Pinecrest Motel

For about 100 bucks a night, it’s a small, dated motel with the owner on site, though this one seemed more updated than most. The bed was flat, but decent, and the TV had better channels than a conventional hotel. I like that you get regular TV like at home with satellite service. The shower had better water pressure, and the room was quiet at the end of the night. Expect small rooms and dated furnishings, but the A/C was good.

We were given a three day voucher for Pinecrest motel on Seneca turnpike in New Hartford after being directed to the senior citizens center for food and temporary housing. My wife and I had lost power at our DW home in a Clark Mills, NY mobile home community, and the local community had thankfully been helping us through it. We arrived around 10 pm after a busy day, hot and worn out. We showered and cooled off a little, then loaded our things back up and drove home. The conditions at the motel felt poor and unhealthy, and we’d rather put up with the heat and humidity without power than stay there another minute. I took a few pictures but couldn’t share them on this site.

The owner kindly let me check in early at short notice, which earned the second star. I was stuck there last minute after my Airbnb room was double-booked, and after being awake for over 20 hours, I stayed in a place that was as bad as the photos, maybe worse. It smelled like dirty feet, with dust and cobwebs everywhere. I went out to buy Lysol and air freshener. The sheets and pillowcases were stained, there was hair on the toilet and sink, and the bathroom reeked of urine and mildew. The shower knob was broken, and I could hear the TV next door. Before using the window A/C, I pulled out its filter and washed what looked like a decade of dirt and dust off it. Outside, unkempt tenants hung around every day asking for money or rides to the store and sometimes arguing. One tried to get into my car when I pulled in, while waiting for an Uber. I had my own pillow and bedding in the car, but still slept in my clothes. At $99 a night, it felt insultingly overpriced, like paying $10 for a cup of tap water. I wouldn’t stay there again, though it worked in a pinch.

After a long day on the road, we called ahead and booked a room. It was a quiet, small place, and the property was well kept. Our room was clean, the hot water was great, and the bed was comfy. It reminded me of a bungalow. We really enjoyed staying there. I just wish there had been more pillows.