Question about Saratoga?

[Tony Vegas]

Guys,

Looking to go to Saratoga this year for a couple of days with my girl and another couple. Any recommendations on where to stay? Eat? What the girls could during the day if not at the track? Any feedback would be helpful! Thanks!!!

[rwall]

LovDoc is from Saratoga

I would recommend staying with his family.

[wahoowa]

The Gideon-Putnam is a really nice hotel in the State Park. The Prime Hotel is right on Broadway but I think is under renovation so you might want to ask them about that. A lot of people stay at bed and breakfasts.

For the ladies, there are lots of shops and cafes on Broadway St. They have spas and stuff all around town too.

This is a decent site to get info from: http://www.saratoga.com/

[griswold]

Beware. Saratoga hotel rates are shockingly high during racing season: 155 a night for a motel, 250-350 for the Holiday Inn and Hilton.

A good tip if you don't mind the driving is to stay at one of the zillions of hotels near the airport in Albany. It's about a 25 minute drive from there to Saratoga.

[The Lovedoc]

tony... If i were you i would probably stay at a hotel off exit 7 in latham. Hell of alot cheaper!! Saratoga is only 15 miles away. Good places to eat. Gideon is great and so is a place called Cliffs. I would prefer leaving before the last race to go there. Maybe at night you could drive down to see 10dimebry at RAlphs in Albany.. Best Wings in the capital district no joke!! If you need more info just ask him or myself

[The Lovedoc]

are you going up for Travers??

[Tony Vegas]

thanks guys!!!!

Doc,

i keep getting your ims but you sign off before i can reply! i have the tmobile sidekick so i don't always see them until later. just didn't want you to think i was ignoring a future MOD here at BC!!!

[loc33]

I am from Saratoga.

I grew up in Saratoga and lived there until I was 24. Couldn't stand the cold weather and now live in Austin. I have been going to the Traverse every year since I was young. It all depends when you are going. If you are going for Traverse and don't have reservations yet than you may be out of luck if you wanted to stay in Saratoga.

If it is your first trip I would recommend going to the Jim Dandy or the Whitney stakes as it isn't as crowded as the Traverse so you can enjoy the track a lot better and have better luck finding a room. Or I would also recommend going to the track on at least one weekday to enjoy it without the huge crowds.

If you want to spend less than you are better off in South Glens Falls or Clifton park(closer to Albany airport). You can get to the track in 15 minutes from either place. Or you can stay up in Lake George which is very nice and about 30-40 minutes north of the track. The population in Saratoga about triples during the track season. Many people coming up from New York. The rates of hotels are also about 3X-5X during this time, but the folks from New York don't mind paying it. I think the best bet for you and your girlfriend would be to stay on one of the bed and breakfast places on Union Avenue. This will allow you to walk to the track if you want.

Places to eat:
Lilians is right on broadway and is a very good steak house
Olde Bryan inn is good for lunch
Panzas is a good restaurante on Saratoga Lake
Siros is outside of the Nelson Avenue exit from the Track. This is where everyone goes after the track. All the celbrities and everyone. In the back you can drink outside and they usually have a band playing. You need reservations for dinner, but it is way overpriced. Siros is only open during the track season,(6 weeks) but is always in the top 10 moneymaking restaurants in the Albany region for the year.

Other tips:
Get a small cooler and buy drinks before going to the track. You can bring in coolers with alcoholic beverages. Find a picnic table or bring a blanket or folding chairs and set up camp somewhere. It is often fun just sitting and drinking all day, and is a great option after losing early.

Go to Springstree deli and grab some subs beforehand. My buddy owns this place and has some good sandwiches and pizza. Between this and bringing your own drinks, you will save a lot of money which you will have to bet with.

I think it is either $5.00 or $7.00 to get into the clubhousevs $2.00 or $3.00 to get in for the general public. The betting lines are much smaller in the clubhouse and it is fun to people watch. You can move in and out of the clubhouse very easily whenever you want to go check out the horses or just take a walk.

Use the Automated Sam machines as much as you can to help reduce the time waiting in lines.

Use longshots in triple wheels as Saratoga is known as the graveyard of favorites

Bring your girlfriend to the track. She will like it as it is not like any other horse racing track.

Let me know if there are any other questions.

[Tony Vegas]

loc

you are the man! thanks for all the info. i have no idea what our plans are yet b/c we just started thinking about this. i have heard for years about how great it is up there and thought we would go for a few days. you have been a big help!

[10DimeBry]

you are the man! thanks for all the info. i have no idea what our plans are yet b/c we just started thinking about this. i have heard for years about how great it is up there and thought we would go for a few days. you have been a big help!

TV,

Where to stay. If you want to stay in Toga itself its gonna cost you $$$$$ and everything for travers week is booked already so dont even bother. Gideion putnam is a 1st class hotel in saratoga state park and is beautiful but is easily $250+ a night. Where to eat? Depends on your mood and budget. My choices Ole Bryan Inn, Longfellows for starters. The harness track now has a racino which has over 1,000 slot machines. Open 10am-2am daily. If your staying in or around saratoga, jump on the northway about 20min north is lake george which is great in the summer. If your staying in albany feel free to come to Ralphs Tavern on Sat night and I'll hook you and your friends up with a great meal. If you decide to come to toga please get my email and if your interested you can call me I'll give you all the ins and outs directions and everything.

[Tony Vegas]

bump b/c i never went last year and want to go this year. 10dime????? Doc?????

[meaiken]

6 flags is opening a new theme park/water park about 1/2 way between saratoga springs and Lake george.

$255 a night includes park tickets, don't know when it opens though.

U might as well try camping, it's probably cheaper.

[Tony Vegas]

U might as well try camping, it's probably cheaper.

don't think my girl would go for that!

[meaiken]

Don't know were in Ct u live but i live Near Springfield, Mass it only takes me about hour/ hour half to get up there. I have gone to Belmont Park which is 2 hours for a day trip also. The driving isn't that bad.

[Tony Vegas]

Don't know were in Ct u live but i live Near Springfield, Mass it only takes me about hour/ hour half to get up there. I have gone to Belmont Park which is 2 hours for a day trip also. The driving isn't that bad.

right out side of New Haven.