If you are planning a trip to the New England region of the United States, then you might consider starting your journey in the Constitution State. Connecticut is a pleasant state to visit, offering just as much high culture as it does quaint charm. Surrounded by Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, Connecticut is an easy drive from its neighbor states. Whether you are just passing through, or are planning to spend a good amount of time in Connecticut, there are plenty of places to explore along the way. With Connecticut hotels always on the horizon, you can rest assured that finding a place to stay is the least of your worries. Connecticut has hotels to fit any budget, making a Connecticut vacation a possibility for anyone who is curious to see what the state has to offer.

Connecticut is the 48th largest state in the Union, meaning that you can hit all the spots you want to without wasting a ton of precious time on the road or sitting in an airport. For the sake of choosing a starting point in the state, the central capital of Hartford seems to be a good candidate. Hartford has been experiencing significant improvements in recent years, and part of the construction boom here has seen the addition of a some new downtown Hartford hotels. Among your choices for Hartford hotels will be full service, multi-star accommodations and a good amount of choices for discount hotels in Connecticut. If you are in town to see the Greek revival Wadsworth Atheneum, or to take a tour of the gold-domed state capitol, the Hartford hotels will provide you with a place to rest after a full day on the town. Literary buffs and history buffs as well, won’t want to miss a chance to visit the nearby neighboring Victorian homes once inhabited by Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Hartford is found in the Connecticut River Valley, and leisurely drives through the area reward photographers with the open-air barns that dot the historic tobacco fields. Among your choices for Connecticut hotels in the area are charming inns and bed and breakfasts.

There are many points of interest in the Connecticut River Valley, such as the Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House, both of which are found in East Haddam. The lodgings in this region vary as much as the terrain does, with full-service Connecticut hotels in the larger towns, and the discount hotels in Connecticut found at various highway exits. Outdoor enthusiasts, and those looking for quaint towns for a weekend getaway might consider heading to the northwest part of the state to explore the rolling hillsides and state parks. Where the Housatonic River runs along Route 7, the Appalachian Trail is a joy for hikers in the warmer months, and in the western highlands, skiers will find some nice trails in the winter. The Housatonic River is a popular destination for trout fishing, and in the fall, scenic drives through the area reward visitors with views of the colorful fall foliage. The comfortable inns and bed and breakfasts here might be your first choice for Connecticut hotels, but again, if you are traveling on a tight budget, the chain hotels found along the major routes will be a good bet for discount hotels in Connecticut.

A good amount of Connecticut tourism is centered along the southern coastline, and for good reason. In the southwestern city of Stamford, you are just a short train ride from New York City and all that Manhattan and Times Square have to offer. From coastal cities such as Bridgeport and New London, you can take a ferry across the Long Island Sound to Long Island, should you want to spend a day or more there. Stamford has plenty of the chain budget Connecticut hotels, and there are more upscale hotels available, often at a much better price than you would find further down into New York City. If you head northeast on I-95 from Stamford, about 40 miles down the road, you’ll hit New Haven, home to Yale University. Along the way, freshly revived after your night at one of the Stamford hotels, you might stop at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, or the Beardsley Zoo. Once in New Haven, your first stop might be at one of the New Haven CT hotels. As you might assume, being home to such a prestigious university, the New Haven CT hotels offer up some nice, upscale accommodations. But, there are also some great options for discount New Haven CT hotels where you won’t have to sacrifice comfort for price. A joy for art lovers, architectural buffs and shoppers alike, New Haven has plenty of dining and entertainment choices. The Yale University Art Gallery houses works by such names as van Gogh and Picasso, and another museum of lofty repute is the Yale Center for British Art. As for the performing arts, the Shubert Center offers up some lively theater. East of New Haven, Hammonasset Beach State Park is where you can find miles of beaches, and the Thimble Islands are a fun to tour.

Following east along the Connecticut shoreline, the small towns provide inns and bed and breakfasts along the way that are ideal for a relaxing or romantic getaway. In and around New London, you will find plenty of discount hotels in Connecticut, and an overall greater hotel selection. In New London, you can enjoy many places of historical interest, and take in its refurbished waterfront. If you want to gamble a bit or take in an exciting event, north of New London, the Mohegan Sun Casino and the Foxwoods Resort and Casino have a comfortable room waiting for you, not to mention some high-energy gaming excitement. As you near the Rhode Island border, the town of Mystic begs a visit. The Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport are both a joy to explore, and when you get hungry, the variety of choices for Mystic dining have every taste satisfied. Mystic has a full range of Connecticut accommodations, from motels and inns, to resorts and bed and breakfasts. There are plenty of Connecticut hotels at all the places you’ll want to visit, and with a full variety of choices, there’s no excuse to not plan your Connecticut vacation. Maybe you are only passing through from New York City to Boston, but if you stop for a while to see all that Connecticut has to offer, you may just find yourself staying longer than you expected.