belmont3 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> The High End: Normal group. Few older hotels like
> the Adelphi.
> The Saratoga Hilton. Last stayed there about 5
> years ago. It was nice. but I thought getting a
> bit dated.
> The Batcheller Mansion Inn got rave review from a
> friend of mine.
> The Holiday Inn is popular
> Homewood Suites pretty new and good reviews
>
> All those pretty pricey and tough to book.
>
> I have moved down the road a few exits to Clifton
> Park over the last 5 to 10 years.
> Courtyard Marriot is nice but do not count on
> there being enough toner in the printer for
> programs.
> Hampton across the street is Fairmount Country.
> La Quinta is this years reservation. If you hate
> pets, do not book but they do serve breakfast and
> the price is a bit more reasonable.
>
> Then there are the many small Mom and Pop motels.
> Most a bed, shower, TV and table.
> St. Francis, the Springs, Danny's, the T-Bred.
> (that is a doozy of a place...lol) Some overpriced
> and some underpriced (For Very Good Reason)...
>
> Over 40 years of attending the SPA, I have tried
> most. Round Lake Motel was a regular stop. Those
> were the days of yesteryear when I was a regular
> at Cliffs County Inn on Saratoga Lake. Changed
> hands a few years back and bartender Chaz can be
> found at Mama Mia's. Still get a warm greeting
> when I stop their post races. Teedee, the elder
> stateman of Cliffs can be found most nights on a
> bar stool at Pennells...a longtime favorite of
> mine.
>
> Hope this helps.
> Maybe some others will weigh in.
>
> Bopb


That's a good synopsis. Be prepared for sticker shock in town. Even the more respectable chains in Clifton Park seem to be running $200+/night. We've found some VRBO spots that are convenient, and less pricey than the Saratoga chains.

The other night I was reminiscing with my wife about places I stayed before I met her and had to elevate my game, so to speak. This was roughly 35 years ago. The all time in-town classic was the Rip Van Dam, of which you could safely say you couldn't beat the price. Three guys could get a room with three single beds, and the only thing more uneven than the beds was the floor. The elevator had an operator, that ran at a comparable speed to most of the horses I was betting.

We would alternate that with the Community Court, up Broadway, past Congress Park. All I can remember is that about 8 of us would cram into two small rooms and play euchre in the mornings in the parking lot, using our coolers as chairs. And, yes, the coolers were in use for their intended purpose even at that hour. For reasons never clear to me, we weren't thrown out of there which is more than I can say for a non-descript strip motel somewhere between Glen Falls and Lake George that has been reincarnated as a parking lot for an amusement park, which is actually an aesthetic upgrade.