Margo_Chester

I don't know why I can't get a grip on this - you would think we've never traveled before . . . I need some advice on where to stay for a 2-night, 3-day trip to the Hudson Valley. There are 8 of us, ranging from 12-75 years in age (the seniors are very active, no extra issues there) we'll be visiting Olana at either the beginning of the trip on our way "down" or at the end on the way home. Will also visit FDR Home & Museum, Vanderbuilt Estate, tour the CIA and possibly the Mills Mansion. Sadly Wilderstein is not open during our planned visit. Will mix in some leisure time to shop, eat, have coffee etc. We'll have from about noon on a Saturday to late Monday afternoon to be tourists.

Considering our group I'm not looking for a romantic B&B, probably in this case a chain hotel with breakfast included would be a better bet. What town should I be looking in? I haven't found much in the way of chain hotels in Hyde Park, Kingston looks like it's on the 'wrong' side of the river (please correct if I'm mistaken) and from what I've read in other threads it sounds like Poughkeepsie has no redeeming qualities! Trying to find a base location that makes sense. Not looking for the Four Seasons, but please no 1970's decor. I'm in charge of finding us a place to stay, I don't want 7 people annoyed with me.

We won't be running back to the hotel throughout the day, most likely will leave after breakfast and return after dinner. Sorry for all the details but wanted to give you enough info to be able to help us.

Thanks in advance.

longhorn55

About 4 years ago, we took our son to West Point for a college visit and stayed 3 nights at the Holiday Inn Express West Point/Ft. Montgomery. It was convenient not only for West Point (which is well worth a visit) but also for the sightseeing we did at the FDR home and Vanderbilt estate and dinner at the CIA. I recall it had an indoor pool and that it had a good breakfast. (Holiday Inn Express always has those delicious hot cinnamon rolls!)

owlwoman

The "chain" hotels on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie are fine, there's a new Hampton Inn, we've stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, which I can first hand recommend. They have two bedroom units w/a living room/pull out couch, which might accomodate you nicely and they include a really nice hot breakfast too.

It's very easy to get to all the sights you wish to see too. Try to have a meal at the CIA while you're in the area.

Also have stayed at the Comfort Inn in Hyde Park, it's ok, for your basic hotel and the breakfast was basically cereal/coffee. It's a little more convenience to the sights, but the RI is much nicer.

If you want something a little more upscale, the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck is nice, but you'll have to pay for breakfast. The town of Rhinebeck has lots of nice restaurants within walking distance.

Margo_Chester

Thanks for the responses, I will look into your suggestions this evening. Can you give me a rough idea of drive time between Hyde Park & Poughkeepsie, as well as West Point & Hyde Park?

Thanks so much!

Scarlett

It has been a while since we lived in NY and spent our weekends Upstate but ... The Beekman Arms is a lovely charming way to spend a weekend up there. The pub, the huge fireplace in the lobby and the wonderful little French restaurant across the street.
We also spent a weekend in the Delamater House which is about half a block from the Beekman .. those rooms have fireplaces . The service is excellent, you get your moneys worth ..
There are so many charming B&B's in the area too.
In Hudson which is past Hyde Park but very close to Olana, you can stay at the Hudson Hotel and experience that town, really fun, good places to eat and the antiques ! Oh my ~
Poughkeepsie is huge and it borders Hyde Park .. but the area where the Historic homes ect in Hyde Park ( you have to go to the Vanderbilt Mansion .. really) is not far at all. . 20 minutes maybe ? depends on traffic .. Rt 9 in the fall can be a parking lot. If there are ballgames at Marist College, traffic is very slow.
Now I want to go :- )

J62

Scarlet has a good memory. Drive time from the chain hotels on Rt 9 to Hyde Park (CIA) is about 15min, another 5min or so to get to FDR. The commercial stretch of Rt 9 through Poughkeepsie - it's just the city itself isn't a place to write home about.

In addition to the Hampton Inn and Residence Inn there is an older Courtyard, and HI Express nearby. The HI express is an older property, but I think it was recently renovated. The HIE is the cheapest of those chain hotels.

That stretch of Rt 9 isn't slow. It's the stretch from I-84 up to Poughkeepsie that has too many out-of-synch lights and is a pain if you're in hurry.

Closer to I-84 on Rt 9, in the town of Fishkill (kill = dutch word for creek), there is another cluster of chain hotels.
HGI, Courtyard, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Sierra Suites, and one or two other. That area is also unremarkable - basically a WalMart parking lot & strip malls, but fine for an overnight. I know a couple of good restaurants near there if you need info.

If you're coming from West Point and want a midway point for a hotel, then that area is just fine. It'd be about 30min from there to Hyde Park. A little longer if you hit afternoon shopping traffic past the malls.

The only time Rt 9 in Rhinebeck area gets backed up is during the county fair in late August. The stretch by Marist is rarely busy, and only 2 or 3 lights over a long stretch.

West Point to POK I'd estimate at about 1hr.

Are you sure you want to go though Scarlett? It's been a tough winter.

After 2 days of very heavy rainstorms and balmy early spring like temperatures there's only about 6-8" of hard pack snow left on the ground. For most of 2011 there's been about 2 feet.

Early crocus are pushing through the snow, so spring isn't far away.

