What are the best places to stay in Upstate New York? Whether you’re driving up north to hike the famed Catskill Mountains or to get a close-up view of Niagara Falls, you’ll need a great, scenic place to stay to complete your upstate NY experience.
In this list, we’ve rounded up the best of the best hotels, inns, and resorts from every region of upstate New York. The boundaries on what exactly constitutes ‘Upstate New York’ are more arbitrary than fixed, but it’s generally understood to be all of New York excluding New York City and Long Island. These upstate regions are: Adirondack Mountains, Capital-Saratoga Springs, Catskill Mountains, Central Leatherstocking, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Finger Lakes, (Upper) Hudson Valley, and the New York sides of the Niagara Frontier and Thousand Islands-Seaway regions. So the next time you end up in any of these upstate New York regions, you’ll know which ones should be on your top choices for places to stay.
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What exactly makes a hotel the best among its competitors? In a destination as picturesque as upstate New York, how does one hotel or lodging house stand out from the rest? As this list reveals, there is no single characteristic that makes one place a better choice than the other. Instead, it is a combination of many factors – of great food, outstanding aesthetics, impeccable customer service, value for money, and proximity to popular tourist destinations – that earns a hotel a “Best Place to Stay” honors.
These rankings are based on actual customer reviews on TripAdvisor, Best Hotel rankings from US News, and expert recommendations from travel magazines like Travel + Leisure and Fodor’s for standout, must-see hotels, resorts, and lodging houses for every region in Upstate New York. Some of these lakes are so well preserved that, in fact, they may as well be on this list of 8 historical places in the East Coast.
So, what are the best places to stay in Upstate New York? Read on to know which ones you should include in your upstate itineraries.
11. Adirondack Region – Lake Placid Lodge
Address: 144 Lodge Way, Lake Placid, NY
Originally built in 1882, Lake Placid Lodge has preserved many of its historic features despite restorations throughout the years. Lake Placid’s best features are found in the way it has combined the woodsy Adirondack lifestyle with the comforts of a luxury cabin. It features picturesque apartments, spacious rooms, and private cabins all built by artisans to bring out authentic Adirondack aesthetics.
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10. Adirondack Region – The Sagamore
Address: 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing, NY
The hotel’s most recent accolades include the coveted AAA/CAA Four Diamond Lodgings 2015, Fodor’s Choice award, Frommer’s Exceptional recognition, and being included in the 2014 Conde Nast Readers’ Choice and the 2015 Travel + Leisure 500 World’s Best Hotels lists. The massive island property off the shores of Lake George first opened in the late 1880s and has long been a favorite getaway for Manhattan’s elite. Today, it offers a wide variety of lodging options which include expensive suites and cabins as well as an array of lower-priced rooms decked out in well-preserved early 1900s architecture. While enjoying this Lake George favorite can cost dearly, especially where dining is concerned, it remains well-loved because it delivers services that are well worth every cent.
9. Capital-Saratoga Region – Saratoga Arms
Address: 497 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
When it comes to gaining a ‘Best Hotel’ honor, size isn’t everything at the Saratoga Arms. This quaint little boutique hotel only has 31 rooms but it’s one of the best rated hotels in the entire Capital-Saratoga area. It is so well-loved that it made the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame for Excellence. The family-run hotel was originally built in 1870 and still features the original authentic red-brick structure. It also definitely helps the hotel that it’s just minutes away from the famed Saratoga Race Course.
8. Catskill Region – The Roxbury Contemporary Catskill Lodging
Address: 2258 County Highway, Roxbury, NY
This little motor lodge is hard to miss when in the Catskills. Apparently it’s also hard not to love, based on all the rave reviews. Guests especially enjoyed the decor in the rooms – not only are the choices wide and varied; the choices also come in different ‘themes’. There are rooms that are designed with reference to popular 60s and 70s television and film, but there are regular rooms, too; either way, the motel and its happy guests guarantee excellent customer service and attention to detail. Guests also insist that a trip to the motel’s spas is an absolute must.
