1st time going to York. Looking for nice place to stay.
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A lot of folks will say the Wyndham Garden. If you're into pre/postwar, there's a bandit meet there. I stayed there last October and I thought it was kind of a dump. The halls and rooms really need a redo. On the plus side, there is a hotel bar.
I've also stayed at the nearby LaQuinta. It was a newer hotel and had a decent breakfast included. I'm going back there in April. No matter where you stay, you won't be walking distance to the fairgrounds so I wouldn't worry about proximity too much.
We've hardly use hotels almost excusively AirBandB's.
The Yorktowne just reopened a couple of weeks ago after a very expensive multi year renovation. It’s a Hilton Tapestry Collection property. It’s clearly on the higher end of the price spectrum but is looks like it was nicely done. Good luck! 😎
True by Hilton right behind Cheddar’s restaurant, …..it’s really nice!!
Pat
Avoid Super 8. Days Inn (formerly the site of the Billy Budd meet) has gone downhill and has become overpriced.
Suggest joining the rewards program for your preferred chain and using it. Check for discounts for AAA, AARP, senior, etc. when booking.
IMO, Wyndham Garden is the best choice if it's in your budget - site of bandit meet, decent on-site restaurant/bar, and close to fairgrounds. LaQuinta is also good - less expensive, great breakfast, and you can walk to Quaker Steak.
Enjoy your time at York!
@MikeH posted:A lot of folks will say the Wyndham Garden. If you're into pre/postwar, there's a bandit meet there. I stayed there last October and I thought it was kind of a dump. The halls and rooms really need a redo. On the plus side, there is a hotel bar.
I've also stayed at the nearby LaQuinta. It was a newer hotel and had a decent breakfast included. I'm going back there in April. No matter where you stay, you won't be walking distance to the fairgrounds so I wouldn't worry about proximity too much.
I wonder if Wyndham is redoing their rooms in stages - not doubting your experience, but every room I've stayed in has been nice, although my last time there was pre-covid. WG used to have a great breakfast; I've switched to LaQuinta post-covid because Wyndham went to a cold breakfast while LQ has hot food. (If anyone has an update on WG's breakfast, please post it.)
One thing that Wyndham doesn't have is long-term residents. IMO, long-term residents tend to drag down a property - I've seen a school bus picking up kids at some of the hotels. LQ had a few long-term residents the last time I was there.
Good point about proximity - even if you could walk to the fairgrounds, you'll need your car nearby to load it up as you find stuff.
Yeah, there wasn’t anything terrible about Wyndham. It was just frowning. I’d stay again just based on the bar. A buddy of mine stayed there too and we definitely got our use out of it! Yeah, the breakfast was stupid. I just poured some coffee and left.
The Wyndham is the best. I have been staying there over 30 years. Originally it was a Sheriden. Then it was a Holiday Inn. If you come early and do the bandit shows, it's by far the best. It's also the closest to the fair grounds. We always have the same room. They also have a free breakfast.
Harmon yards.... The new hotel you stay at is convenient to Cheddars, and Round The Clock Diner. We love Cheddars. You need to check out the baby back ribs.
I used to stay at the Four Points behind the Round the Clock Diner until they started to really raise their rates for York week. It is still nice, and has one of the smaller bandit meets now, but I now stay at the Comfort Inn on George Street. Proximity to the fairgrounds is not as important to us as a good breakfast so we stay at a hotel close to Round the Clock Diner.
Andy
The Wyndham is at the upper end of the price range for hotels and in my opinion is no longer worth it. The last time I stayed there for the week, their wifi system was lousy and I had to go to McDonalds to use their free wifi to attend to my business needs. Not sure if that has changed. My understanding is that you can get a hot breakfast at the Wyndham, but you are dining in the bar area and paying for it, so an added cost.
I have long moved on from the Wyndham. Like others have said, avoid the Super 8, Days Inn, Quality Inn, and Motel 6 at all costs. They may be very affordable, but they are dumps and not worth their prices. As for those complaining about school buses/long-term residents, I believe those are the children of the on-site managers of said hotels, so not a large concern on my part.
La Quinta is nice, but may be sold out for the week. Tru by Hilton is nice. The Holiday Inn Express East is nice, but a bit far from everything, but the bonus is no highway noise. There are a number of other options.
I am not sure how busy the hotels get during York, but I remember in the early 2000s, when all of the hotels in York used to sell out for the week. Not sure that is the case anymore, as there are more hotels in York and fewer people attending the show.
If you are on a budget and find the hotels to be too expensive, consider staying on the south side of Harrisburg or Mechanicsburg, or somewhere to the south toward Baltimore. I would avoid staying in the Lancaster area because traffic to York in the morning is terrible.
Homewood Suites (Hilton chain) off N. George is where many Eastern Division staff stay. Pretty nice and quiet and before covid included dinner along with a large assortment for breakfast. Priced on the higher end though.
