Used some points at The Sagamore-(Review)

[CDS1037]

Hello All,
We just returned from The Sagamore Hotel in Lake George, NY, using some of our DVC points through an exchange using the Concierge Collection! Wow, I'm so glad we went there! We mainly use our DVC points to stay in WDW but just wanted a short, relaxing getaway to someplace different. We were there for 3 nights. I could not have been happier with the resort accomodations we received by using our points there. It was very, very similar to a 1 Bedroom villa at WDW.....dining area, kitchenette, great living room with gigantic sectional, rustic furniture, fireplace, large king size bedroom with massive windows looking right out onto beautiful Lake George, a large , beautiful bathroom and the topper was our own balcony with adirondack chairs that also looked right onto the lake. Beautiful room furnishings, nightly turn-down service with delicious chocolates on our pillows, beautifully maintained resort grounds , great customer service and wonderful restaurants ( these were kind of pricey!). The surrounding areas of Bolton Landing and Lake George Village provide plenty to do, or rent a boat and enjoy the lake, fish, or parasail, take a cruise on a real steamboat, or just relax and do nothing. Lake George is visually stunning and one of the cleanest bodies of water you'll find. The Sagamore was wonderful and I would highly reccomend it. I just wanted to write to give you a brief overview in case you are ever considering trying something from the Concierge Collection. If any of you would like more info about our stay there, I would be happy to answer any questions.

 

[goldilocks_63]

You said similiiar to a 1 BR. It would be 2 adults, plus DD-7 for us.

Is there a place for a child to sleep?

And any swimming? and is it cold? or warm?

SOunds great, Goldi

 

[CDS1037]

You said similiiar to a 1 BR. It would be 2 adults, plus DD-7 for us.

Is there a place for a child to sleep?

And any swimming? and is it cold? or warm?

SOunds great, Goldi

Hi Goldi,

Yes, we stayed in a Lodge Suite and it sleeps 4 people. You have the king bed in the bedroom and the sectional in the living room is a queen size pullout bed. There is an indoor pool and hot tub at the Sagamore and of course, swimming in the lake, but the water is too cold in the lake for me. Perhaps in the late summer I might be able to get in the lake water!

 

[lat]

We just came back too!!!

I will use some points to book another stay for next summer. We reserved a lodge suite using points, and a lodge room using cash for 2 nights. I called the resort and was able to combine the 2 and got a 2-br condo unit right on the water. It is on top of the lodge suite and have almost 1,400 sf with 2br and 2 bath, and 2 patios (one on each level). Since we were at the top of the building, the lake view was GREAT!!!

The resort offers many activities during this past weekend and we did a chowder demo and the kids all had a carriage ride (free of charge).

The concierge staff was GREAT!!! They helped us to arrange white water rafting and helped me to book it directly with the place (instead of booking it under the resort name) to save us over $100!!! This was SO MUCH fun and it was the highlight of our trip!!!

I also bought little packages with trinkets and little toys for each kid in our party and had them pre-arranged at the gift shop. After we checked in, I took the kids over there to pick up their "surprises". That was fun!!

I also pre-ordered a Ben & Jerry Ice Cream Cake at the store in town, and when I picked it up, I realized they messed up the icing color. They offered to deliver it to us to the restaurant and promised to make it perfect!!! GREAT customer service.

Overall, we had a good time and will return for sure next year.

BTW, we checked out the resort around Easter time and the whole area feels so different. Now it is quite festive and pretty with flowers all around town.

Had a nice dinner at Al Gonquin's. Cate's was OK. Loved Mister Brown's Pub but did not get the chance to try it this time.

 

[TimeforMe]

It's the weirdest thing......DH and I were just talking about this place the other night and I haven't thought of Lake George in ages. It must be a sign that we should go there!

Now after reading your reviews, it sounds wonderful--just what we're looking for. How many points did you have to use? (is that nosey?)

