Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center

For our anniversary, my wife and I booked a stay that turned out to be a mismatch with the advertising and most reviews. Calling the place “luxury” or “deluxe,” or using similar terms, seems inappropriate. At check-in, after telling us the room number, staff said, “You can't change rooms.” We wondered why they said that since we'd just arrived. We soon found out why. The resort fee felt ridiculous when some facilities were closed, unavailable, under construction, or areas where we weren't really allowed to stay. The detached west wing was in worse shape than a typical budget chain hotel, despite being advertised as “newly renovated.” There are waterfront views of Lake George in better quality rooms at lower prices that are properly advertised. The flooring across much of the property was cheap peel-and-stick vinyl. In our room it was lifting because of a badly installed doorstop, and elsewhere it looked like it was already buckling from poor installation. Our door wouldn't shut or lock fully, wasn't sealed, and let in a lot of drafts. Snow blew into the room during the night. There were also gaps around the window units in the middle of winter, letting in the Adirondack air. With the high fees, you'd think the owners might care about energy efficiency. Other problems: the hot water was inconsistent, the toilet bubbled at night from air coming back through the sewer line, and the windows were badly installed with gaps along the sides letting cold air in. The so-called arcade was just a Mrs. Pac-Man machine by a pool. The walls weren't insulated properly, so we could hear everything from guests next door. The beds were stiff and cheap. Not worth it, except maybe in summer, when you don't have to work as hard to control the room temperature and don't mind feeling ripped off.

The lake view was breathtaking, and everything about the stay was amazing. The place was very clean, the bed and linens super comfortable, and the staff fabulous. Best hotel stay in a very long time. You won't regret staying here.

The Adirondacks feel all around you without even leaving the grounds. The hotel is at the beginning of the lake, with spectacular views across the water, and the outdoor pool sits just above the lake. The dining room has the same view, and there's a bar both inside and out, plus an outdoor eating area with a fire pit. The atmosphere is really cool. Our room was very nice and had everything we needed. It was clean, and the staff were kind and helpful. We had a wonderful experience.

We stayed in the King suite, which was great, with two king-size beds and a sofa. The hotel is very nice, the rooms were clean, and the staff were friendly. The lobby is spacious and inviting. It's next to historic William Henry Fort and Lake George, and I think it's the best spot by the lake. Attractions are right nearby, including the arcades on the main street and all the fun water activities. I'd definitely stay here again on my next visit to Lake George.