I have never been to LP and have no idea which properties are decent and worth the money and which are dives, so I’m calling on the wisdom of my fellow ST’ers. I’ll be traveling with my wife, then 4-year old daughter, and then 7-month old son, and would love something walking distance to the expo/transition, with a pool, and preferably with a small kitchen, but a fridge/microwave at the very least, and MUST have high-speed internet.
Anyone have any tips? Budget is $250-$300/night MAX, but would prefer under $200/night, and will stay 5 nights.
Bump!
Come on…none of you IMLP vets have recommendations or am I too late in the day?
That budget might not get you within walking distance at any of the hotels during the week. Check these links…can’t personally vouce for any as I stay in Saranac, eight miles away but friends have recommended Golden Arrow and Art Devlin’s. I’d start calling very soon for next year though.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g48023-Lake_Placid_New_York-Vacations.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g48023-Lake_Placid_New_York-Hotels.html
I was up for the race (lifeguard)
I stayed on Tupper Lake campground for $ 14 a night
is is 22miles away
might be to cheep for you 
Thom.
Not too cheap for me if I were traveling alone, but the wife and kids would be bored to tears and have to drive to everything.
Thanks. Golden Arrow says no phone reservations until Weds. Only walk-in, which means they’ll probably be completely booked out by then. Wish this were easier than calling every damn property not knowing anything about them other than what I read on their websites.
you could do a lot of driving for $186 a day ha ha
Thom.
I just got reservations at the host hotel, Northwoods Inn. They have a 5 night minimum and require first night deposit upon booking. I am traveling with wife and two kids so I reserved an executive suite for $204/night—I thought that was a pretty good rate. I asked the guy who made the reservation how far they were from race and he said less than 1 block.
Good one Cheyou! You’re right about that, and my wife is cheap like me, and would go for it if we didn’t have the kids with us.
Thanks MM. I don’t see a pool or high-speed internet there. The latter is a requirement for us since we run an internet business, but could probably get away without a pool since there’s a giant freaking lake across the street! Thanks for the tip!
you surfers are getting soft
Thom.
I’m just back from LP and we stayed at the Crowne Plaza at the top of the hill overlooking the lake and transition area. Less than 5 minute walk to transition, the swim start and all of the great shops in downtown LP. They have wireless internet and a pretty good pool, hottub and sauna (although the pool is packed). Great buffet breakfast in the morning (although not early enough for race start) and good pasta dinner the night before (you should make reservations for the night before). My family was able to go up to the hotel in between watching the race. Perfect location as far as I’m concerned.
We paid $260/night for a nice room with 2 beds and a balcony. The only issue is walking up that freaking hill after the race!!
I stayed at the Crowne Plaza this time - it has all the amenities you want (pool, etc. & you can book kitchenette units, but they tend to go quickly). All rooms have microwaves & fridges. The hike up the hill may be a bit too much for some people - saw strollers struggling on race day. Not sure how it will work for next year, but I had to wait until September to book b/c I hadn’t stayed there before.
I’ve also stayed at the Golden Arrow for a training weekend - no microwave, but they had a fridge and are right at the water’s edge. The Hilton is good as well but a bit further (at the end of the main street area). One guy I chatted w. today booked the last room facing out to the Hilton pool, so certainly you have an advantage if you are here in town.
Good luck!
Awesome tips, and thanks. Crowne Plaza has been a frontrunner, but they emailed me that I couldn’t book until August. Golden Arrow reports that they won’t take phone bookings until Weds. I just feel like those folks in LP now have already booked everything! Frustrating! Can you tell me how much the CP was?
Dawn, I wish I could book it right now. Thanks for the info. My wife will appreciate the breakfast (she loves breakfast!).
Just find out when they start booking and call them then. You shouldn’t have a problem getting in. I booked mine room in February of this year, so they didn’t sell out right away (at least not for this year’s race).
I booked my room a week and 1/2 before the race @ Crown Plaza.
I believe you cannot book unless you are within a 50-week or so window (which is not limited to the LP one).
Great view…
The hill is a pain if you ask me. I would rather stay @ “ground level” like Golden arrow, Art Devil, Northwoods, etc…
Cheers,
Fred.
The hill is a pain? My thinking is it may be a bit quieter up there on IM day and I have two youngens who just might sleep better without the big party that is the IM finish chute (that I’ll hopefully be enjoying!). Thanks for the tips Fred and Dawn!
Got shut out trying to book the Golden Arrow. They wouldn’t take reservations until this morning at 9am, and when my wife tried to call (I was out on the bike), she got busy signals until 9:30. When she got through, of course they were sold out. Damn I hate that! On to plan B.