Thanks for posting!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

thanks for the review- We live in MA and we were checking out the resort. It looks really awesome!! - Were the lodge suite in a separate building from the hotel.--- I looked at a map a while ago and it seem that there were separate buildings /

thanks!!

 

[patsal]

Thanks for the review, this is just what I was recently discussing with DH as a "little getaway". I am more seriously considereing it now that I have seen so many positive things shared about it!

 

[CDS1037]

Hi,

Sounds like you enjoyed the Sagamore this weekend, too!! We missed the chowder demo, I wanted to try that! Was it really cold doing the white water rafting? Were the rapids mild? I can be a wimp with that kind of stuff, but it does sound fun! We also ate at the Algonquin and Mr. Brown's Pub and we also tried a BBQ restaurant in Lake George village called the Barnsider...the food was great. For drinks and a great view and a decent guitar player/singer, try Simple Simon's bar/restaurant in lake George village, that was alot of fun!

 

[CDS1037]

TimeForMe....Hi, no you're not being nosey!!! It was 141 points for us for 3 nights for 4 people. We paid extra points for the 3rd and 4th people in the room , our 2 teenage sons.

Tink......Yes, you're seeing correctly....the Lodge Suites are in separate buildings, but everything is very close to the main hotel.

 

[lat]

Many of us are not even swimmers. MY father-in-law is in the 70s, and my mother is in her 60s, plus kids and a bunch of whimpy adults. The water was mild and they gave us water guns and a bucket to do a water fight on the river with other rafts. It was beautiful on Sunday and we had a raft for all of us plus a guide. The guide said that this was the best Memorial Day weekend weather he could remember. He was born and raised in the area. The water was very calm. You can even jump off to swim at certain sections. Some people from other boats did that. We just loved the water fight!!!

We probably missed you. Did you go to the pool much? We tried the bonfire on Saturday night, but the bugs were just too much, so we left early.

They also had an ice cream social right outside the indoor pool. The lady just gave out ice cream bars, with quite a few choices.

I will definiately go in the summer season just because of all the activities offered and everything is open in the area.

However, one thing I miss at Disney World is for kids birthday celebrations. There are tons of ideas at Disney. Sagamore, the concierge asked me, when I was looking for ideas before we arrived, if I want to have flowers, for my 8 year old DD?!!!!

 

[MrsNick]

Thanks for posting...DH and I were considering a long weekend here for our anniversary...Ultimately decided against it for this year (it's in a few days, lol), but now that I'm reading such great things, I think we'll seriously consider this for next year's anniversary.

Out of curiosity, in the lodge suite...Was the bathroom accessible from the living room, or only by walking thru the bedroom?

 

[CDS1037]

Hi MrsNick.....the bathroom in the Lodge Suite is accessible from the living room and also from the bedroom.

 

[sleepydog25]

Thanks for the report! It's always good to hear of success stories away from Disney as sometimes I believe folks can get too wrapped up in all things Disney. We look forward to future trips outside of the World.

 

[Ksp]

Can you tell me how it was arranging for all this with Disney??
Arranging a point stay at one of Disney's resorts is relatively easy; how does it compare with an exchange--any extra hoops you have to jump through?

 

[LakeAriel]

Thanks for the report! This resort looks beautiful, though it reminds me of the hotel in "The shining".
I definately may try this one day!

 

[CDS1037]

Can you tell me how it was arranging for all this with Disney??
Arranging a point stay at one of Disney's resorts is relatively easy; how does it compare with an exchange--any extra hoops you have to jump through?

Hi Ksp......it was very easy...same as doing a WDW reservation, really, except there's a 75 dollar fee for making the Concierge Collection reservation, actually not 100% sure what the 75 dollar fee goes for, but there is that charge. As far as I can recall, that was all there was to it...member services took care of everything.

 

[momsgoofy]

TimeForMe....Hi, no you're not being nosey!!! It was 141 points for us for 3 nights for 4 people. We paid extra points for the 3rd and 4th people in the room , our 2 teenage sons.

