Very clean and quant motel. Great coffee at the office. The staff are very friendly. If you want coffee in your room, bring your own machine. Only downside is the road noise. read more

We loved our stay at the Grayhaven Motel earlier this summer. The property was stunning, with amazing views and beautifully maintained common spaces and flower beds. The owners were incredibly kind and knowledgeable about local culture, culinary offerings, and sightseeing. They provided excellent recommendations for local cider and navigating the nearby gorge in Buttermilk Falls State Park. The breakfast bar was charming and featured local Ithaca favorites, like granola from Wide Awake bakery, coffee from Oak and Crow, Ithaca Milk yogurt, and local NYS honey and maple syrup. The room was beautiful, featuring a giant glass window to watch migratory birds and other wildlife. The decor was modern, yet the room had a vintage feel. The entire property was elegant with a retro touch. We loved all the outdoor seating, as well as the outdoor fire pits. We look forward to staying again on our next trip to Ithaca! read more

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We had a very nice comfortable stay. Everything we needed except ice. We had a fridge/ freezer in room, however no ice tray. Motel charges for ice so bring your own ice tray or go take it from McD, that's what we did. Motel very convenient to everything! Bed was comfy, central air. Record player in room. We were also left fire starters and s'mores kits for the outdoor bbq area. We did have a nasty clogged sink, just dealt with it. The lobby area is in a separate house, very charming. Morning coffee, papers and snacks. Staff very friendly. read more

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We stayed at the Grayhaven last month for 3 nights. Having never stayed at a motel, we weren't sure what to expect. It exceeded all our expectations. It felt more like a B&B than a motel. We loved the mid-century aesthetic - room decor, record players with classic albums, etc. Excellent coffee and tea were available each morning, along with light breakfast options. Beautiful location with pretty nature trail just behind the motel. It was a quiet, laid back and relaxing experience. If staying near Ithaca, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. read more

Grayhaven Motel - Hotels Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This place is a little jewel. Was able to get a cold beer at check-in after a long day hiking in Letchworth Park. Opened the door to our room and found a beautiful, clean space in mid-century modern decor. Spacious and open like a studio. Absolutely loved our overnight stay. The granola yogurt for breakfast was tasty and the cup of coffee was respectable. Wish we had another day in Ithaca to explore the area and enjoy the accommodations! read more

Grayhaven Motel - Hotels Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Think retro rustic. Really loved our stay. We stayed in one of the West Point Cottages. Basically a suite type accommodation with distinct bedroom and full kitchen. If you're seeking the Waldorf Astoria, you won't love it, but if you like vintage, think of this as updated, chic vintage. Immaculately clean. All the essentials. Hosts were responsive and helpful. Also, hosts did go the extra mile to sanitize during COVID, including offering contactless checkin. Highly recommended. read more

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The room was very clean, we had a great stay. They had a s'mores kit in the room waiting for us and left materials to use in one of the 3 outdoor fire pits. The bed was very comfortable and had a view of a bird feeder and some beautiful green woods through a big window. Even with a large window the room was very comfortable and felt very private. The breakfast was simple but delicious and the common area in the main office building was as adorable and charming as the rest of the motel. read more

When I opened the door to my room and saw the big window and the bird feeder I knew this was my kind of place. Then I noticed all the birding books in the room and I couldn't stop smiling. The fluffy pillows and super clean appearance made the room even more inviting. With acres of undeveloped land behind them, there's a great view for sitting outside and drinking a cup of tea. They have a little playground area too if you've got kiddos (or if you're an adult who likes swings!) The location is perfect. There's 2 state parks within just a few miles, and several more parks, wineries & cider houses & restaurants, and other recreation opportunities in the area. Catch sunrise at Taughannock State Park. You should definitely treat yourself to some of the local snacks and beverages they have available. Seriously if they still have the pepitas you should get a bag brought over to your room with some of that local ginger ale, wowza that was good stuff. I always love supporting local businesses, and in this case they'll bring it right to your door. I had an opportunity to chat with the innkeepers and they're lovely! If you're visiting Ithaca, support these folks and stay at their fantastic place. read more

