Quality Inn & Suites Schoharie near Howe Caverns

I found some interesting places to visit within about fifteen minutes, including Lily Park, The Iroquois museum, Old Stone Fort, and my favorite, Vroman’s Nose Hiking Trail. I needed somewhere for two nights near SUNY Cobleskill for parents weekend and booked at the last minute. It was easy to find, right off the highway, though booking through a third-party site made it pricier than I wanted. The room had two queen beds. I like a very firm mattress, and this one was soft, but I still slept well. The room and shared areas were clean, and it had the usual amenities: microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, hair dryer, and iron. It was a busy weekend, yet the place was quiet. Pets are allowed for a fee, so I might bring my small dog next time. Breakfast was plain and simple: waffles, hard-boiled eggs, cereal, toast, bagels, donuts, yogurt, coffee, and juice.

The staff were really friendly and keen to help. We had no soap in the room, but when we told the cleaning lady, she apologized and fixed it right away. Booking by phone was easy, and everyone was polite. The location was convenient, though the price felt a little high, even if it was lower than some other hotels nearby. Nothing about the rooms or furnishings felt especially high quality. It was basic, so maybe it should be called Basic Inn. Most of the room was clean, but the spot between the bedside table and the wall badly needed vacuuming. I dropped a shiny penny there as a hint for staff, or a little prize for the next guest. The rest was fine, and there were no bed bugs. It was VERY quiet. We didn't hear traffic or dogs, though we saw guests coming and going with dogs. It's pet friendly. I liked the continental breakfast. There were bagels, English muffins, toast, butter, jelly, cream cheese, fruit, two cereals, hard-boiled eggs, juices, water, tea, and fresh coffee. The waffle maker was the best part: pour batter from the cup into the iron, close it, flip it over, and the machine handles the cooking and timing. When it dings, the waffle is ready, with butter and syrup available. You could even mix jelly and cream cheese for a topping. Delicious. I only had one, but could have stayed all morning. Warm the butter first, though, or it's too cold to spread.

Breakfast was basic, but just enough, and the room was good. The person at the front desk was the most accommodating person I've met.

We couldn't stay for breakfast, though the spread looked ample. The bed was comfortable, and we slept well before getting back on the road. We had to stop for the night unexpectedly because of a medical emergency. The gentleman at the desk was considerate and understanding, and got us checked in quickly. The room was clean and bigger than we expected. Despite facing the highway, it was amazingly quiet. Best of all, it stayed dark at night, with no outdoor floodlights shining through the windows like the sun.