 |
|
|
Best Hotel Bets
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, 50 Central Park South (tel. 212/308-9100): The combination of a great location across from Central Park, large well-outfitted rooms, and excellent Ritz-Carlton service is as good as it gets.
Casablanca Hotel, 147 W. 43rd St. (tel. 888/922-7225): In the Theater District, the Casablanca not only offers clean, well-outfitted rooms at value rates, but also includes extras like complimentary breakfast, bottled water, free high-speed Internet access, and a lovely roof deck perfect for a cocktail on a balmy evening.
Seatuck Cove House (Eastport; tel. 631/325-3300): On the edge of the Hamptons, this enormous Victorian home sits right out on the water with gorgeous views. Because the inn has only five rooms, you'll feel like you own the place. The rooms are painted white and decorated with an appropriately beachy decor. Four of the five are also large enough to comfortably accommodate a separate sitting area. Take a walk along the waterfront or a dip in the pool, then grab one of the best B&B breakfasts on Long Island.
Mohonk Mountain House (Lake Mohonk; tel. 800/772-6646): A legendary Victorian castle perched on a ridge overlooking the Catskill region's Shawangunk Mountains, the Mohonk Mountain House is more than a hotel; it's a destination unto itself. Still in the hands of the original family, the whimsical lodge lives up to its exalted reputation, earned over the past 130 years. In the midst of the 6,400-acre Mohonk Forest Preserve, its setting is beyond compare and outdoor activities include something for everyone. Rooms are decorated in Edwardian, Victorian, or Arts and Crafts style, and the massive place is loaded with fireplaces and pretty nooks.
Emerson Resort & Spa (Mt. Tremper; tel. 877/688-2828): Rebuilt after a devastating fire, this chic inn and spa hotel lost some of its exoticism but none of its sleek elegance, which remains a rarity in the Catskill Mountains. Its sybaritic spa and restaurant are unequaled in the region, making this a perfect place for big-city types who want to be in the country, but not in rustic lodgings.
The Saratoga Hotel & Conference Center (Saratoga Springs; tel. 866/937-7746): Saratoga is loaded with charming Victorian B&Bs, but until recently it didn't have anything approaching a modern luxury hotel. This large and chic, newly remodeled business hotel, right on the main drag, fills that niche nicely, and it has one of upstate's best restaurants to boot: the relocated Chez Sophie bistro.
The Otesaga (Cooperstown; tel. 800/348-6222): The grande dame of central New York, dating from 1909, sits grandly on the shores of Lake Otsego. While renovations have brought bathrooms and air-conditioning into the 21st century, the hotel is firmly rooted in the past, maintaining its historic feel with high ceilings, heavy wooden doors, and formal furniture. Still, with a plethora of patios and balconies, along with a renowned golf course and plenty of watersports, this seasonal hotel is focused on the equally gorgeous outdoors that surround it.
Aurora Inn (Aurora; tel. 866/364-8808): A mid-19th-century inn saved from demolition and given a glorious new life, this small boutique hotel is the centerpiece of a sweet little town on the east bank of Cayuga Lake. Although small, the inn has the superb service and style of a luxury hotel, as well as stunning water views, rooms that are models of graceful interior design, and one of the most elegant restaurants in the Finger Lakes.
Sherwood Inn (Skaneateles; tel. 800/3-SHERWOOD): Occupying a prime position in the most delightful town in the Finger Lakes, this longtime small hotel -- a stagecoach stop from the early 19th century -- looks out onto Skaneateles Lake and exudes a relaxed, genteel feel. The old staircase, wide-plank floorboards, and colorfully designed rooms may seem old-world and old-money, but travelers can stay for moderate prices. It also features a very nice restaurant and tavern, both of which look out onto the lake.
The Point (Saranac Lake; tel. 800/255-3530): A former Rockefeller Great Camp, this exclusive, secluded retreat overlooking Saranac Lake is today the ultimate in wilderness indulgence. Huge rooms are decked out with touches like enormous stone fireplaces, but it's the all-inclusive, satisfy-any-request character of this 11-room camp that really makes it a special experience. Have a gourmet lunch aboard their boat or at a remote cabin, go water-skiing, watch the chefs at work, enjoy the open bar, trade tales around the nightly bonfire, or just hide out in the rustic ambience of your room.