Tink......Yes, you're seeing correctly....the Lodge Suites are in separate buildings, but everything is very close to the main hotel.

CDS1037...just wanted to be sure I was getting this right...for the 3rd and 4th person you had to use more points? Or did you end up paying cash for those extra people? (I am thinking you were just charged extra points.)

Also, a few more questions...

How did your teenage boys like the property?

How far was it into the Lake George Village? I assume you had a car. Was it easy to manage getting around...easy directions and such?

You said you had a kitchen? Is that correct? Did you have a standard size fridge?

I've been wanting to go here for a while after I saw it on the Travel Channel's Great Hotels...boy, it does look beautiful! I'm just not sure how feasible it would be for us, since we're in Illinois. Do you know how far and which is the nearest airport?

Thanks for your help!

 

[CDS1037]

CDS1037...just wanted to be sure I was getting this right...for the 3rd and 4th person you had to use more points? Or did you end up paying cash for those extra people? (I am thinking you were just charged extra points.)

Also, a few more questions...

How did your teenage boys like the property?

How far was it into the Lake George Village? I assume you had a car. Was it easy to manage getting around...easy directions and such?

You said you had a kitchen? Is that correct? Did you have a standard size fridge?

I've been wanting to go here for a while after I saw it on the Travel Channel's Great Hotels...boy, it does look beautiful! I'm just not sure how feasible it would be for us, since we're in Illinois. Do you know how far and which is the nearest airport?

Thanks for your help!

Hi MomsGoofy......Yes, unfortunately it cost more points for a 3rd and 4th person in the room and we did use all points to pay, not cash. If you look in our Disney Vacation planner book, in the Concierge Collection, it does say that points are for double occupancy and that there may be a charge of more points for extra people. I was surprised (and disapointed!) too about that.
As far as my teenage boys, to be totally honest, they were a little bored there. It is a very relaxing place and maybe it didn't provide enough excitement, especially compared to our normal trips to WDW!

We did have our car and navigating around is VERY easy. There is one road , Route 9, that takes you from the Sagamore, through Bolton Landing( quaint shops, restaurants, bars, Ben & Jerry's etc.) and then to Lake George Village. From the Sagamore to Lake George village took no more than 10 minutes driving time. We drove in and out of there alot!

The refrigerator in the kitchen was on the small size.....from the height of the kitchen counter down to the floor.

I don't know how far of a trip it would be for you, but I do know there is an airport in Albany, NY, which would pretty much bring you right there. Albany is not too far from Lake George.

Hope this info was helpful and have a great time if you go!

 

[momsgoofy]

Hi MomsGoofy......Yes, unfortunately it cost more points for a 3rd and 4th person in the room and we did use all points to pay, not cash. If you look in our Disney Vacation planner book, in the Concierge Collection, it does say that points are for double occupancy and that there may be a charge of more points for extra people. I was surprised (and disapointed!) too about that.
As far as my teenage boys, to be totally honest, they were a little bored there. It is a very relaxing place and maybe it didn't provide enough excitement, especially compared to our normal trips to WDW!

We did have our car and navigating around is VERY easy. There is one road , Route 9, that takes you from the Sagamore, through Bolton Landing( quaint shops, restaurants, bars, Ben & Jerry's etc.) and then to Lake George Village. From the Sagamore to Lake George village took no more than 10 minutes driving time. We drove in and out of there alot!

The refrigerator in the kitchen was on the small size.....from the height of the kitchen counter down to the floor.

I don't know how far of a trip it would be for you, but I do know there is an airport in Albany, NY, which would pretty much bring you right there. Albany is not too far from Lake George.

Hope this info was helpful and have a great time if you go!

Yes, thank you very much! The info was quite helpful!

 

[jiggerj]

I appreciate you posting this info- I havent been to the Lake George area in years and have been considering it for possibly a summer getaway- Thanks!