Just tried out the Sagamore in NY.....

[niks81]

We (my fiance and myself) decided a few months back to try out one of the Concierge Collection resort/hotels. The Sagamore was suggested as a good choice and so we decided to try it out over Labor Day weekend.

What a beautiful resort!!! It is definitely THE place in the Bolton Landing/Lake George area. For starters, it's on its own island which makes it truly unique from most everything there. The resort's main buildings where the check in desk and restaurants are located is very elegant and upscale in decor. I found it to be comfortable though, not too stuffy or anything like that. The main building houses all of the restaurants but one (the Club Grill, located 2 miles away on the golf course). We tried out Mr. Brown's Pub and I loved it. The atmosphere is very rustic but also very pretty (it reminded me of something you'd see at VWL). The food was excellent. We also tried out the Trillium which is the premier restaurant at the resort. We had the Sunday brunch....let me tell you--it made every other brunch I've had look like McDonald's at best. The food and scenery was remarkable.

And finally....the room There are rooms in the main building but we opted to stay in the lodge suite unit. There are 6 or 7 lodges stationed around the island facing the lake. They are meant to be a little more secluded and rustic also, as opposed to the upscale parlor rooms in the main building. Our lodge suite was #463 and it was a bottom floor unit facing the lake. The Lodge Suites are like the one bedroom units we have at DVC but lacking the full kitchen. The little kitchen has a two burner stove, medium refrigerator (bigger than dorm size), and microwave, with a few cupboards and counter space. Then there is a living room with a sectional sofa that pulls out to a queen, fireplace, TV, and patio, a separate bedroom with either 2 double or queen beds or one king, and then your basic bathroom. Someone made a comment on the boards a while back saying the rooms screamed 1970, and that made me laugh, but the rooms were ok by me (I could see where they would say that, but the rooms were nice). Here's a link to the lodge room at the Sagamore:

.Sagamore Lodge Suite

This is a bit lengthy....sorry!! Any questions, feel free to ask!! Overall I would say it's a great place to get away and there was plenty to do in the area

 

[DVC-Don]

It is nice, isn't it? My wife and I stayed there once in our pre children/DVC days. We had a 1 bedroom unit. A top notch resort.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I'm very impressed that you were able to get a room at the Sagamore using points while the horse racing was still going on in Saratoga. Way to go!

HBC

 

[Bumpy]

Hey Nikki,
I am so glad you enjoyed your trip. I was wondering how it worked out for you. I am sure your fiancee enjoyed the non disney excursion for a change!

KAY

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Wow, the suite looks big. If you book it through DVC, how many people can it legally sleep? Looks like there's beds for 6 people. Are there any resort charges above and beyond what we pay in points?

Thanks for the report!

 

[niks81]

Kay, thanks for all of your help with the trip....we had a great time. I didn't have your new email address since you changed it

Sleepy at DVC...The suite could sleep six I think, but I haven't checked the rules on that. I would imagine if they provide two beds in the bedroom and a pullout there should be no problem, but again I'm not sure. It is a nice size room, I will say that. Because it's Concierge Collection we do have to pay $75 for the processing fee which is normal. If there are more than two people in the room they charge you 3 pts per person per night. I thought still that it was a decent value on pts because the rate on that room normally is very high. I felt it was a good use of pts and the room was a nice size. They also do not make you tip if you are staying on pts, but we never really encountered that much anyway being in the lodges.

Hope this helps!!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thanks for the info!

I have a feeling that the 3 points per additional person covers the normally assessed per person resort charges.

 

[Tink Fans]

Hi niks81

Glad to hear you enjoyed the Sagamore. We're going up there for Columbus Day weekend. Children must not be included in that 3 pts. per person because it was never mentioned by the CM and I'm pretty sure they asked for the names of all occupants in the room. Anyhow, it is a fantastic place and I (we) can't wait to get there.

Thanks for posting your trip report.

 

[Pa@okw95]

We stayed at a lodge suite also this summer. It was facing the lake also. It was beautiful. The restaurants were top notch. Most important to me was the way we were treated by the employees which was excellent. The 156 points for a suite that runs $450 per night was not a good use of points, but using your points away from WDW never is. I found it very relaxing. I would recommend it for adults anytime.

 

[msdis]

Can anyone comment on the prices and types of food at the restaurants. DH and I are tired of the 1500+ mile trek it is to WDW by flight or drive and are looking for something closer to home. This is about an 8 hr drive for us. Any other comments or details anyone can make would be so much appreciated.

