Need A Getaway? A Review of MyWeekend at Foxwoods in Connecticut
*This post is sponsored by Foxwoods. The opinions and text are all mine.
Every year around this time I plan a trip to embrace some time away from the city—who am I kidding? I plan a trip out of the city every season! With travel suspended for most of the year, I haven’t done much... except for spend time thinking about my next trip. As we see restrictions start to loosen and destinations reopen, I’ve been eagerly planning out my next social-distant, and safety-forward trip. Of course, travel is going to look a lot different—and it should. Not only does the industry have to adjust to put safety first, but as travelers, we have a duty to do so as well.
When Foxwoods reached out to me, I was excited to escape (I had yet to visit Connecticut) but I was also cautious given the current conditions. Before committing, I took a look at their website and I was happy to find they’ve implemented numerous procedures to reduce contraction. Which leads me to my first topic: safety.
Safety At The Foxwoods
Upon arriving, I was happy to find my trip was met with multiple temperature check-points, a mask mandate, plexiglass between workers and customers, and an abundance of social distancing signs. It was apparent that Foxwoods is taking things seriously. Let’s go through some of the procedures I noticed.
Mask Mandate: Foxwoods was requiring face masks for all guests and team members while on the property. And if you are unable to bring your own mask, they provided a mask upon entrance.
Temperature Check Points: There was security at each checkpoint and contactless kiosks monitoring the temperature of each person entering. Apparently, any guest or team member with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will not be allowed entry.
Capacity At 50%: I was happy to hear that capacity was reduced upon arriving. When checking in on Friday, there were minimal lines and check in was quick, to keep from areas crowding.
Spacing & Signage: There were many, and I mean MANY signs and notices of the safety procedures. I felt every place I looked there was a nice reminder to remain socially distant (between 6-10 feet apart).
Regular Cleaning & Sanitation Stations: While walking around the property, it was satisfying to see workers wiping down areas and finding many places with hand sanitizer.
The Grand Pequot Tower
Checking in was seamless, but it’s worth noting there are a few places you can stay at Foxwoods—although not all of the towers are currently open. I stayed in the Grand Pequot Tower, which honestly was where most of the action happened.
The rooms are large with high ceilings, so it felt very spacious. The bathroom was fabulous with lots of counter space so multiple people can get ready at the same time. There’s everything you’d expect from a hotel including a working desk, iron, closet, and toiletries for your stay.
There was a lot to do around the hotel, so we didn’t spend much time in our room. But I will have to admit... the bed was a cloud. I’m pretty picky with my beds, and I can happily say that I passed OUT on this one.
Our room faced the beautiful forest, which to our pleasure was brightly colored with oranges, yellows, and greens—isn’t fall just beautiful? You can even see some of the zip liners flying above the trees from time to time.
Restaurants At The Foxwoods
One recommendation when you visit the Foxwoods; come hungry. There isn’t a shortage of places to eat... especially if you’re just staying for the weekend. I only got through 3 restaurants for my 2 night stay and even from that I was impressed.
After checking in, I kicked things off with dinner at Caputo Trattoria. It 100% lived up to this Italian name. Highlights of the dinner were the Marinated Olives (Orange Zest, Thyme, Chilis), Fried Calamari (Cherry Peppers, Garlic Aioli, Pomodoro, Lemon), Rigatoni Bolognese (Sicilian Oregano, Mascarpone Cheese, Parmesan), and Creamed Spinach. Check out the rest of the menu here.
Brunch at Cafe Veranda is fabulous *Chef Kiss* There is plenty of lunch, brunch, and breakfast options. I got the Eggs Benedict more than once over the weekend, and also enjoyed the pancakes topped with seasonal berries—I highly recommend booking a reservation, as Saturday and Sunday got a little busy. Especially because there is less seating with the reduction of capacity due to safety measures. Check out their menu here.
Last up on my list was dinner at High Rollers, The Foxwoods luxury bowling alley with surprisingly great food. If you’re as big fan of buffalo wings like I am, you’ll need to order the Buffalo Chicken Dumplings—they’re delicious. Top that off with their Crispy Chicken Sandwich and you’re going to be set. Check out rest of the dishes here.
Activities At The Foxwoods
Foxwoods has something for everyone... No joke. I’m not much of a gambler or a drinker, so I was truly nervous about what I would be able to do during the stay—but there was no shortage of activities within and outside of Foxwoods.
For starters, if you love shopping... there’s an entire mall on the property called the Tanger Outlets. With over 80 store fronts, you’ll have plenty of shopping to do when/if you’re ready for it. Oh, and fun tip, if you go on a Tuesday and show a receipt that you’ve purchased something— you can get a free tote bag!
During our dinner at High Rollers, we played a few games of bowling which was a lot of fun. They’ve increased sanitation measures and each bowling lane was spaced out nicely... it almost felt like we had our own VIP section.
We also got to enjoy the MONZA World Class Karting track! The Foxwoods is home to the nations largest and fastest indoor track, and let me tell you: This. Was. So. Much. Fun. I was skeptical at first, but the second I revved my engine… I felt like a kid again. Monza Mondays is a great way to save too—$30 for your first ride and $15 for all rides after! You can find even more deals here.
If you’re looking for some outdoor adventure, no worries. Just outside Foxwoods there are a few trails to enjoy nature! Although I didn’t get to this activity, the resort has a zip line over the trees surrounding the property. It would have been not only exhilarating, but gorgeous to zip over all the fall colored trees.
There are a plethora of other activities such as bars, clubs, gyms, pools, etc. but because of the current situation many of them have strict capacity rules or have been closed until further notice. I’m positive as things get progressively better, there will continue to be more and more to do at Foxwoods.
Final Thoughts
If you’re after an eventful weekend trip, that has safety measures in place to keep you and others safe… the Foxwoods is somewhere I would definitely consider looking into—especially if you’re in the Northeastern part of the USA. The resort is large enough to give you that sense of exploration if you’re staying for a weekend, but also is accommodating enough for all types of people; families, casino lovers, foodies, and more. The Foxwoods isn’t a beach vacation.. or an acclaimed international destination, but it is a destination to escape to a few days of fun activities, fantastic food, and safety-forward piece-of-mind.
This pandemic is pushing the travel industry to uncharted territory, and we’re all learning how to navigate travel in this new era—including the hotel and hospitality industry. Hopefully this article answered some questions about planning your next trip. If you want to explore more about Foxwoods check out their website here. Keep the travel spirit alive and stay safe!
Cheers, Teejay
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I guess I should get into the budgeting part… it’s probably the main reason why you clicked. So after traveling in the Philippines for 28 days, in Singapore for 5 days, and Malaysia 60 days in Malaysia, I’ve come to the conclusion that Southeast Asia is fu*king CHEAP compared to the USA.