Review of Best Western Inn in Cobleskill, NY

Cobleskill is a laid-back town in Schoharie County, the site of one of New York’s state universities and situated west of Albany, NY. I like Cobleskill. The views are spectacular, the people are cheerful and generous, and the area has the comforts of civilization (such as Dunkin Donuts, movies theatres, Walmart, and Howe Caverns) while still retaining that relaxing country atmosphere. It’s also the best place to get accommodations outside of Albany, I think.

We stayed overnight at the Best Western Inn on 121 Burgin Drive in Cobleskill. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Inn situated very near a shopping complex but up a hill where the views are gorgeous.

Best Western Inn graciously provided my large family two adjoining rooms to write this review of their facilities. I had no idea what to expect when we arrived, but I can now say that the place is phenomenal! First things first…

We arrived at check-in time, 3pm. The Inn is a one-story building, featuring a slew of rooms with double beds, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a restaurant, a bowling alley and a lovely lobby! I was wowed by all the amenities. Besides the typical free morning coffee, Best Western Inn gives free wireless Internet service and a complementary issue of USA Today for all guests.

Check in was prompt and I was very impressed with the ladies at the front desk. I’ve been to a number of hotels (my husband has even worked at a few) and we’ve had our share of bad experiences with front desk employees. The Best Western Inn ladies were a breath of fresh, hospitable air. We were all extremely delighted with the friendly, easy-going manner of the ladies. I’m always a little nervous meeting new people, but these ladies put me at ease. They quickly got us settled and made us feel very welcome. Read more

Great Places: Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY

In 2004, before I started my travel blogging, we visited the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY. The Schuyler Mansion is a historic house, right in the heart of Albany, NY, and was once the home of General Philip Schuyler. You don’t hear too much about Philip Schuyler in American history, but he was a very influential man and came from a very influential Dutch family. He is most known today as the father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton. In fact, Hamilton was married in the Mansion (it was called “The Pasture” by General Schuyler) and spent a few years there while he served in the New York legislature.

The Schuyler Mansion sits atop a small knoll over the bustling capitol streets. As a matter of fact, when you enter the grounds, there is a quiet hush on the property. You barely notice the trucks and cars whizzing down the streets, nor the boats chugging up and down the nearby Hudson River. The grounds remind me somewhat of an English cottage (or perhaps Dutch). There are flowering trees everywhere, and the brick buildings lend a homey and comfortable feel.

The Mansion was completed in 1763. It has hosted such luminaries as Alexander Hamilton as mentioned, George Washington, Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Franklin, and the notorious British General Johnny Burgoyne who, after his surrender at the Battle of Saratoga, was comfortable and graciously served here.

Photo courtesy of BCSD.

Photo courtesy of mharrsch.

Philip Schuyler died in 1804, not long after his son-in-law Hamilton in the fated duel with Aaron Burr. The large plot of land was carved up and sold, and the house used as a private residence for nearly 90 years. It then became an orphanage for some years.

On October 17th, 1917, the Mansion was sold to the State of New York and became a National Historic Site. Oddly enough, this was exactly 140 years after Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga.

When we visited the Mansion, it was quite sparse. A few of the rooms were still undergoing renovation (unchanged since the orphanage days), and furniture was in the process of being acquired. We saw the hatchet mark on the stair banister rail.

Photo courtesy of BCSD.

Legend holds that the hatchet slice was made during an Indian raid at the time of the American Revolution– Philip Schuyler’s family had been targeted; the women and children spotted the marauding savages and scrambled to run up the stairs to hide. It is said that one of the Schuyler daughters, holding a baby, narrowly missed death by hatchet when the weapon caught the staircase wood instead of her head. This is the legendary story– it is unconfirmed but makes for a good thriller!

The Schuyler Mansion is open from April to October, and closed for the winter except on special occasions. We’ve been so tempted to attend their special Christmas and Twelfth Night celebrations, but Albany is a lengthy drive for us in the winter.

The Schuyler Mansion is an understated jewel amongst the riches to be found in New York State history. I think Philip Schuyler deserves more recognition and laud than he has received thus far. He was a good, godly man, a man of integrity and incredible patriotism. He worked for and sacrificed a great deal for the cause of liberty for our country.

Thank you, General Schuyler.