All in all, we had a really pleasant stay and would consider returning if we were ever in the area again. The owners communicated via email since we are in the covid-19 era. There was no interaction at all, their coffee and tea service was suspended along with some of the other amenities, which made sense and made us feel safe staying there. The location was perfect. Close drive to two state parks, downtown, and a brewery across the street. The room was very clean and parking right at the door was fantastic. We try to stay at hotels as little as possible while traveling, so we were really only there to sleep. For a little over $200/night, we were expecting more. As described, the motel was old, but fixed up. There were a few easy fixes that seemed to be neglected. We stayed in room 7 which had a room above it. We heard every footstep and phone vibrations which was very annoying late at night and early in the morning while we were trying to sleep. We understood why coffee wasn't served, but it would've been a pleasant perk to have coffee grinds with the coffee maker in the room. We ended up driving to McDonald's for coffee each morning since it was the closest spot. The room we were in was also very close to the busy street so we heard every car drive by. The photos online make the property look really set back off the road, so this was a surprise. The last thing is that we suggest the owners to put bath mats in their tubs, as my boyfriend slipped and fell the first day we were there! It could've been a lot worse if he were older or a small child. You should definitely consider staying, just ask for a room without a second floor above it!!! read more

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We stayed here back in July 2020, we loved the experience. As stated in some of the other reviews some amenities were not available due to Covid but we felt safe. Each room has a door directly to the outside and there was no contact with anyone for the most part. Check-in was contactless and cleaning was available upon request. The owners have a done a great job renovating and making this place look nice. All things considered this place is a bargain. Easy access to hiking spots and downtown Ithaca. On grounds, there was plenty of outdoor space to sit, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. We would stay here again. read more

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The best vintage motel ever! Everything restored/remodeled, new rehab with authentic period-correct furniture! And what a nice surprise to find a working record player and a great selection of 60s albums! And firewood and s'more's kit!! We'll definitely be back read more

This was a lovely, convenient, no-muss-no-fuss, dog-friendly motel that we will definitely be coming back to when in the area. I'm from Ithaca, and still have family there but now live outside of Washington, D.C. We came for a visit, and usually stay with family or Airbnbs but for various reasons this time none of our regular spots were available, and we had heard/seen that this motel had been bought and revamped, plus that it was supposed to be very dog-friendly (and we always travel with dogs) so we were looking forward to trying this place out. I will start by saying that my boyfriend and I agreed after leaving that this was the best motel we have ever stayed at. None of that old, dingy, damp, stale cigarette-smokey smell or feel that most motels have. It was clean, tasteful, even artful decor - we particularly loved the big window with the big bird feeder adorned outside for our bird-watching enjoyment. We loved that our view was just green - birds and trees, very Ithaca. Decent king-sized bed (though only one bedside table, which was on my boyfriend's side - would've liked one of my own), modest TV (we liked the lack of emphasis on the TV in the room), two chairs and a glass bottle of water. They also left us a towel, sheet, bowl and little milk bone biscuits for our dog which was nice. Though we regrettably didn't get to make much use of them this trip, we liked the amenities they had outside like a little fenced dog run, playground equipment, hammock (I think?), and fire pit areas for chill summer nights around the fire roasting s'mores. There is not much in the way of snacks or drinks, if you find yourself peckish. It's also a bit annoying that you have to sign in to your own accounts on the TV (on Netflix, etc.) to watch anything. But most weirdly for us was that one morning we were busy in the room and indicated to the cleaning person not to come yet, but then on our way out we saw her and said, "just wanted to let you know, we're out of our room now, so you can come in now!" She acknowledged it and said she would, but when we came back to our room we could barely tell she'd come - except that our towels were folded and water refilled. I've never stayed somewhere where the cleaning service came in but didn't make the bed, pick up empty bottles or trash around, etc. There's also a sign in the room indicating you should tip the cleaning person, so I was assuming that meant they did the regular stuff like make the bed and generally tidy. Obviously that's not a big deal but it was just odd, and I typically think of that as one of the small perks of staying at a h/motel instead of Airbnb or whatever... that it's a nice treat when you're on vacation to leave and come back to a spiffy-ed up room (mostly a made bed that you didn't have to make yourself ;) )! We mentioned it to the owner when we left - just asked what that was about? He said, "hm, that's odd!" And that was that, LOL. Other than that, we very much enjoyed our stay, and appreciate that when we accidentally slept in on our check-out day, they gave us an extra hour to get ready and didn't charge us anything (though that would've really been egregious if they had, since by that point it was a week day and they were definitely not hurting for the space at the time). We look forward to coming back! read more

