Do not fear. This is a good motel unless you're really fussy. It's a bit of a throwback if you're over 50. Remember when you drove long-distance on vacation with your parents in a station wagon and would need a motel along the way? You rarely reserved in advance and there were relatively few chains besides Holiday Inn and Best Western. Everyone carried AE Travelers Cheques. That illuminated "Vacancy" sign from the highway let you know there was a room to be had for weary travelers. Well, this is it.

I wanted a hotel about an hour south of Utica for a particular night to avoid too much driving the next morning. Sidney/Bainbridge was exactly the spot on my route. I'd booked it over the Super 8 on the highway based on reviews and not wanting to detour all the way to Oneonta since my reason was to save time the next morning.

I arrived at 10:30pm, as planned. You call a number from the office and the owner/family/staff "come down" and check you in. They actually live there--great safety feature for a female traveling alone. My room was clean and very comfortable, if spare and exactly as advertised. Great value too. It did not smell musty. Bath amenities and towels were nice quality. It had a microwave and refrigerator and flat-screen TV, but sadly no coffee maker or even a glass or ceramic coffee mug to heat water (I'd brought a tea bag...), sigh. I'm quite sure they'd have accommodated a request, but I wasn't going to ask at 10:45pm.

I will confirm some other reviews: it does seem to cater to people who work on the road and get up early. I suspect some are regulars M-Thurs. There appeared to be a communal space with a gas grill outside (great for group travelers or work teams). I did hear the person in the room above me--not loud or annoying, but it might be for someone not used to apartment living. A freight train came by at 6:30am (I'd gotten up at 6, so no big deal). There are no late night dining options, but there are some gas station/markets to procure something if you need and didn't bring.

Early the next morning I awoke to some bird song. The Susquehanna River is literally just behind the motel (well down hill--no flood worries and the river was in flood-emergency when I was there). The delightful surprise was the cute coffee and breakfast/lunch options in Bainbridge, which I definitely recommend. If you're early enough in the evening, there are plenty of dinner options.

Because of the proximity to parks and natural areas, this would be a fantastic vacation motel for several days or even a week on a limited budget.

Suggestions for improvement: coffee mugs and coffee maker in the room and a black-out curtain for the front window. I turned out the porch light in front of my door, but the light from the neighboring door was on all night and illuminated my room from the gaps in the shade. I forgot an eye mask, not that it should be needed.

I grew up in Bainbridge but never knew what this place was like until I came back and stayed there last weekend. I was very pleasantly surprised. It was very clean and comfortable. The owner was very nice and accommodating. I had all the amenities I needed - cable TV, free wifi, fridge, microwave, big bathroom, very comfortable bed. I will stay here again when I come back to my hometown.

Just one word of caution: Find out what company your credit card will be billed to. Mine was not billed to the Algonkin Motel but rather another unknown company within their business family. When I got my credit card statement, I reported the unknown company as a fraudulent claim before I realized that it might be the motel charge. My credit card was cancelled and I had to wait 7-10 days to get a new card and re-assign the new card number to my auto-pay accounts. It was a real hassle that could have been avoided if the motel just told me the company name the charge would be billed to.

It was our first time staying there so didn't know what to expect but we were impressed with the cleanliness of the room. The bed was comfortable. It was quiet. The owner was very friendly and when we asked for a room on the first floor for our next visit she was very accommodating. We made a reservation already for out next visit.
Lucille W.