Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Calcium/Near Fort Drum

That floodlight outside the room was intense, shining almost straight in. With the curtains closed and lights off, it was still bright enough to nearly read a book. Aside from that, this Quality Inn did better than I expected. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and it stayed quiet and warm despite the cold, windy weather. Check-in took less than a minute, which was great when all we wanted was to get some rest. The breakfast bar was also stocked and ready earlier than the posted time, helpful for anyone needing to get on the road.

The location was close to town, with food and local attractions nearby, and the area still felt quite nice. The room itself was clean and had no bugs. There was no elevator, so be ready to carry your things upstairs. The keys kept deactivating, and I had to go to the front desk several times. They blamed our phones, but the keys still stopped working even when we kept the phones away. The front desk gentleman was kind and helpful. Breakfast wasn't stocked well enough, and when I asked the worker about it, she was rude and snarky.

We'd driven for 12 hours with our two young kids and got in around 10:30 PM. We knew it was late and were trying to keep them quiet and get them settled for bed as quickly as we could. Still, we were spoken to about noise almost as soon as we entered the room. We understand that other guests need quiet, but some patience from the staff would've meant a lot. Traveling with kids is hard, and we really were doing our best to be considerate. Being addressed so soon after arriving left us frustrated and discouraged. Families with young children should feel welcome, not judged.

I had a rough night after a rental car accident delayed me badly. The Uber ride toward the body cost $160. I checked in around 1 AM, and the overnight staff were the best, they smoothed everything out. Great service, highly recommended.