The 5 Best Upstate New York Hotels for an Off-Season Getaway

After the holidays each year, many folks steer clear of traveling. Whether it’s because they’re broke from gift-giving or looking to start the year off on a fresh, health-forward start, January is infamously slow months for travel. 

While I’m also unlikely to jump on a flight across the globe in January, I like to use the colder months to take advantage of my own backyard in Upstate New York. It’s after the holidays that hotels offer lower rates, which gives me a great excuse to take a staycation—without making a major dent in my wallet or schedule. This tradition began for me in 2020, and has carried on each winter since, leading me to discover some truly great hotels, from the Adirondacks to the Catskills. Here are some of my favorite winter New York getaways.

The hotel that started this tradition was Mirror Lake Inn, and to this day, it remains one of my favorite New York travel destinations. Located in Lake Placid, this century-old establishment offers all things winter—it’s located directly on Mirror Lake, which transforms to an ice-skating rink, weather permitting. One of the most unique amenities on property is the option to dine in a gondola (yes, a real gondola from nearby Whiteface Mountain) at The Cottage Restaurant. Gondolas and ice-skating aside, The Spa at Mirror Lake Inn is absolutely magical. There’s a swimming pool and hot tub, and the floor-to-ceiling windows in the recently renovated gym makes for one picturesque workout.

The holidays can bring a lot of joy, but they can also bring a lot of stress. One of my favorite escapes for getting away from it all is Eastwind Hotel – Oliverea Valley in the Catskills. As someone who is slightly addicted to working, booking a stay where I would have minimal to no cell service (though the hotel does have WiFi) was a serious stretch outside of my comfort zone. However, I desperately needed a reset, and after just a few nights at Eastwind Oliverea, I was relishing the rare opportunity for digital detox. 

There’s a fabulous restaurant onsite, Dandelion, with a stracciatella dish that lives in my head rent-free. The A-frame Lushna suites are some of the most unique accommodations I’ve seen in all of my travels, and Eastwind Oliverea stands out for being a completely off-grid hotel.

A few years ago, while scrolling on Instagram, my mom discovered a funky hotel in Roxbury, New York called The Roxbury Motel. Each room has a specific design with a theme of magic and fantasy–with one room designed to look like “Cinderella’s gown,” another dedicated to superhero paraphernalia, and even a spooky, gothic space named “Dracula’s fangs.” 

But the one my mom and I agreed on was “The Faerie Forest,” a whimsical two-story room fully decked out with mushrooms, tree trunks, twinkling lights, and even a private balcony and staircase inside made of cedar trees. The detail in The Faerie Forest room is so over-the-top that not a single crevice is left untouched; the tile on the ground is even designed to look like a stream of water to mimic a river. Out of all of my upstate staycations, The Roxbury Motel is the one I most look forward to revisiting, so I can stay in another one of their incredibly creative rooms.

Having grown up less than two hours from Saratoga Springs, I have taken many day trips to the charming small town, but had never spent a proper night there. That is, until this past year, when I booked a stay at Saratoga Arms Hotel. My motive for staying at the Saratoga Arms Hotel was for one thing, and one thing only: to sleep. The hotel offers a deep sleep package for $99 per person, which includes a customized pillow menu, a sound machine, aromatherapy diffuser, as well as weighted blankets and eye masks. I took part in the sleep package during two particularly cold days in January, and with all of the hotel’s shuteye assistance, plus a KOS melatonin gummy, I slept better at Saratoga Arms Hotel than I had in months.

The heart wants what it wants, and when the heart wants luxury in frigid Upstate New York months, it must go to Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid. Lake Placid is by far my favorite winter getaway, and Whiteface Lodge is one of the best hotels in town. Located more inland toward Whiteface Mountain, this stunning hotel has sprawling rooms that make me want to linger a while every time I visit. 

With a private balcony, a full kitchen (including a dishwasher, stove, oven, full-sized fridge and freezer, and dining-room table), no detail goes unnoticed at Whiteface Lodge. Even the bathrooms have heated floors, which is always appreciated when the temperatures drop to such cruel degrees. The spa at Whiteface Lodge is just as top-notch as the room; there’s an outdoor hot tub, and the 60-minute Swedish massage left me feeling like jelly. For a real treat, make sure to grab a s’mores martini with a torched marshmallow from Peak 47, the onsite tavern.