During my recent trip to the Finger Lakes (check out the travel guide here), I was hosted by the Harbor Hotel Collection, a group that has waterfront properties in the Finger Lakes and in Maine. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without watching the sunrise over Seneca Lake or dipping my toes into the Saint Lawrence River.
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is situated directly on Seneca Lake, overlooking a scenic boating launch and the serene water flanked by mountains. From this peaceful side of the property you would never be able to tell that it’s just steps into downtown Watkins Glen for shopping, restaurants, and local attractions. It’s only a ten minute walk to the Watkins Glen State Park where you can hike the Gorge Trail past 18 waterfalls.
The hotel is taking social distancing very seriously, I mentioned some of the precautions in my Finger Lakes travel guide. Masks are required in all common areas of the hotel, unless you’re sitting and actively eating a meal on the patio. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the hotel and the number of people in any indoor space is limited. Rooms are also only cleaned before and after guests arrive to reduce traffic inside. These precautions are being taken at all of the collection’s hotels.
The on-site staff at Watkins Glen was lovely and very knowledgable. They were always enthusiastic and on hand to help make our stay more comfortable. Lisa Desantis the sales manager had a wealth of information to share about area attractions, including the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. They also have some of those local wines on the menu at the Blue Pointe Grille restaurant, which was a nice nod to the community of winemakers.
Room service was something I took advantage of at both hotels, especially for breakfast. It’s a nice way to stay social distanced and I always need a caffeine infusion before I’m really ready to socialize. Not only was the room service menu extensive, it was reasonably priced, a pleasant change from the massive markups you can find at other hotels. It’s available 24 hours a day.
The amenities at the hotel were thoughtful and tailored to a vacation clientele. There are outdoor fire pits on site for cozying up with a cocktail after dinner, complimentary wifi and in room refrigerators. The rooms had irons and ironing boards (this is important for travelers like me who have finicky dresses!) and robes for room lounging. The property does have a fitness center and an indoor pool, but I didn’t venture to experience those during COVID-19.
1000 Islands Harbor Hotel
A three hour drive away sits 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, right on the edge of the Saint Lawrence River and right across from Canada. This property is similarly situated within walking distance to the rest of the town (Clayton, New York). It’s also the convenient starting point of a river walk that winds down along the water all the way to a dock you can swim off. That same path will take you to a number of waterside restaurants for scenic dining.
The patio at this hotel is even larger than that of Watkins Glen, with all kinds of nooks and garden-style seating areas for reading, having meals, or just relaxing in the sunshine. 1000 Islands features similar amenities, complimentary wifi, an extensive 24-hour room service menu, robes and ironing boards in the room and refrigerators. It also has an indoor pool and fitness center, but we spent most of our time outdoors.
There are plenty of activities in 1000 Islands, including any kind of boating you can imagine, historic homes, and fine dining, but it’s also a wonderful spot to just unwind. Usually press trips are jam packed so my group savored the time we had at this hotel to just enjoy the scenery and the time away from home.
Just like at Watkins Glen I utilized room service for breakfast each morning. Just a reminder that it’s important to have patience with hospitality staff, not just at these hotels, but everywhere right now. A lot of restaurants and hotels are training new staff because of the COVID-19 cuts and turnover and everyone has been dealing with the concurrent challenges.
We had wonderful experiences with the staff at the Seaway Grille (the on-site restaurant) who graciously put up with all our photographing. On the last night we splurged on a bottle of Dom Pérignon to accompany the delicious cheese plate on their menu. I was traveling with two wine experts and they remarked at the great prices for high-end wines on both the Watkins Glen and 1000 Islands menus. This bottle was $200, where you would find it for $500 at other restaurants. If you decided to live a little large it’s a great value.
Our trip to the Finger Lakes was wonderful, relaxing, and memorable. And that’s mostly thanks to the Harbor Hotel Collection for blending great service and amenities with a safe, social distanced experience. There’s a way to travel with safety and style and the Harbor Hotel Collection has it mastered.
Please note: I was provided with a complimentary stay, meals, and experiences by the Harbor Hotel Collection. However, all opinions expressed are my own.