KatieR

Hi, Margo. You've chosen some terrific places to visit! I'm a local in the Hudson Valley and Rhinebeck is a good base for the places you're planning to go to. Here are some links for accommodations that might fit your needs:

http://www.beekmandelamaterinn.com/
http://www.therhinecliff.com/
http://www.rhinebeckvillageinn.com/

Enjoy the historic & beautiful Hudson Valley!

taconictraveler

I'm also a local to this area and I agree with KatieR. Rhinebeck would be the only place I would want to stay, or The nearby Rhinecliff Inn, to which she gave you theweb site, because of it's situation directly on the river.
All of the "chain" hotels are south of Poughkeepsie and you have limited time to see all these great sites.
when are you doing this trip?

Margo_Chester

Thanks for the continued responses, I appreciate it!

Looked at the Marriott Residence Inn, and from some of the reviews (which I usually take with a grain of salt!) stated that it is also over flow housing for Marist(!) not sure we want to risk possibly spending 2 nights with college students. I think I might have to pass because of that chance, but it did fit the bill. Will check out the new Hampton Inn. Thanks Owlwoman!

Taconictraveler & Kate, thank you! The Rhinecliff Inn (nice!) looks a bit romantic for this type of trip, but I don't think the motel is what we are looking for either. Seems like from either Rhinebeck or Poughkeepsie we will be doing a little driving to get to what we want to see - I just wanted to make sure I wasn't too far out. From what J62 said it would seem to be about a 15-20 minute drive from Poughkeepsie to Hyde Park, obviously according to traffic and from what point we are departing/arriving. To me that would be a reasonable drive.

Thanks again and feel free to keep the info coming!

Scarlett

LOL, J62 , I am copying that down ( Scarlett, you have a good memory) .. no one has said that in a while.
We used to go to Rhinebeck and beyond all through the year, for the Dutchess County Fair weekend, Fall apple picking, November anniversary weekends, etc.
We actually are contemplating moving back and living in the area , so far memories of winters up there aren't too bad .. erased by the memories of summer in Florida after we moved from NY :- )
Delamater House is perfect .. imo.

Michael

You might want to read my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...east-coast.cfm

The motel across from FDR's home is most basic, even a little worn. But it was clean and the price was right.

KatieR

Rhinebeck is most central for your locations, just north of Hyde Park, as close or closer to the CIA, FDR Home, Vanderbilt Estate & Mills Mansion as the chain hotels in Poughkeepsie. It also gets you north of Poughkeepsie traffic, although on weekends you get some weekender traffic. And it's closer to Olana & Hudson. As Scarlett says, Delamater House would be perfect, but maybe a bit pricer than chains. It's part of the Beekman Arms but about 1/2 block away, which bills itself as the oldest inn in America & has a good Sunday brunch. You'd be right in town and could walk to a number of restaurants and cool little stores. So much nicer than being in a chain out on 9W.

I just did a price check, it looks like the rack rates for that Marriott RI are comparable to a basic room at Delamater & maybe you could ask for a group discount if you're taking a # of rooms... worth a try.

Margo_Chester

Thanks for all the tips, we had a fantastic time!
Started out on Saturday am and went to Olana where we had reservations for the house tour – wonderful. Went into Hudson for lunch at Earth Foods, shopped through some of the stores and drove to Rhinebeck. Looked at Wilderstein (opens in May) and walked around the grounds. Dinner at Terrapin (bistro side) was very good. From there it was an easy drive to the Hampton Inn in Poughkeepsie.

After breakfast the next morning we went to FDR’s home for a tour, walked the grounds and lunched across the street at the Hyde Park Brewery. Afternoon was spent touring the Mills mansion, shopping in Rhinebeck, coffee at “Bread Alone”, followed by dinner at the Everyready Diner. Diner was fun, portions were way too big.

Monday we checked out of the hotel and went to the CIA (a 10 minute drive) where we had reservations for the 10:00 am tour. Highly recommended. Had coffee/pastry in the Apple Pie Bakery Café and from there drove to the Vanderbilt Mansion for a tour which was excellent. Headed home after a very late lunch.

Great weekend, we want to go back as there are just so many interesting things to see and do in the area. Wonderful guides at each place we toured. The hotel worked out perfectly for our group, about a half hour from Rhinebeck, 10 minutes from Hyde Park (no traffic issues). Hotel was spotless, breakfast offered both hot & cold foods and there was plenty of seating in the breakfast area. Thanks to everyone who answered my questions and offered suggestions, I appreciated it!

HowardR

Glad you had a good time in our beautiful Hudson Valley.
Next time come in the fall to see the foliage. That's definitely the best time here. And when you come back in the fall, return to Olana. As wonderful as it is at other times of the year, the site is spectacular when the foliage is at its height.
And, you are so right when you say that there are so many interesting things to see. Two of the best--Storm King and Kykuit (the Rockefeller estate)--should head your list next time.

J62

Glad you had a good time. The Eveready diner definitely has big portions - including the sundaes! There's often a line out the door on a Friday or Saturday night for dinner.

owlwoman

Nice report, one of our favorite weekend trips (sometimes a day trip). Glad to hear Poughkeepsie worked out, as much as we would always love to stay further North, sometimes those hotels are a bit pricey for us, yet I did discover the Beekman Arms has some motelish rooms in the back that are more reasonable, but dated. Also, a lot of these places have a 2 night minimum, which the "chains" don't have.

We're usually having dinner at the CIA anyway, so we always find Poughkeepsie or the Comfort Inn in Hyde Park ok to stay in. That must be new housing for Marist at the Residence Inn, don't remember any students there when we overnighted.

Yes, come back, Howard R's recommendations are spot on, along with Lyndhurst, Phillips Manor, Van Cortland Manor, West Point, Boscobel, could go on and on!

P.S. Also enjoy the Eveready Diner when we visit the area!