The Inn at Saratoga

We liked the little touches, including a box of chocolates at checkout, and the tavern dinner with an Irish band was lively. Check the website for the band schedule. Breakfast came with homemade pastries and cost just $10. There's a small free parking area, and an elevator makes getting luggage upstairs easier. Our room was large, even though another guest had complained theirs was small, and all the rooms have been renovated. The place still has its vintage Victorian feel and antique furniture, and it's within walking distance of Main Street's exclusive shops. The other Victorian hotel downtown, the Adelphi, costs much more. No pool, which wasn't standard when the hotel was built, and we skipped the nice courtyard because it was winter.

We were glad to find it was still as lovely as we remembered from our wedding night here 20 years ago. Dinner and breakfast in the dining room were spectacular, and the rooms have beautiful antiques. Everyone on staff was smiling, friendly, and so accommodating. Though it's a quick walk to the main part of Broadway, the hotel stays peaceful. The church bells next door brought back the feeling of being in Europe. I think we'll make this our anniversary tradition.

The king suite was a huge letdown for $350 a night. The sink wouldn't drain, there was hair all over the bathroom floor, and the sheets had makeup stains. It felt like nobody had cleaned the room. The heat was also nearly impossible to adjust, swinging between blasting and completely off. We told the front desk and were promised a call from the manager, but more than 3 weeks later, we still haven't heard anything. We stayed on February 13th.

The room was set up for comfort, not getting work done. It had two chairs, but no desk, table, or counter. There were lots of TV channels, including several HBO options, and although we were given a wifi password, our 5G coverage was strong so we never used it. We had a mini-fridge, iron, full-size ironing board, and a wall-mounted blow dryer. The modern bathroom had a shower stall, no tub. The king bed was very comfortable, though unusually high. A two-step stool helped my 5-foot self climb in, but it could be difficult for anyone elderly or dealing with vertigo or mobility problems. The carpet was nice, but the floor beneath it was quite uneven, another concern if you're unsteady. The elevator seemed older than I am, though it worked fine. This is an older building, so some things differ from chain hotels, but many add to its charm. There's antique furniture, fancy carpeting, vintage art, and friendly, helpful staff. My husband accidentally left his phone charger, and when we returned the next day, they'd kept it for him in a ziploc bag. The food was very good, and breakfast was mostly better than typical hotel buffets, though it costs extra.