7. Central Leatherstocking – Otesaga Resort Hotel
Address: 60 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY
It’s not hard to figure out why Otesaga is the top-rated hotel in the Central Leatherstocking region of Upstate New York. After all, it can boast of its AAA Four-Diamond Award, a prestigious, highly-coveted award for hotels. Guests are impressed by its picturesque lakeside view and rich, well-preserved period architecture that earned the hotel a National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Historic Hotels of America. It also offers excellent dining options, a golf course, spas, and other modern amenities to top it off.
6. Chautauqua County – Holiday Inn at Findley Lake
Address: 3025 NY-426, Findley Lake, NY
Unlike the other hotels on this list, the Holiday Inn at Findley Lake doesn’t really take the cake when it comes to aesthetics and views, but guests love its convenience and reliable service. The Holiday Inn is located right in the midst of all the great spots in Chautauqua County – a trip to Chautauqua Lake or to ski at Peek n’ Peak is a short 25-minute drive. It also wins on the simple amenities, like the indoor pool, shuttle service options, and excellent customer service.
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5. Finger Lakes Region – Mirbeau Inn and Spa
Address: 851 Genesee Street, Skaneateles, NY
If there is one thing that Skaneateles and the entire Finger Lakes region has gotten right, it’s the perfect ‘storybook look’. The Mirbeau Inn and Spa is a great example of storybook elegance. The quaint, French-villa-inspired resort and spa has earned top ratings from guests and travel magazines along with its rightful spot in the 11 best places to stay in upstate New York thanks to its Provencal village aesthetics, the award-winning 14,000-square-foot spa, and excellent dining choices. What it lacks in an ‘authentic’ Finger Lakes view, it makes up for in amenities and excellent customer service.
4. Finger Lakes Region – Geneva on the Lake
Address: 1001 Lochland Road, Route 14, Geneva, NY
Geneva on the Lakes can be faulted for a few things, but majority of the travel guides know that this is a must-stay when in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The small resort sits at Seneca Lake’s northernmost tip and right at the heart of New York’s wine country. While it was only opened to the public as a hotel in 1981, the house itself is pretty old – a giveaway to its age is the period architecture. The garden is large and styled like one of those romantic European castles. The elegance of the resort is complemented by the stunning views of Seneca Lake – a sight to behold and worth a visit at any time of year.
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3. (Upper) Hudson Valley Region – Mohonk Mountain House
Address: 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY
It’s not surprising that the Mohonk Mountain House is consistently mentioned as a must-stay in the upper Hudson Valley region: it’s an actual Victorian castle. It sits conveniently in the midst of the Mohonk Mountains, treating its guests to a picturesque view of the Shawangunk Mountain Range. The 130-year old, family-run hotel has its rooms decorated in the tradition of Arts and Crafts, Victorian, and Edwardian aesthetics, keeping with the ‘castle’ feel it offers. More than that, guests love the award-winning spa and the variety of outdoor activities they host, including hiking to the nearby parks and mountains.
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2. Niagara Frontier – Red Coach Inn
Address: 2 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY
This historical inn, fashioned in Tudor style in 1923, is a favorite spot for Niagara Falls sightseers because of its close proximity to the falls and to the city. Goat Island and Rainbow Bridge are walking distance from the Red Coach Inn, and some rooms have magnificent views of the Niagara’s upper rapids. The suites are also rather large, with options of two-bedroom-two-bathroom suites that help justify the pretty substantial price.
1. Thousand Islands Region – 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel
Address: 200 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY
Located on a massive property right next to the St. Lawrence River, the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel holds the coveted AAA Four-Diamond Status, one of the only 24 in the entire upstate New York region. Hotel guests especially love its dining options, including al fresco dining overlooking the St. Lawrence River on their riverside patio. Guests can choose from their over a hundred accommodation options including six rooms with Jacuzzi tubs.
When in New York, the Big Apple is certainly not the only place to visit. Drive further north and check out all the great places that upstate New York can offer. After all, you have the 11 best places to stay in upstate New York to choose from! Stay for a night or, better yet, stay for a week.
