Wingate by Wyndham Utica

I was a bit of a night owl, and we had to check in late and in a hurry. Noah at the front desk walked us through everything, showed us how to get to our rooms, explained where to find what we'd need, and said we could call the desk anytime with questions or concerns. He even suggested the best place to park for our room. We felt like the staff were family, and I'm so grateful to him. We stayed nearly five days, and it felt like home the whole time. Breakfast was good, which can be hard to find at hotels. There are also loads of top tier brunch, lunch, and dinner places within walking distance along the road. I wish I could give it more than five stars.

Snow made me decide to stay the night instead of driving back in the evening. This was the lowest-priced chain hotel in the area. The room was clean and quiet, though the bedding could use a refresh. Breakfast was tasty, even if the choices were limited, and the service was very good. I thought I'd misplaced my watch charger and called the hotel. Nick at the front desk checked twice and called back to confirm it wasn't there. I found it myself later. I was happy with the hotel for an unexpected one-night stay.

There had been ownership changes when I booked, but the experienced staff sorted out the issues. The rooms were clean and the hotel wasn't too busy. The bath area had been nicely revamped, and the room came with the usual amenities. Breakfast was wonderful, with more choices than a regular continental spread. A nice bonus.

The room was quiet, and the jacuzzi tub was a nice bonus. Friendly staff and good breakfast, too. A much better experience than the Wingate Troy experience.