We stayed at the Econo Lodge on a Saturday night on fairly short notice. I felt the price I paid was expensive for what I got, which was a very basic room with basic amenities. The rate may have been high due to the day of the week and given that most hotels in the area were sold out at the time.

The room was generally clean but in need of updating. It was very damp in the room and the room had a funny air-deodorizer smell to it, which we got used to after a while. The sheets were thin and had a few old stains on them, but were otherwise clean. The bed was somewhat comfortable. There was a large selection of cable TV channels.

The bath towels were very small and were also very thin and not soft. The bathroom was decent sized and had a generous counter-top for spreading out your things. The water pressure was good and the shower head nice. The shower curtain was short and a little difficult to keep in the tub. The bathroom had a switch-controlled overhead fan, which you don't see too often, but it did a terrible job at removing the humidity after a shower. It took 15 minutes for the mirror to de-fog after opening the bathroom door.

There was free wireless internet, but I did not make use of this to try it out. I also didn't sample the free breakfast, but I did see when I checked-in that the breakfast area was very small -- only about 3 small tables -- so we choose to get our breakfast off-site. The check-in process went smoothly and the reception was generally friendly.

The walls were thin and we were woken up in the early morning by guests in the room above and also out in the hallway moving about. In general, it was a decent stay and if I needed a room in the area again I would return if I could get a cheaper rate -- but I will probably try staying someplace else first.

We stayed here twice so far. This is not a fancy motel, but it is adequate. Their prices are certainly fair. The only problem that we encountered was a problem with checking in and checking out...their computer was giving them all sorts of problems. They finally had to call Choice hotels to get it all taken care of. The staff at this motel certainly tried hard to please their guests. All whom we met were friendly. Eventhough it was August, we didn't swim in their pool as the Northeast was experiencing chilly weather the four days that we did stay here. We liked the grounds and also the location (more of a country setting rather than congested Albany locations). Our room was a queen sized. Having a microwave, small frig, and laundry facility were definitely a plus. If you want all the "bells and whistles" then this is not the place for you. If you want a clean quiet place at a great price, then you will be satified with this choice. Frankly, I have stayed in far worse motels in Myrtle Beach and in Florida.

On the positive side, the room was clean (aside from a mildew-y shower curtain), and everything worked. Bed was quite comfortable (a big plus), and it was convenient to have a microwave, fridge, hair dryer, cable tv, alarm clocks, etc. For the money, we were pleasantly surprised. The linens were hardly top-quality, but they were clean.

The breakfast was minimal, but certainly adequate for a quick bite. Also, everything seemed fresh and clean.

The staff is generally quite friendly and helpful; Patty's sense of humor may be an acquired taste, but we thought she was kind of a hoot. Also, if she recommends Teagan's restaurant to you, don't be afraid of its exterior. We were pleasantly surprised by the food.

On the negative side: calling the walls "paper-thin" is an insult to paper. Throughout the night, we could hear EVERYTHING from the other rooms. Fortunately, we had neighbors who, for the most part, turned in early, but were nonetheless woken up a couple times by loud thuds/bangs.

If you're a sound sleeper, this place seems to be a good bargain for the area.

We stayed at Econo Lodge Downtown in Rensselaer and we loved it. Our room (king bed) was recently renoved and it was very clean. There were a fridge and coffee maker in the room.

The hotel is located only few minutes away from Amtrak Station and from downtown Albany.

For the price, it is very interesting. I recommand it.