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Checked into the Grayhaven in Ithaca, NY for an overnight stay in one of their dog friendly cabins. It's ADORABLE and I mean it when I say I wish I was staying here longer. Super clean, nicely appointed with all the basic necessities. Polite and friendly staff both on the phone and during check-in. Highly recommend. read more

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Great stay. Awesome room. Retro furniture absolutely comfortable bed and sheets. Even left us a bag to make s'mores along with fire starter materials. Outdoor fire pit and seating. We loved staying here and will be back next year. Complimentary yogurt, fruit however we had to leave early so missed coffee. Fun style lodging! read more

Well I never thought it would happen in Ithaca; but, just experienced my first blatant anti-gay & anti-disability discrimination. I've driven by the Grayhaven Motel - on Elmira Rd just past Buttermilk Falls State Park - all my life and decided to stop by and check it out. Thought it might be a neat "local place" for some visiting friends. I couldn't have been more wrong. Being completely unaccessible I couldn't get into the lobby and was about to leave when the owner opened the door. Before I could even say hello - she felt it necessary to tell me her opinion of people in wheelchairs (or in her terms "you people..") before segmenting into an anti-gay rant by discussing a previous guest having visitors and more "you people." I'm pretty sure her personal cocktail hour had long since started. She concluded by proclaiming "this is for family tourists" and shut the door. So anyway - I would consider alternative hotel options for your out-of-town guests. #LoveTrumpsHate read more

A charming little motel south of town on Rt. 13 just past Buttermilk Falls. Vibe/friendliness: 5 Amenities: 3 Staying at the Grayhaven reminded us of a visit to Grandma's. It's an old-school roadside motel. We stayed in the Treman lodge in a room with two double beds. The decor is unchanged since the late 70's, so it has that total throwback retro vibe. Had Elvis visited Ithaca, his room might have looked like this. Our room was very large and had a seating area complete with Archie and Edith chairs and a little mini fridge. These rooms also have a kitchen that can be unlocked for an upcharge if you're staying longer (unless you have a huge family or just love to cook, I'd say skip it. If you can't find cheap eats in a town with 20,000+ college kids, you're not looking hard enough). Large rooms, very spacious, and immaculately clean. They have an old playground, and also a dog agility training ground (exhibitions on Saturday mornings). The downside: Dated -- the same thing that gives it that retro kitschy vibe also hurts it. The beds were old, really old, and not that comfortable. A few tiles in the tub were starting to come loose. The air conditioner will get the heat out, but won't get the room cold. The room has a bit of an old smell - not musty per se, but that old smell at grandma's house that cries out for a trip to Home Depot and some work around the house. On the weekends, they'll charge more but offer a continental breakfast -- which wasn't impressive. Half-stale store bought baked goods put out on a table in the office with a pot of coffee and a gallon of OJ. It might be worth checking out the larger rooms with a king size bed, those looked a little more modern on the website. The owners were very nice, and the immaculate cleanliness of the room was impressive. The grounds are well maintained. New beds, a little bit of maintenance to Room 19, and a higher rating might be in the works... read more

Good last minute, desperation option, but not a top choice. The people who run the motel are very nice so I hate to give a strongly mixed review, but I'm assuming you're nice too, and you're here for the truth, so here it is (best to worst): 1) Clean 2) Nice Internet connection (in some rooms, be sure to inquire ahead of time.) 3) Convenient to town (just three miles give or take) 4) MOTEL (you're just a few feet from cars starting, doors slamming, and the highway is only 100 feet away as well.) But not terribly noisy, just somewhat annoying 5) My room had plain, mismatched, worn Hobbit-sized furniture - dresser and nightstand tops barely 2 feet off the floor, desk and chair looked like they were lifted from a one-room schoolhouse - I could not even get my knees below the desk when sitting at it. Lighting is borderline horrible. Don't think you're going to get much work done here. 6) Pretty crummy deal at $100 a night - adds insult to injury - but to be fair I think I simply got gouged because it's homecoming weekend at Cornell. That said, there's nothing to be AFRAID of here (bed-bugs, loitering drug dealers, nails popping through floorboards/carpet etc.), so if you're in a bind this is a decent option, especially if you're not depending on any kind of usable work environment. read more

