Visiting your son and daughter or checking out Cornell University in Ithaca, New York then you might need to book a few nights in lodgings.

It is not as if Ithaca is a booming urban area. It has a population of approximately 33,000. You have your “downtown hotels” or you can stay just outside the city or perhaps up a little on Cayuga Lake.

After a picturesque drive through New York from Buffalo on the smaller roads it seemed only fitting that I stayed at La Tourelle Hotel Bistro & Spa on Danby Road. It is located about a ten-minute drive from the city centre. Initial impressions of Ithaca were not pleasant on our entry into it. A rough and tumble crowd at and in around Walmart. Fentanyl does well in small town America.

La Tourelle is located in a wooded area and true to its Fench name with some imagination it’s architecture just might suggest a minor château. The exterior has some rough patches.

The grounds are immaculately maintained.

It is surrounded by woods and of particular interest is the Buttermilk Trail which is heavily wooded and dark from the tree canopy. You could happily hike for hours in these woods but bring sturdy hiking shoes. Trail maps are available at the reception desk.

The rooms are large and immaculately maintained. But the rooms and bathrooms are dated and require updating. The view from our room unfortunately was predominately a large parking lot and garbage bins. Some landscaping would have blocked that unpleasant view. Small points like complimentary bottled water and even hangars were absent. A nod though to the small fridge as after all one is in Finger Lakes wine country! The balcony is tiny and the chairs both faded, a bit rusty and don’t completely fit on the balcony so they are on an angle.

The Bistro, a separate building, has a large older section which is rustic with large planked wooden floors and a much smaller section with an outdoor view and somewhat ferocious air conditioning. The Bistro menu is limited but vegetarians and pescatarians will not suffer. One night it was the burger and that was fine. The next night roast chicken and biscuits with gravy so salty it had to be returned. The salmon however was perfectly prepared. And the wine and beer list was completely local. The bread was stale on the second night. The plates are well worn and scuffed. There is wrapped exposed piping on the floor in the small section of the Bistro and some food splatters on the shutters. Strangely breakfast at the Bistro is only available on the week-ends. A rather industrial “buffet breakfast” awaits for $7. If you like Wonderbread and equivalent bagels this buffet is for you. The coffee is also unimpressive.

The staff are accommodating and polite.

Overall my impression is La Tourelle was once a gem in the woods but like much of “greatness” fades and La Tourelle is fading. I understand new management was in place as of March. It will be up to them to revive La Tourelle.

Pets are welcome.

Rates are from $162-$654 USD.

RKS Travel Rating 68/100.