Make YOUR Point! Relax, Recharge, Revisit The Saybrook Point Inn

by RONA MANN

You can even swim in the outdoor pool in January.

Did we get your attention? Good. Because it’s not a gimmick, and we’re not talking about the Bahamas; we’re talking about Old Saybrook, Connecticut and the beautiful, friendly, year ‘round...Saybrook Point Inn.

So now you’re wondering exactly how you can swim outdoors in Old Saybrook in the dead of winter. You can, and thoroughly enjoy it if you have a saltwater pool, fully heated to 80 degrees. Heck, you can even throw snowballs while you swim!

That pool is but one feature found at one of the greatest getaways in all New England and maybe the greatest one on the Connecticut coast. The Saybrook Point Inn is rich in history as it is situated on the exact spot where the Connecticut River flows into Long Island Sound, home first to Indians who established themselves there and thrived. They were followed by the Dutch who fought the British for land rights and likewise established a permanent colony. What many do not know is that in the early 1700s the Point was the birthplace of Collegiate College, now known as Yale.

Fast forward to 1980 when the Tagliatela family bought at auction an unoccupied run down resort formerly known as the Terra Mar. The Tagliatelas had dreams of transforming this once sad, old property into a viable destination that would welcome guests from everywhere to this point where the river meets the sound. That dream was realized in 1989 with the opening of the Saybrook Point Inn.

In the last 30 years, The Saybrook Point Inn has grown to be a popular destination, drawing guests not only from all over the nation and the world, but equally beckoning those who live on the Connecticut shoreline and other parts of the state. It continues to maintain the reputation it earned from the first because it is still owned by the Tagliatela family whose standards for customer service are high and whose employees are loyal and prized by the family. Today’s Saybrook Point Inn embraces its history, caters to its guests, delivers the finest food, service, and accommodations every season of the year, and never, ever takes their success for granted.

In 2011 Fresh Salt opened, a breath of fresh air in coastal Connecticut dining. This award - winning waterfront restaurant offers both casual and upscale cuisine in addition to what is arguably the finest Sunday Brunch in the state. Guests come from far and wide to be deliciously overwhelmed and to indulge in the two rooms of bounty, ranging from shrimp cocktail and smoked seafood, to omelet, meat, and waffle stations, salads, fresh fruit, an enormous array of Inn-created desserts, and everything that is locally sourced and lovingly prepared. Enjoy your brunch slowly, go back often, and savor the views of the river, the Sound, the boats, the lighthouse, and all that makes the Saybrook Point an experience.

You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Fresh Salt with everything from a snack at the outdoor Marina bar and fire pit, to Happy Hour at the bar, to a full course gourmet meal. Dining options are as varied as the guests themselves and cater to every one of them!

for locals, a weekend or week’s vacation for visitors, an unequaled meeting place for corporate events, a wedding, party, birthday, or celebration that will never be forgotten, and a day at the spa where you are always individually pampered.

If a wedding, party, or corporate event is in your future, you have to go no further than The Point. Perfectly situated just two hours from New York and two hours from Boston, it is accessible by car, by boat, or by train, since Amtrak stops right in downtown Old Saybrook. Make your reservation, let The Inn know, and you will be picked up right at the station. This service, for which there is never a charge, also extends to guests of the Inn who wish to go into town shopping and exploring. If you’re yearning for a bit more exercise, the Inn offers complimentary bikes to add to your enjoyment.

Director of Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, and Just Plain Fun is Candace Engdahl, who loves to show off the many possibilities for social and corporate entertaining. “Everything is customizable,” Engdahl begins. “We can arrange a formal wedding with the ceremony either indoors or out, accommodate most religious and cultural requests, design a formal dinner or brunch, or casual stations and cocktail hour. We work with you.”

Old Saybrook is a quintessential New England town with a Norman Rockwell-esque main street, but everything begins and ends at The Point. It’s where the history of the area began and where the meeting of the waters will never end. It offers a special overnight getaway

Unveiled in 2012, Sanno Spa, tempts both same day clients and hotel guests with massages, body scrubs, facials, nail treatments, a glass of Prosecco, a fluffy robe, and perhaps even a dip in the indoor pool.

The Inn’s on-site health club is not a room with a couple of pieces of equipment as is the case in many hotels, but a state-of-the-art fitness facility with the most up to date equipment, fitness classes, yoga, year-round indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room, whirlpool. You’re going to feel great! Memberships are available for those who live nearby, while guests of the Inn have full access to all facilities.

Candace Engdahl talks about the vibe of The Saybrook Point Inn by saying, “It’s not stuffy. There’s no attitude here. From bellman to bartender, everyone cares about you and making your experience outstanding. That’s why we get the best reviews, and many of our guests talk about the folks who gave them such outstanding service by name.”

The Tagliatelas also own the marina offering accommodations for vessels from 13-200 feet, so come and stay at the adjacent Marina Point Villas; one of the 82 fully renovated guest rooms within the Inn itself, many with fireplaces and balconies; or treat yourself to the Lighthouse Suite right on the dock...it has a living room, dining area, kitchenette, and your own private water view. If you’ve booked a wedding, party, corporate event, or just want a great getaway, consider one of the two guesthouses across the street from The Saybrook Point Inn for the accommodations. Three Stories is exactly that! It’s three stories high with eight guest rooms, an elevator, a rooftop fire pit, full kitchen, and ready to accommodate your group. Or ask about Tall Tales, a six bedroom guest house with a full kitchen, game room, rooftop fire pit, and everything to seduce your guests into never wanting to leave!

The Saybrook Point Inn is a twelve month adventure with different appeal to different people, allowing you to make it your own. It’s history, a getaway, a romantic interlude, an absolutely breathtaking place to host a wedding, celebrate a birthday, or just entertain out of towners. And if you find yourself down at the harbor on a summer night with moonlight bathing the Lighthouse Suite, the boats drifting gently in the harbor, and the sounds of people laughing as glasses clink at the outdoor bar, you may realize you’ve indeed made your Point.

Or...come in January and see just how far you can throw that snowball while you’re in the pool!

Get right to The Point: 2 Bridge Street, Old Saybrook (860) 395-2000 www.saybrookpoint.com