Axel's take on Colchester: #3 of 5 in Burlington, 4.0/10
Choose practical road access, not an imagined lakeside retreat. Colchester offers reasonable value and practical highway access, but weaker hotels and little within walking distance hold it back.
Around Lower Mountain View Drive and Water Tower Hill, Colchester is a practical roadside base with I-89 access. Winooski’s restaurants and riverside walks provide a nearby outing. Do not mistake this for a lakeside stay: Malletts Bay and the Island Line causeway are different destinations requiring a separate trip.
Choose it for a driving holiday, a longer work stay or a schedule that does not revolve around downtown Burlington. The #9’s service to Mountain View Drive improves the alternative to driving, but highway approaches and limited evening strolling remain the compromise. Skip it for a first visit built around Church Street and the waterfront.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, a quiet stay
- Skip it if: You expect a waterfront setting; Your trip revolves around downtown on foot
- Getting around: GMT #9 Winooski serves Mountain View Drive and Shaw’s; walking mainly covers local essentials rather than Burlington sightseeing; reach BTV by taxi or car.
- After dark: Expect a subdued commercial setting rather than a town-center scene; Winooski is the more appealing destination for an evening out.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $146 a night
Where to stay in Burlington: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Colchester
- Lower Mountain View Drive. A practical Water Tower Hill base for driving trips, with shopping and bowling rather than lakeside atmosphere.
- South Park Drive. Choose this Exit 16 pocket for highway convenience, not downtown strolling or a waterfront retreat. Hotels here: Motel 6 Colchester, VT - Burlington, Quality Inn Colchester - Burlington.
How to choose
- Choose Residence Inn by Marriott Colchester if you want kitchen-equipped suites for a longer stay and one of the cheaper options here.
- Choose Hampton Inn Colchester if you want a straightforward overnight with breakfast and an indoor pool, without needing a kitchen.
What paying more buys
Paying more does not reliably buy more here: Residence Inn is cheaper than most here yet includes spacious kitchen-equipped suites. Pricier Motel 6 has no breakfast and recurring noise complaints; Quality Inn also costs more without dependable upkeep. Neither premium is worthwhile for travelers prioritizing comfort and consistency. Typical rates with Axel here run from $136 a night at Residence Inn by Marriott Colchester to $159 at Motel 6 Colchester, VT - Burlington (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Colchester, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Residence Inn by Marriott Colchester 8.5/10, practical 3-star all-suite, extended-stay hotel outside Burlington. A strong choice for spacious suites and friendly service, with some wear showing. Why it's here: spacious kitchen-equipped suites and warm service at one of the cheaper rates here. Accept: worn carpets, some noisy air-conditioning and nearby roadwork. $135 a night with Axel against $161 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $26 a night less (16%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hampton Inn Colchester 8.0/10, practical 3-star chain hotel off I-89 near Burlington. A solid Burlington-area base with helpful staff, but uneven upkeep and nearby roadwork. Why it's here: a straightforward campus-visit base with helpful staff, included breakfast and an indoor pool. Accept: uneven upkeep, nearby roadwork and doubles rather than queens. $107 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Motel 6 Colchester, VT - Burlington 6.3/10, no-frills 2-star motel off I-89 outside Burlington. A workable budget stop, but noise and uneven upkeep limit its appeal. Why it's here: a basic pet-friendly overnight stop with free parking and coin laundry. Accept: recurring noise, common-area odors and no breakfast. $93 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Quality Inn Colchester - Burlington 5.2/10, basic budget chain hotel beside I-89 in Colchester. Convenient highway access, but housekeeping and maintenance make this a difficult recommendation. Why it's here: a short highway stop with included breakfast and parking for drivers accepting uneven standards. Accept: recurring cleaning problems, worn bathrooms and unreliable heating or cooling. $97 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
