2 Best Hotels in Albany and Central New York, New York

There's something almost collegiate about the stately Otesaga—maybe it's all the brick, or perhaps it's the cupola or the neoclassical entryway. The same studied grace runs throughout the interior. But it would be hard to hit the books here, thanks to such distractions as the Leatherstocking Golf Course and fishing or canoeing on Otsego Lake. In the luxurious dining room, massive windows look out onto the grounds. The four-course dinner is quite formal, with jackets required for men. The ever-changing menu lists contemporary dishes such as boneless chicken glazed in honey and lavender and sautéed sea bass.

You have three lodging options at this lavish resort: the all-suites Lodge at Turning Stone, the 19-story Tower at Turning Stone, and the modern Hotel at Turning Stone. Rooms in the hotel have contemporary furnishings and dramatically lighted marble bathrooms; some suites have whirlpool tubs and patios. In the tower, the third floor is devoted to a health club and a 65-foot-long indoor lap pool; a rooftop terrace crowns the building. The more intimate and luxurious lodge has chic suites with balconies with lovely views. The resort's broad (and rich) dining options include steak, regional Italian, Brazilian, and American.