Staying at the Marriott Residence Inn in Latham, NY

In the summer of 2006, we spend a weekend in Albany, NY, our capital city. My husband did not want to stay in a cheesy motel, so he chose the Marriott Residence Inn near the airport, in Latham, NY. He was willing to pay the expense of staying at such a luxurious hotel (in my estimation), so how could I refuse? lol.

Latham, NY, is a few miles north of Albany. The Residence Inn is tucked in a cul-de-sac of the typical business park setting: narrow roads with other hotels, a few convenience stores, and a gas station or two. I don’t like the concrete-jungle look of the business parks (New York State is calling them “Empire Zones” because the businesses that settle in such zones get tax breaks) but have learned to accept it in Upstate NY.

We pulled into a entrance narrow road of circular roadways. There are about 100 separate suites at this Marriott. The Residence Inn is not like a hotel, it’s more like a collection of apartments, or townhouses. They are usually occupied by longer-term vacationers or business people. This is a description from their own website:

At Residence Inn Albany Airport, we have perfected the extended-stay experience by combining all of the comforts of home with our passion for making every guest feel welcome. Our spacious suites offer separate living/sleeping areas, plenty of space for relaxing, entertaining or meetings, and a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, microwave and everything you’ll need to cook (except food!).

The Inn had a pool, a fitness area, and a heated spa. Too luxurious for us! We just wanted a clean place to stay that was private, and where all six of us could be together.

See, this is the hardest part of traveling overnight with a larger than usual family. Most hotels have occupancy rules, and will not allow more than four people to stay together in a room. We do not like being split up. Therefore, finding a hotel to accommodate our large group can be an arduous task. This is why we decided on the Residence Inn. The suites are geared for families. They are non-smoking and very private.

Check-out was quick and easy, however front desk service could have been more mannerly (get off the phone with your girlfriend and please give me my keys to my room). I don’t know what it is with front-desk service, is it really so hard to attend to the guests? Unfortunately, I am now conditioned to be surprised if I get a representative who is attentive and friendly. Grr.

We found our suite after driving around a little. As with our stay at the Lodge on the Green, the building was two-story and required a little hike up the stairs. My kids are very good about carrying their luggage (and mine) so we managed that very well.

The suite was a “two storey” suite and very, very nice. Downstairs was a little entrance area, and a living room, bathroom, small kitchen, and large bedroom (sliding doors closed off the bedroom). Upstairs was another bedroom and a bathroom. The beds were evenly divided for us: 2 upstairs, 2 in the downstairs bedroom, and two on the sofa sleeper in the living room. Perfect for us.

I snapped a few photos of the kids, looking down from the upstairs bedroom. The upstairs bedroom has a half-wall, like a loft, which gives it an airy effect and also allowed me to monitor the downstairs activities.

The room was extremely clean. The non-smoking atmosphere helped, too. There were a few things in the kitchen: coffee, tea, and a few snacky things. Because we were only staying one night, we didn’t settle in too much.

The beds were very comfortable. Sleeping was hard for the kids, though. This was partially due to the excitement of being away from home, the anxiety of being away from home, and the airplanes that flew overhead. The noise of the planes wasn’t too bothersome, but one of the children is a very light sleeper, and she did not enjoy her stay because of this.

The boys found the sofa bed to be comfortable, as well as a fun place to have a pillow fight… at 6am.

Wireless access is available at the Inn, as it is in most places now. I couldn’t connect, however, not knowing how ethernet worked at that time. I usually bring my laptop when we travel to connect to the Internet and upload photos and check business email. The woman at the tech help service desk was extremely friendly and even called me back later to ask how I was progressing. I couldn’t connect, and to this day I’m still not sure if it was my laptop’s configuration settings or the service. At any rate, I’d brought my laptop for nothing and couldn’t check my mail.

Breakfast was crowded. Summer in New York’s capital city district is probably a very busy time, but the dining area seemed unusually small and a little uncomfortable. Of course, we could have eaten breakfast in our suite, but we wanted to leave early and also who could resist their offer of free food in the dining area? The food was OK, with a wide variety: scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, a variety of juices, etc. The kids enjoyed their meal (not unusual, lol).

Check out was very quick and easy.

I’d go to the Residence Inn again, but only if I won a million dollars or something. It was too expensive for comfort, even if it was a “vacation.” The room was the most impressive of all to me. It was clean, it was comfortable, and it was relaxing. I’m sorry my daughter was disturbed by the airplanes! Overall, our stay was pleasant.