If you're after character and country charm, a wide range of bed and breakfasts and guesthouses can be found in Ithaca. Otherwise, accommodation is fairly basic, with several chain motels located on the town's main highways alongside big-box stores. One unique option in town is the upmarket Statler Hotel, located on Cornell University's campus and staffed by students at Cornell's acclaimed Hotel Management School.
Check both the Ithaca College and Cornell calendars of events before planning your trip, because accommodation around town often sells out years in advance for big weekends such as graduations and homecomings.
BED AND BREAKFASTS Rogues' Harbor Inn Address: 2079 East Shore Drive Rates: $100 - $150 Word of Mouth: "I love staying at historic inns. Rogues' Harbor Inn had a great pub where we had dinner and a bottle of wine, then we just walked upstairs to our room. We stayed in room 6 which was nice and quiet. The room was pretty and clean without being fussy or overdone. Our really sweet asst. innkeeper cooked us eggs and bacon for breakfast in their newly renovated 19th-century ballroom." -- BedandBreakfast.com contributor
Dane Emerson House Address: 1642 West Danby Road, Newfield Rates: $169 - $229 Word of Mouth: "A marvelous stay! Upon walking through the door we were instantly soothed, relaxed and comfortable. Wonderful interiors, not overdone. Warm and welcoming with a great style." -- BJ & Scot
The Hound and Hare Address: 1031 Hanshaw Road Rates: $110 - $250 Word of Mouth: "I stayed at the Hound and Hare for two nights of total rest and relaxation in a beautifully and tastefully decorated house. Tea and biscuits were available each afternoon next to the garden terrace, a wonderful venue for quiet reading and bird watching. ... I highly recommend this inn on a quiet street not far from Cornell University." -- BedandBreakfast.com contributor
Log Country Inn B&B Address: 4 Larue Road, Spencer Rates: $60 - $150 Word of Mouth: "I have returned twice to this tranquil and friendly little B&B about 10 miles south of Ithaca. The Eastern European breakfasts are fabulous, the woodsy environment tranquil and the family that operates the establishment friendly, intelligent and very helpful. It is also filled with fun and quirky surprises -- a large llama, a fish pond, a nearby blueberry farm, just to name a few." -- BedandBreakfast.com contributor
Juniper Hill Bed and Breakfast Address: 16 Elm Street, Trumansburg Rates: $175 - $199 Word of Mouth: "The fall drive to Trumanburg was beautiful and upon arrival we met with a truly magnificent mansion, surrounded by a huge amount of wooded land yet only a two minute walk from the center of town. The house is impeccably furnished with a breathtaking decor; each room was a small frontier to discover the details it included." -- Helen Green
HOTELS Statler Hotel at Cornell Address: 130 Statler Drive Average Rate: $224 Word of Mouth: "Wow, I understand why Cornell is known as the 'hotel ivy league.' The staff was flawless and the food, so good. The hotel is right in the middle of everything, so I felt as if I was back in college while there. Make sure you ask for a view of the campus; I was up on the ninth floor and my room overlooked everything. Watching the snow fall from my window over the campus was the cherry on top of an already impressive stay." -- JustMeMPH
La Tourelle Resort & Spa Address: 1150 Danby Road Average Rate: $199 Word of Mouth: "I had heard a lot about La Tourelle from different people in the area so my wife and I decided to try it as a getaway for New Year's Eve. What an incredible experience! The suite, which included a fireplace and Jacuzzi, had a bottle of Champagne waiting for us when we arrived. My wife (who is a cleanliness fanatic) remarked on how clean and well kept the room was." -- Cleftwain
Hampton Inn Ithaca Address: 337 Elmira Road Average Rate: $139 Word of Mouth: "We were greeted with such warmth and hospitality. We noticed the little kitchen area full of 'endless' fresh cookies, tea and coffee. We found a nice little note in our beautiful, clean, CLEAN hotel room from the staff that included a small gift. Even the hotel cleaning staff spoke kindly to us and asked if we were happy and had everything that we needed." -- Sistertravel206
Grayhaven Motel Address: 657 Elmira Road Average Rate: $120 Word of Mouth: "Since we had a dog with us, I think we got one of the older motel units, but it was fine; large enough, clean, with a nice view (the birdfeeder outside our window always had birds feeding, which was nice). It's about two miles south of Ithaca, in a pleasant wooded area. The entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park (which is very nice) is only about a mile down the road." -- TeddyJohns
William Henry Miller Inn Address: 303 North Aurora Street Average Rate: $195 Word of Mouth: "The William Henry Miller Inn in Ithaca, NY, is an old dowager of a home, tall rooms, roomy rooms, light and airy inside. It is close to the Cornell campus, with an easy although fairly vertical walk up to the campus though either a gorge or a winding street and a Civil War vintage graveyard (around Ithaca, much is uphill and downdale ... who knows how the locals handle the winter and ice on these hills ... tobaggans?)." -- travel035
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