 

[Pa@okw95]

For msdis---The price of the food is about what you will find at WDW. We ate at their top restaurant and it costs us about what it would cost at California Grill, maybe a few bucks more. There were waiters coming at us from all directions with service none better, the food was top notch. One of their other restaurants had a buffet that was also great offering all lines of food even though it was advertised as a mainly fish. Far from it I ate the little lamp chops they offered to the point of being embarrassed over how much I went back for, I believe I made three trips to the chops alone, the deserts were everything.
Now here is the kicker everything and I mean everything was top quality food.
On the Veranda, a night spot where they served drinks with small band, the drinks always came with top quality serving of mixed nuts.
If you like to eat and drink this is the place.
They had an indoor pool as well as a small beach by the lake.
Top quality speed boats were for rent there with motors up to 100 horse power, not bad for rentals.
It is a laid back place where adutls can have a relaxing good time.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

msdis

you didn't say if you were willing to pay cash & also there is no indication of where you are from.

If you have kids you might consider trying Smuggler's Notch in the summer. It's in Vermont and has a great reputation as somewhere to go in the the summer. I've only been there in the winter (when it is further away...shortest route is closed).

pa@okw95 ... how far is this resort from Gore or Lake Placid? I'm interested in using it to go skiing in the winter...

 

[msdis]

Pa@okw95- Thanks for your reply. It sounds like a fabulous place. Sounds like you eat at a buffet like I do. LOL!!!It's funny but the one thing about your comments that may sell DH on this place is the speed boats for rent. He LOVES boats as he grew up with a camp on the lake and we usually rent the boats at WDW. By chance did you notice if there were sidewalks from the resort that we might bike to somewhere of interest? We are not really into trail riding but to say a downtown area or around the island would be great.



We just returned this week from WDW and long story short this was our 1st round trip by air since 9/11. No bad comments per say but we just cannot see ourselves flying 2-3 times a year any more(mental draining and exhaustion after 14 hours and 3 airports one way). And driving is 25+ hours up 95 and about 27 hours up 81 to Maine. I really don't want to give up my points because I will still want to do a DVC resort every other year so that is why we are looking for exchange info.

Doubletrouble_vb-Thanks to you also for your suggestion. Vermont is actually close for us in Maine. We do not have children but I'm sure that would be a fun place to visit. We do have DVC and are looking for an exchange. Have you tried any of the 5 resorts that are part of the Concierge collection in Vermont?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

doubletrouble_vb:

how far is this resort from Gore or Lake Placid? I'm interested in using it to go skiing in the winter...

The Sagamore has a shuttle that runs back and forth to Gore during the ski season. It is a very nice shuttle too. Large comfortable seats. The shuttle takes 30-45 minutes to get there. Forget Lake Placid, too far. Gore is excellent though. Have you been there?

HBC

 

[GEOLIZ]

We were at the Sagamore for Memorial day weekend. We were very disappointed in the level of the staff we encountered. Everyone seemed to be "in training" We even walked out of one of the restaurants after being ignored for 20 minutes. They were very understaffed. Perhaps it was due to the reputation of the hotel that we were expecting more but the polish just wasn't there.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Yikes!!
But this is the first negative review I've ever seen of the place.
We plan to go up this coming May.
My main Q is --what exactly is there to do in the area?? Beyond a cruise on the Lake and Ft. Ticonderoga, dosen't seem like there is any reason to leave Sagamore Island..(?)

 

[Pa@okw95]

I would not pay much attention to the negative report. There must be some other explanation for the long wait for a waiter. It just seems impossible to me. I absolutely must get first class service from a place or I would never give it a positive report. Their food was the best. Believe me I give out more negative reports then anyone and when I give a positive report like I did the place must be first class. If you just want to relax there is no reason to leave Sagamore. The island is about 30 yards from the main land connected a by a bridge by the way.

 

[niks81]

I would say don't worry about the bad review either. Every place has its off days, and perhaps the Sagamore had theirs while GEOLIZ was there. I received great service as well, with the exception of very late room service and turndown one day, but it was only because it was Sunday of Labor Day Weekend and they were very busy, no big deal.

As for things to do in the area.....there are plenty!! I would have been perfectly happy staying on the island...in fact I probably would have preferred it, but there were more people on the trip than just myself On the island there is mini golf, biking, walking trails, boat rentals, parasailing, swimming (lake and pool), and probably more but that's what I know offhand. I will tell you....the food was GREAT!!! We had dinner at Mr. Brown's Pub and I had the turkey dinner....that was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed the atmosphere there, too. We did the Sunday brunch as well and I highly recommend it. It's 30.00 but it kept me full all day. The food was very, very good and you will not be disappointed. That brunch along with my dinner at the California Grill at Disney were the two best dining experiences in my life (all of 21 years ) The island is very relaxing and that, too, is a good reason to just stick around. If you want to venture out a little, Bolton Landing is just across the bridge that connects the Sagamore to the town. There are some nice little shops and restaurants and it's easily within walking distance. About 10 miles away is Lake George Village.....there are lots of things to do here. We took a steamboat ride through Lake George Steamboat Company to tour the lake. If I were you I would try to get reservations for the Morgan at the Sagamore....the boat looked very nice and I would have rather done that! There is also Pirates Cove mini golf and a bunch of stores and restaurants.


I really enjoyed the resort and I had very good service. We will probably be making a return trip.

 

[Disnydad]

Been there, done that. A really nice place.