Name: Brentwood Hotel
Address: 15 Gridley St, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States of America
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Smoke-free property

Heating

Ticket assistance

Garden

Terrace

Express check-out

Outdoor furniture

No elevators

Reception desk

General

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Family room

Rooms

Accessibility features

Wheelchair Accessible

Accessibility

Concierge services

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Bike rental

Hiking

Picnic area

Recreation

Parking

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Extra decontamination measures

Personal protection equipment for guests

Contactless check-in and/or check-out

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hotel

Saratoga Racetrack

Saratoga Springs Visitor's Center

Albany International Airport

Brentwood Hotel

Saratoga Springs

My husband and I recently stayed at The Brentwood with our dog, we were very excited to find a hotel (this is really a motel) she could stay in. Upon arrival, the room smelled very musky and overall wasn't that clean looking (aside from bedding). I ignored it, this is a renovated motel and I figured it was just stuffy. The next morning, we wake up and my dog is covered in fleas. She is on a flea preventative so they were eventually dying, but there were so many it was shocking. We knew it wasn't from her walk the day before because we always check her before going in. I am pretty sure there were fleas in the room because they were full adults we were finding on her. And the worst part is you wouldn't know because the floors are painted black. We had to leave early because the longer we were in the room, the more fleas were jumping on her. They did give us a partial refund, but I was still very disappointed. Our trip was cut in half because of this and we had to deal with the headache of de-flea'ing our dog. I understand that these things happen sometimes, but we have stayed at other dog friendly places with zero issues. This motel is also under new ownership as of recently, and from what we heard the parent company owns a bunch of properties from NY to Florida so I doubt they really care what's going on. 

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Fleas

This is a super cute small property that checks all the boxes.  The rooms are cozy and on the small side, but honestly, for us it was perfect because we do not spend a lot of time in hotel rooms.  The beds are very comfortable, the bathroom is very vintage and nice.  If I can say just one thing, there needs to be either an option of better lighting in the bathroom or a lit makeup mirror because my husband laughed at me when I came out of the bathroom with way too much makeup on LOL.

The property location is perfect.  Across the street from the track (added bonus of frequent horse traffic down the street), there is a bar across the street that is open if the lobby bar is not, a five minute drive to downtown Saratoga, and close to the parks too!!

We stayed two nights at a very reasonable price for Labor Day Weekend and the closing weekend of the track!  We will definitely book again!

Great Motel!!

This is a great place, and I would absolutely stay here again. However, the owners need to be honest about what it is - a stylish, really well done motel that has a ton of care and attention to detail. But it’s a motel, but hotel, and the rooms are TINY. I am 5’4/130 and my husband is 5’6/155 and we were cramped. The scale of the entire motel is very small. But the motel itself has wonderful style and design and a very warm feel. The bed was super comfortable and the bathroom was great.

The “lobby bar” (another misnomer bc there is no lobby, bc it’s a motel), is not open every night. A shame bc it looked very cool!  We were told the Horseshoe restaurant across the street would be open, but it, too, was closed. 

If you love really well done motels with a ton of style and attention to detail this place is perfect for you (as it was for us). Just go into it knowing the rooms are very small. But don’t be fooled and think it’s a hotel, or you’ll be disappointed.

Great stylish motel (but not a hotel)

I don’t love writing this review, but I want to help guests know what to expect when staying here. 

I first stayed at the Brentwood a few years back when they first opened, and I have to say it’s unfortunately gone downhill since that time. I paid $500 a night for what is really motel stay. It seems like the owners set it up and got it up and running, and have now moved onto other projects as the amount of care, consideration and hospitality really is not there anymore. 

First let me start with the positives. Location is amazing, you’re right in the town of Saratoga and if you’re interested in racing the track is right across the street. The bed is fluffy and comfortable and the shower shampoo/soap smells heavenly. 

Now the negatives. 

Bugs: Cleanliness has really gone downhill. There were many bugs in the room, in the main bedroom and the bathroom as well. There is actually an open hole in the wall above the wall AC unit that I believe is where the bugs are coming in from. 