Fantastic! Staying at the Grayhaven as part of a week-and-a-half visit to Ithaca and we couldn't be happier. It's got everything we wanted -- snacks, coffee and drinks at the office a few doors away, dependable wifi, comfy bed and plenty of space. On the desk was a nice list of recommendations regarding places to eat, spots for day trips, et cetera. We'll be sorry to leave - in fact, we may just move in! read more

My husband and I do a two week motorcycle trip every year for the past 20 years. We have stayed at A LOT of motels. The Grayhaven motel is exactly the type of place we hope to find. The motel is super clean, adorable interesting touches in the rooms, and a ton of TLC from the owners. The room had class and taste and good amenities and was affordable. The motel oozes love from the owners. I highly recommend. read more

This was a great little find for our last minute get away. Prices were great compared to other places in the area. We stayed in a king room, the bed was big and comfortable and also had a variety of pillow firmness to choose from in the room, which is something other hotels struggle to get right. Staff were very friendly and accommodating as well! We would definitely consider Grayhaven for our next stay in Ithaca!! read more

Grayhaven has taken a standard motel and turned it into a beautiful retreat. Our room was clean, comfortable, and incredibly peaceful to return to after a busy day. read more

My husband and I and our two young daughters stayed at the Grayhaven for Cornell reunion weekend and loved it! Much more space than a traditional hotel and the grounds were so well kept. Loved that they had a little playground for the kids and the office has s'mores kits for the fire pits. The only (minor) thing that I wished the room had was a TV, but the owner explained that they're still renovating some of the rooms - friends of ours stayed at the motel too and their room had a TV. The owners were so sweet to help us organize our own BBQ with friends and our large kitchen in the room served us well for food prep. I would 100% stay here again and highly recommended it for families. read more

Stumbled upon this when our normal place was booked. You know the saying..."too good to be true"? Well, it doesn't apply here. The room was great!! Clean, spacious and comfortable. Our hosts were amazing and very accommodating since we would be arriving very late at night. Looking forward to staying again!! read more

It is worth noting that some reviews are from people who stayed prior to the new owners, who have taken much pride and placed great effort into making this a place you'll never forget. That said... We booked a large number of our rooms for our wedding back in October 2018. Alexis and Mark were honest up front that such a large block was new territory for them. They were very accommodating to our requests, and went above and beyond our expectations, despite it being a first for their business. In the several months that elapsed between when we visited to book the block and when the big day came, they really had made quite a few major renovations. We loved the quaint charm, location, and generally relaxed feel. This is not a traditional motel in terms of what one may think of the term. It is much more warm and cozy. The amenities are humble, but so is the price tag. We booked a wide range of room types, and everything from the common areas/lounge, to the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchenettes, was very pleasing. They even helped coordinate, including pickup, a small catering setup so we could provide a nice custom breakfast for our wedding party staying on site. Definitely beyond standard customer service. The owners seem to enjoy what they are doing, and it shows in their interactions. They are involved with every aspect of keeping this a great place to stay, from booking to cleaning, maintenance, and even live on site themselves! Clean, friendly, and socially/environmentally responsible. Its an easy 5 stars for value and a unique experience. We are planning to book a room for our one year anniversary! read more

Moved and repacked our belongings without ever informing us.... to another room. This place might be quaint, but they also think they have a right to go through your luggage and move it to whatever room they please. I would not recommend this place to anyone who wants to feel secure and that their property is safe. Horrible experience. read more

The rooms need updating... And they smell pretty bad ... Run by an elderly couple. the woman is rude.... And strange. The only ups to this place is that it's dog friendly.. And they have an area for the dogs read more

What a wonderful find! The price was definitely right at $75 a night! Cheapest you can find in the city on such short notice during a Cornell reunion weekend especially when the room is so awesome! The lady at the front was so sweet and accommodating. It's the perfect getaway from the annoyance of the college campus when you just want to leave the scene for a night. And the landscaping is beautiful and the rooms are clean spacious and unique. And Internet worked perfectly. The only critique is they need to provide bigger bars of soap. Great job! read more

We had a wonderful family birthday party here this past weekend. The cottages and rooms are so cute. It was so nice to have an area outside to hang out too. I would highly recommend anyone to stay here. It's a beautiful property that is well cared for. read more

