750 points.

To me it was a no brainer to take the cash + points option — and left me with a great redemption on the points portion of .027 ($0.027 / 2.7¢ per point) for the night (plus $75 of course). When peak weekend rates surge above $300, leveraging hybrid Cash + Points is one of the most effective ways to extract premium value from smaller point balances.

Check-In & Little League Tournament Action

We checked in around 2 PM, so a little early. The front desk had 2 agents and it was a little busy with a couple people in front of us. A little league baseball tournament was in town, and the FDAs were a little challenged with the guests in front of us wanting to change room types (single to 2 bed), and had some reservation issues with who actually booked the rooms, etc.

The agents were professional with the guests, even while the guests huffed and puffed a little not understanding why they couldn’t just change room types and check in now. I did give a little smile when one guest flashed her Silver status with 1 night asking the agent “if this helps”.

Room 561 entrance plaque on the 5th floor Concierge Level.

My check-in was pretty uneventful — thanked for my Ambassador status and upgraded to the 5th/Concierge Floor. The lounge is not open here, so I was offered points or breakfast for 2 in the restaurant. I chose breakfast, even though we ended up sleeping in late and not taking advantage of it.

The hotel was built in 1985, last renovated in 2008, and it feels like it. If you’ve ever stayed at the Stamford, CT Marriott, this hotel, the room decor and overall feel are very similar. Both properties could really use an update to the modern Marriott style. That said, the hotel didn’t feel or appear run down, it just needs a refresh.

The lobby and public area between the front desk and restaurant is really large. Quite a few high tables, and seating areas, including a side room with more high tables, chairs and seating. This entire lobby area was just starting to get used by the parents and kids from the baseball tournament, for congregating, pizza, beverages, etc. The hotel setup a few large covered trash bins nearby for the group as well. We left around 7 PM and returned just after 11 PM, and there were still some parents down there chatting it up.

5th-Floor Concierge Level Room & Amenities

Our room on the 5th floor (Room 561), overlooking the pool and “garden” area was a decent size, with a small fridge, safe and coffee maker in the room. It had a smallish bathroom with shower and tub. The bed was comfortable for a good nights sleep.

Perspective of Room 561 showing the red armchair, king bed, and desk credenza.

Work desk station with task chair and flat-screen television with streaming apps.

Desk connectivity jack pack (HDMI, PC video, audio inputs) and Marriott Trumbull room phone.

In-room compact refrigerator integrated into the lower cabinet of the television credenza.

In-room electronic digital safe mounted in the credenza shelving niche.

HVAC Acoustics & Performance

The A/C was a through the wall unit that barely kept the room cold enough. It was definitely a weak point in the room. We did not stay long enough “in the room” for me to ask for another room — that likely, would perform similarly.

Bathroom Setup

The bathroom is compact and straightforward, reflecting its earlier design footprint with an outer single-sink vanity and an inner room with a traditional shower/tub combo and commode. Water pressure was decent and toiletries were fully stocked.

Single-basin granite vanity with lighted mirror and wood flooring leading into the bath chamber.

Bathroom commode, tile flooring, and framed botanical artwork.

Shower and tub combination equipped with wall-mounted This Works bath products.

Dining Out: Acapulco’s in Stratford & On-Site Parallel Post

We were planning to have lunch in the restaurant, but as they didn’t open until 5 PM — we ventured out for food. There are not a lot of decent food options in the immediate vicinity of hotel, so we drove about 10 minutes into Stratford and had lunch at Acapulco’s Mexican Restaurant. The food was good, portions pretty well sized and priced ok.

Back at the hotel, the on-site dining venue is Parallel Post, serving American tavern fare and seasonal specialties.

Dinner menu for the on-site Parallel Post restaurant displayed on a wine barrel in the lobby.

The Field Verdict

Would we stay here again for an event at The ‘Amp? Depends on the event and if I can get a rate as good as I did this past weekend. Would I pay $338/night to stay here again, likely not. But for an easy sub-10-minute commute to Bridgeport’s premier amphitheater on a $75 + 9,750 points redemption, it delivered exactly the convenience we needed.