Housekeeping: there is no housekeeping, unless you request well before you arrive at the hotel. (I was not notified of this when booking on the website) For paying $500 a night, this should absolutely include housekeeping. Having to ask for housekeeping makes me feel like a bother instead of a guest. 

Coffee: there is no fresh coffee on the property offered in the morning, and the instant coffee in the room is $12. For the price point, fresh coffee should really be offered, or at least the instant coffee in the room should be complimentary. 

Mini bar: We did try an iced coffee in the mini bar, only to realize that it was expired. This is just unacceptable and a food safety issue. 

Amenities: I don’t know how anyone would go about booking the bikes, as there is no one on the property for about 80% of the day. When the hotel first opened, there did used to be someone at the bar who was available to help with any requests, my advice would be to bring this person back. There also used to be a VIP pass for SPAC offered as well, and I didn’t see anything mentioned about that this time. 

To summarize, basically the cost is very high for what you are actually getting at this hotel and I’m sorry to see it going downhill. I hope the owners choose to put some time and energy back into the property.

Not what it used to be 

No amount of paint can cover the fact that this used to be a motel (and still is). The main issue we had was with security: not a single person is on the premises and from looking online it looks like the owners are based out of NYC. This made us feel unsafe especially when an Uber driver can easily see what room you are staying in. To make things worse we read online that this motel had previously been broken into. 
In terms of the room, the decor is very cold and unwelcoming but may suit certain people’s taste. 
The room was not very clean we found flies and spiders.
In addition, there is NO HEATING during the day - only at night which led to us waking up in sweats and wanting to spend no time in our room during the day. This does not make sense given the minimum is of 2 nights.  
Please bring your own coffee since the one in the room is $12 (at least at a real motel the coffee is free).
The bar looks like it would be nice but it is only open Wednesday through Saturday. 
The bed was large and comfortable. 
Overall we appreciate the decor and the great location but did not feel at ease. Our biggest recommendation would be to have someone in person in case of emergencies and also to respond to text messages.

A whole lot of paint, but not enough security

The Brentwood is truly awesome. We’ve stayed there several times in the past few months and feel so grateful every stay. Marcus and the staff are endlessly helpful, and there’s something about the roadside motel layout that just invites warmth and camaraderie among the guests. The beds are among the most comfortable I’ve ever encountered. The bikes are great for a ride into town or over to campus. We’ll be back!

Reliable, Comfortable, Fun

The Brentwood Hotel is a wonderful weekend getaway. You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy this horse-barn style remodeled motel.  The rooms are small, but designed for comfort.  Cozy and rustic with an emphasis on contactless technology to get you in and out of your room without a check in desk. The GM is a warm and friendly presence and available as needed.  There is a full service bar with inside and outside seating.  Highly recommended for couples/family.

Excellent Chic Motel

We had such an amazing time at the Brentwood Hotel! We had a couples' getaway from NYC and it was the perfect long weekend. The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, and the rooms were very comfortable. Everything in the room was so thoughtfully decorated and planned - we wanted to take everything home! The king-sized bed was sooo comfortable and clean, the shower was the perfect water pressure, and the mini fridge was stocked with some cool beverages, like kombucha, sparkling water, hard cider, etc.

Even though the bar was closed because of COVID, they still had drink service at a window, and we were able to sip on cocktails around the fire pit. We had such an amazing time! Highly recommend.

Cozy, rustic vibes

Customer Service
Its off season, COVID is a thing right now, staffing (As it was reiterated to us) is minimal--maybe this was the cause for lack of good accommodating service/management? Contactless check-in, zero explanation of room amenities. They advertise/market bike rentals, smore kits, record playing (they own outdoor speakers even if the bar was in fact closed) coffee on their website and social media platforms for incentives to visiting their establishment--were we supposed to inquire with the bartender as she was the only person on-site during our 2 night stay? Were we supposed to ask during booking reservations? I'm confused who to speak to and when the appropriate time is as there was only 1 person on staff running the bar. Very confusing and frustrating. We felt we were more of a bother than an actual guest.

Room
Beds are damn comfortable, Clean, minimalistic, scandinavian modern  decor. The Bathroom is small and dark, there's no window and there's very low lighting. 