Lake Placid Lodge (Lake Placid; tel. 877/523-2700): Awash in rustic luxury, the lodge is the quintessential Adirondacks experience. Sitting on the shores of secluded Lake Placid, this exclusive getaway features meticulous and personalized service, along with rooms filled with one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, many built by local artists from birch or cedar (and for sale!). With lots of quiet nooks and a gorgeous stone patio, you can grab your own corner of the 'dacks and feel like you have the place to yourself.
The Sagamore (Lake George; tel. 800/358-3585): One of the last grand Adirondack lodges still standing, this 1883 hotel sits on its own island in Lake George and comes with a stellar restaurant, a great spa, a terrific golf course, a wonderful waterfront, and loads of amenities. While a conference area keeps it open in the winter, this is mostly a summertime resort, where you'll have your pick of room styles, restaurants (there are six), and activities -- and you can always just grab an Adirondack chair and sit out on the patio overlooking the lake.
The Mansion on Delaware (Buffalo; tel. 716/886-3300): This renovated mansion on Millionaire's Row blends in so well with the gorgeous private homes around it that you'd never even guess it was a hotel. Inside, you'll find ultramodern (but comfy) furniture, luxurious (and huge) bathrooms, and ultrapersonalized service. Rooms have been styled around the existing mansion, creating unique spaces in the city's most unique property.
The Best Inns & B&Bs
Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa (Milton-on-Hudson; tel. 877/746-6772): Secluded among 70 acres along the Hudson River, this soothing boutique hotel is an excellent choice to get away from it all or to use as a base for exploring the Hudson Valley or the eastern edges of the Catskills. Part historic inn (the main house is a 1764 Colonial), part posh day spa, and part rustic retreat -- with wooded trails, waterfalls and ponds, gardens, and separate cottage houses -- there's something for almost everyone. Rooms are elegant without being fussy.
The Inn at Lake Joseph (Forestburgh; tel. 845/791-9506): A first-class country estate in the southeastern quadrant of the Catskill region, this secluded Victorian inn is elegant and peaceful. It has manor house rooms in a 19th-century summer getaway, as well as splurge-friendly carriage and cottage houses that are more like princely private apartments.
The Morgan State House (Albany; tel. 888/427-6063): One doesn't ordinarily expect elegance and luxury from the gritty state capital, which has few decent hotels, but this small inn goes against conventional wisdom. A lovely 1888 town house on "Mansion Row," it features spacious rooms that are as luxuriously appointed as any five-star hotel. But it's much more intimate and has more flair, with beautiful 19th-century period details, antiques, and extraordinary linens and bedding. While sipping coffee in the serene interior garden courtyard, you'll never realize how many trench-coated bureaucrats and lobbyists hover just down the street.
Hillcrest Manor (Corning; tel. 607/936-4548): A refined B&B in a gateway town to the Finger Lakes, this gorgeous 1890 Greek Revival mansion is just minutes from the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass in a peaceful residential neighborhood. The opulent inn, owned by two art collectors, has tasteful parlors and very spacious bedrooms. Few inns can match this level of sophistication and luxury, and fewer still match the relatively affordable prices you'll find here.
Hobbit Hollow Farm B&B (Skaneateles; tel. 315/685-2791): Overlooking graceful Skaneateles Lake, this sumptuous and intimate small inn gives you a chance to make believe that you're a privileged country gentleman or -woman relaxing on your horse farm. The century-old Colonial Revival, ensconced on 400 acres with panoramic lake views, is as luxurious and attentive to detail as they come. Rooms are charmingly elegant; for those on a budget, the smaller rooms are a decent value and you can still imagine yourself the prince of Skaneateles.
The Mansion Inn of Saratoga (Rock City Falls/Saratoga Springs; tel. 888/996-9977): This sophisticated 1866 Victorian inn sits on 4 acres just outside Saratoga Springs and is replete with luxurious details, both in common rooms and in the spacious accommodations. The owners are serious about high-end pampering, making it an ideal weekend getaway.
Black Sheep Inn (Hammondsport; (tel. 607/569-3767): A new arrival to the Finger Lakes is this inn occupying a rare 1859 octagon house, immaculately restored and converted by the young owners, one of whom is a chef devoted to organic cooking and the other an interior designer. The house is lavishly outfitted, but not at all fussy. The location, in a pretty, small town near beautiful Keuka Lake, is a bonus.
The Chalet of Canandaigua (Canandaigua; tel. 585/394-9080): This tiny luxury inn has enormous rooms of immense style, a surprise within the walls of a unique log cabin. Equipped to the nines, it's a perfect blend of rusticity and stylish warmth, with no detail overlooked. Whatever the season, this chalet makes a dignified retreat.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
|
|
|