DOG FRIENDLY. That's why we stayed here. The location is great, right down the street from Buttermilk Falls. Yes, this is an old motel, but the place is clean and the staff is friendly. They do have coffee and tea available, but there are so many places to eat nearby that no "free breakfast" is not an issue for us. Of course anyone will pay more during busy college weekends, this is Cornell's town. Our room was right by the office/house, so we did have WiFi. Noise was at a minimum. The bathroom was clean. We had a king size bed that was pretty comfortable. There was a small fridge as well. The website has pretty good detail of each room available. (Note to the owners: don't apologize for not having a free continental breakfast, just let it go. People can go to any number of places nearby to get food. You have done a sweet job of outfitting the room with a mini hair dryer, soap, lotion, etc. Cleanliness is the most important thing for most people) The owners do agility with their dogs, so there is a very small fenced area to let yours off leash ( pick up your dog's poop, please!) I give the Grayhaven five stars in the "motel" category. We will definitely be returning...and bringing friends! read more

AMAZING NEW OWNERS! This place is now the perfect motel; I literally have recurring dreams of going back. The Grayhaven is reasonably priced, clean and now under VERY friendly ownership. I've been staying here for years, even under the previous owners, when it was just a fun, nostalgic, average run-of-the-mill motel, and I liked it then too, but I can't overstate what a wonderful job the new owners have been doing. The new, attractive and comfortable lobby has excellent coffee and other great complementary morning provisions. The beds are ten times as comfortable as they ever were before, the rooms are perfectly simple and well decorated while maintaining the vintage motel charm (and they have Amazon Fire Sticks) but the key thing that makes all the difference is how accommodating and friendly the new owners are. The grounds are also now much nicer with functional fire pits, grills, a dog run, a hammock, swings and a nice little playground. Can't wait to return. read more

Easily the best motel in the entire finger lakes area. They were super accommodating in every way possible and the ground are so pretty. I walked my dog on the paths behind the motel and we had a grand old time. The bed was one of the most comfortable I've ever had in a motel/hotel and the atmosphere was charming without being overbearing. They had a fun event on the weekend I was staying there with some local musicians. 11/10 would stay again. read more

This place is a best kept secret in Ithaca area (just a couple miles out of town). Well-kept, cute, inexpensive, easy access to Ithaca and Cayuga Lake. Very nice owner/operator! Cannot beat it! read more

Hidden gem hiding in plain sight. Exceptional hospitality, outstanding customer service, and with hosts that will go the extra mile for guests, this boutique motel is a winner in Ithaca. Minutes from everything, including multiple waterfalls, Ithaca Beer Company, and downtown, you can't go wrong with this place. This place is also phenomenally dog friendly, including an enclosed dog park. read more

The new owners Alexus and Mark have done a fabulous job as they have taken over ownership of this retro motel that has been in their family for years. They kept the love of dogs including the large, fenced play area. They have added new paint and an overall freshness. This is an older motel being cared for in its true fashion -- not trying to be something plastic. Owners show environmental care with no waste soap dispensers, glass glasses and high quality US cotton sheets and towels. The dogs loved that the room was ready for them with an extra sheet to protect the bedspread from muddy paws, stainless bowls, dog biscuits. dog level windows with a view of the woods and a bird feeder for their enjoyment. Skip the chains that are spread all over Ithaca and enjoy a real motel, run by real people. Incredibly clean and comfortable. If you are lucky enough to arrive on movie night or an art gallery opening you will enjoy it even more! A great vibe that quickly becomes quiet for a restful sleep. We will stay here for every event we attend at Paws for Thought Canine Events Center in Groton, NY. read more

I would not recommend this place. The room was musty smelling, dusty, drab and depressing. If they would clean it adequately it would have been bearable but I found hair in the bathroom - sink, wall, tub and floor. There were two sopping wet towels in the fridge which was dirty inside. I had to dust the shelf, table and lamps near bed. If the owners hadn't turned on "no vacancy" sign (there were plenty of rooms still) when i returned to my room after a long day, I would have asked for my money back and gone to another place. Checking in in a hurry was a big mistake. read more

We will definitely check it out this fall! 3 stars for the new ownership. Looking forward to the tour!

My family came into town for a family funeral. The girl at the front desk "Robin" took advantage of the situation and started gossipy rumor talk. This gossip traveled all the way back to family in Florida. The very day of the funeral we had to figure out the best way to handle the drama caused by her gossip nature. We decided to leave and never return. This behavior is unacceptable and extremely unprofessional! We should never have had to deal with that during our time of grieving! read more