The rooms are just big enough to hold a bed and some room to move around it, but that's generally it. There was 1 wooden chair and a tiny round table. What you see in photos is what you get, don't expect anything grander. WALLS ARE PAPER THIN. You can hear everything being said/done. Not just from outside, but from rooms down. We got no sleep at night or in the morning as there was a child in the room next to ours and late nights from people hanging in the patio area. I can't imagine wha the noise level is like when racing season is in full swing--yikes.

THERES NO THERMOSTAT! AC or Heat. We found a space heater next to the fridge. We searched high and low for a nob on the wall or any indication that we could adjust the temp particularly for the AC as the temp outside was 80 that day--but found nothing. We slept hot and without covers. Conclusion is the temp is 100% controlled.

Location
A stones throw and i mean "feet" in distance to the Saratoga Racing track. The surrounding land is acres and acres of stables and housing for the track activities. We visited during the off-season and even with the lack of people, the cars driving back and forth down the street was distracting. The property is kitty cornered on a residential street and side street for the racing track and casino.

Ambiance
They heavily advertise their bar service as well as the fire pit. Bar operating hours 12:00P - 11:00P. During our visit we were told bar service runs until 8, fire runs until 8. She (Bartender) clocks out at 8. First night the fire ran for two hours and the second the fire pit wasn't lit at all that day. IF THE FIRE & DRINKS are added incentives for your visit. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND their hours change frequently and without notice. You need to poke at them for your amenities as they don't go out of their way to make these things known. If you don't ask for the fire, it won't get lit. If you want water, tea--it comes with a cost. And the fire can only be started/distinguished by a staff member during their operational hours. 

During our visit here we learned Governor Andrew Cuomo initiated an executive order to mandate that food must be sold with alcohol at bars and restaurants. If you want a drink, a snack must be purchased by every person. If you have 5 ppl in your party, that's 5 snack orders on top of your beverages. I get the reasoning, but this is frustrating when traveling to the state and get added costs to your travels.

Conclusion
We played so many guessing games here. Came from out of state only to learn that everyone appears tired, run down, unfriendly and annoyed. SO many things made zero sense. How are you supposed to relax/enjoy your stay and get what you pay for when management/service is non existent. I've been routed to e-mail them concerns--have done just that and have yet to receive acknowledgment for any communication. This tells me everything I need to know about who they are as individuals.

*Insert deep breaths* This was my present to my boyfriend, I paid damn good money for our visit and felt utterly embarrassed by the experience. I haven't apologized so much in one night--as if this was my doing?

Needless to say--we won't be back, I won't be hyping them up. Im tired. They need to do better. Dear owners, maybe it's time to reevaluate whether or not running an Inn business is for you. If you don't give a hoot then don't expect to have happy repeat customers. Goodluck to future travelers.

Needs to Improve Practices/Standards

Rang in the New Year with my boyfriend, and we had a great stay.

The beds have just the right amount of firm/soft, the linens make it hard for you to want to crawl out of bed. The shower and bathroom are gorgeous with the black tile and brass details, and it was one of the best showers we’ve had. The lighting in the bathroom was a bit limiting for mirror use, as there was no window in ours. 

Loved the small details like the coffee kit in the room. The bonfire and to-go cocktails from the bar are a great way to enjoy the night without having to go out, especially with the current pandemic restrictions.

The primary reason I’m taking one star off is because my boyfriend and I were shocked at how “thin” the walls were. We could hear neighbors on both sides of our room. A dog next door barking loudly, and the other room’s TV and a couple sounding like they’re breaking their bed frame. Even hearing loud footsteps on the wooden floors and doors slamming nearby. My boyfriend and I were luckily still able to sleep the nights away, so the sounds didn’t interrupt our stay. However, I can imagine this being a problem for light sleepers. Something to keep in mind, especially if staying during a busy holiday weekend.

Location is prime. Five minutes to the amazing restaurants in town and right across from the racetrack. Shocked at how great the price was too considering it’s prime location. 

Recommend staying here if ever in the area.

Brentwood Hotel

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