I was just in here a few days ago for one night so I could get a hotel stay with a hotel brand I could trust to be clean, safe and friendly with a ride to the airport (Albany Airport/ALB), and although they have undergone some renovations over the last several months, I do believe there might be more behind-the-scenes work that might change the place yet still upcoming.
The employees were friendly and the atmosphere quite upbeat and vibrant - especially airy when you walk in the main entrance door. The entrance door had a sweet but airy smell, and even the check-in desk person mentioned where to find the air freshener machine in the main entrance. At one point after checking in, I ordered a GrubHub order and when I came in, they "welcomed" me back by name (I had just checked in about an hour before). (I didn't need the business center at any point, but I noticed it was there. There were US News newspapers available in the lobby, but there is now a charge for newspapers there (according to the paper itself).)
Although at first I had some problems with a "potential" early check-in (after arriving at about noon) with no rooms being clean after paying an additional $22.80 charge (charge+2 taxes) (even after the check-in desk person said it would be just $20), shortly thereafter, they shed some light and checked me in with a room - it wasn't very long thereafter (maybe 10 minutes at most). I'm sorry I got there early, but no other hotel has a charge for early check-in and you are the only one who unfairly does this at every Holiday Inn a person checks into.
There were some love-seat sofa cushions to wait on in the lobby if you need, but several times when I came through the lobby, people were gathered on the tables near the business center watching the TV focused on news.
The rooms itself are spacious, have tons of bright lighting and more than ample USB plugs with tons of wall outlets, and if you factor the regular power outlets there - no shortage there. I only used the USB plug in the light itself, but there were times when I was plugged into one of the two USB plugs underneath the TV. I found a clean refrigerator and I wasn't even expecting a microwave. I was never able to utilize the Keurig machine, but I'd suspect that it would've worked (a new unopened K-cup pod was already in the machine when I got there). (I was placed in room 234.)
I was surprised for the loveseat in the room. I had seen an identical one from a trip I took to St Louis in 2017 (in a different brand), and wasn't expecting this one here. I had a king-size bed room, but you outdid yourself here - something I couldn't have said with most other brands.
The bed was a little high up, but that's doable for me. The pool was just finished being renovate on my check-out day the next day, so I couldn't get an accurate representation there - I was able to see the pool area from the interior doorway-hallway and it looked clean, and you could definitely smell the chlorine in the air down that hallway even on the days it wasn't supposed to be open.
I liked that there was transportation to the airport - a three mile distance away. I was able to talk with hotel staff for a 5am shuttle, but instead, I woke up wide-eyed and bushy-tailed and was ready to go early, and upon check-out, I was warmly greeted by the shuttle driver who worked upon my timing and schedule to get me there a little sooner (the 4am/earliest scheduled hour). She was efficient and safe, and even let me sit in the passenger seat. I was unprepared for them using the Shared Ride lane (with her scanning her badge for entry) but that's okay (I had plenty of time). I even gave her a $2 tip for her generosity for the change but never expressed why the tip when I handed her the tip itself.
There's plenty of shopping opportunities nearby. There's the Colonie Center (2-story mall with major names) available across the street, and Wolf Rd is a mega for shopping and restaurants, and if you factor the almost-cross street of Central Avenue, no shortage of shopping and restaurants there too. I know of a Target too just off mall-property near the I-87 Exit 2 interstate junction, but it's whatever you choose, if you need it.
I didn't really like that my room looked out over the Maharajah (Indian food) restaurant, but I could deal with that. The blinds worked quite a bit good early on, but the later into the night it got, the more I felt the need to look out the window at the cars below. (I even spotted a package of Chips Ahoy cookies inside the window of one car (detail provided because "even the windows here are spotless")). The venetian blind system's pulley cords were annoying, but were workable. It was like pulling teeth when you drew the blinds up and down, and even when there were two blinds you could work, mixing up the cords factored an annoyance factor into the equation.
I'd gladly go back in an instant. I got more than I bargained for, it was doable. (Thanks.) read more