Skaneateles Lake

We had an incredible stay at the Essex House last week with our two kids (one is 7 and the other turned 4 on our trip). We booked the king suite, thinking that even though it's NYC and the room will likely be small, it would be the best option for a family of 4. We were SHOCKED at the size of the suite! Not only was it enough room for all of us, it was downright roomy! We had plenty of space for our stay. The amenities and cleanliness of the hotel are superior, room service was delicious (if expensive), and best of all...the guest relations team sent a special surprise gift to our room for our 4 year olds birthday. They sent him balloons, two pieces of cake, and a bag full of stuffies and goodies. He was THRILLED and we were so touched by the thoughtfulness. Both of our kids have already asked if - not only can we go back to New York - but can we stay at the Essex House again! The location was incredible and overall the Essex House played a big part in how wonderful and effortless our trip was. Already looking at dates in the Spring to visit again! Thank you Essex House and your wonderful staff!

The buffet breakfast was terrific!

Our room was clean and comfortable, (beds, linens and towels) but the rug on the floor had a couple of stains. The window curtains need to be replaced. The inside (the side that faces the window) was old so when you brushed up against the curtain you ended up with white powder dust all over your clothes. Of course, you only touched the inside of the curtain when you came in from the outside patio. The colors in the room were nice and bright but didn't go with the rest of the vibe of the hotel. The staff was amazing, always a smile and hello, and very helpful when we checked out with our luggage. We had to check out at 11am but didn't leave for the airport until 1pm so, they held our bags for us while we walked around a bit. One main thing to consider when booking this hotel, which I didn't think of, when entering the hotel, you have some very steep steps to walk up, and if you have luggage, it can be a challenge to carry up the stairs. There are no bellmen at this hotel. We didn't know until we were leaving that there was a back entrance through a restaurant beneath the hotel that you can roll your luggage through to take an elevator to the hotel reception desk. We like the "Speak Easy" vibe of the hotel, but the lighting was just a little too dark for our liking. The location of the hotel was nice (Midtown). It was easy to go in any direction to get where we wanted to go. There are lots of restaurants around this area which was nice.