Pete
@eddie g posted:Harmon yards.... The new hotel you stay at is convenient to Cheddars, and Round The Clock Diner. We love Cheddars. You need to check out the baby back ribs.
Oh yes sir, last fall I ordered me a full rack!!…..absolutely phenomenal!…..we like Cheddars!….I’m sorry to admit, when we go to York, I eat like a pig!!….all bets are off, …..sausage sandwiches & big fat pretzels at the fairgrounds, Cheddar’s for supper, and Round The Clock for breakfast!…..I pay for it later, but it’s part of the experience,…..
Pat
I agree with Norton, we stay at the Homewood Suites, a Hilton hotel. It is a nice hotel, good location, clean and easy to get to the fairgrounds. It is a bit pricy but getting our moneys worth.
Way back in 1986 when I first started to rediscover trains and joined the TCA to attend the York show, I decided to stay at a hotel close to the Toy Train Museum, the RR Museum of PA, the Choo Choo Barn, and the other points of interest in that area. I've stayed at the Heritage at Centerville Road and Route 30 just west of Lancaster most years. Since I travel from the NYC area, it's on the way to York. It's a half-hour drive (under ideal conditions) to the fairgrounds. The travelling distance might not appeal to some guys, but I'm a creature of habit and have never been disappointed with the place, or the food at their restaurant. If they're sold out, there's another clean and reasonable place one exit further west on Route 30, the Sleep Inn, which is a newer hotel. If you want to just roll out of bed and drive a few minutes, these are probably not for you, but their quality and cleanliness are consistent.
If I didn’t live 90 minutes from York, I would try to get a room at the Bridgeview B&B in Marysville or the Red Caboose in Strasburg. Both are about 40 - 50 minutes from York. I’ve enjoyed short stays at both.
@harmonyards posted:Oh yes sir, last fall I ordered me a full rack!!…..absolutely phenomenal!…..we like Cheddars!….I’m sorry to admit, when we go to York, I eat like a pig!!….all bets are off, …..sausage sandwiches & big fat pretzels at the fairgrounds, Cheddar’s for supper, and Round The Clock for breakfast!…..I pay for it later, but it’s part of the experience,…..
Pat
Pat, you're a real crack up! 
@RoyBoy posted:Pat, you're a real crack up!
What can I say??….I’ma sucker for a good steakhouse, ……I love going to York, don’t get me wrong, but anymore, it’s the opportunity to see my buddy Pete, eat a lot of food, & catch the dwindling bandits …….if I get a trinket, so be it, if not, oh well,….last fall I got to have lunch with Alex M., Pete, and a couple other characters ( another highlight) ……I worked the MTH parts booth with Don & Hippy, so it was a real blast!…if you’re not at York laughing so hard you’re gonna wet your britches, you probably shoulda stayed home……🤣🤣🤣
Pat
We stay at LaQuinta now since we used to stay at the Yorktowne Inn for almost 20 years. I read here that it reopened recently but I guess the $95 room rate is long gone.
LaQuinta is priced ok and does have a very good hot breakfast and very clean rooms plus being close to the fairgrounds.
@Lehigh74 posted:If I didn’t live 90 minutes from York, I would try to get a room at the Bridgeview B&B in Marysville or the Red Caboose in Strasburg. Both are about 40 - 50 minutes from York. I’ve enjoyed short stays at both.
I've stayed in Lancaster a time or two, and usually visit Strasburg on the day before the meet. The last two times, the traffic from Lancaster to York has been HORRENDOUS - took almost two hours in October. Not sure why - weather was OK and I didn't see any wrecks. Point is that I wouldn't count on a reasonable drive from Lancaster anymore.
I've thought about Bridgeview - might try that sometime.
Thanks for the help. I see that all the hotels jacked up the prices for the York weekend. Per night is basically $200 a night. A bit more than I anticipated. We only need a room for Friday night thankfully.
@yardtrain posted:Thanks for the help. I see that all the hotels jacked up the prices for the York weekend. Per night is basically $200 a night. A bit more than I anticipated. We only need a room for Friday night thankfully.
Most all hotels everywhere have higher rates on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Try to get a room in a town with a major college football game the next day or the Superbowl. 😳
Pete
When I was on a tight budget, I stayed at the Value Inn Harrisburg-York in Yocumtown just off I83 North of York. It is just about half an hour drive to/from the fairgrounds. It is mostly a trucker motel, but it suited my needs at the time. Reviews on Google Maps gives it a 3.5/5 average review.
Of course, the most inexpensive way to stay in York is to camp on the fairgrounds. If you have an RV or camper it is pretty nice and the showers in Orange hall are nice and clean (will need quarters) and have lockers. People also camp in tents or sleep in their vehicles. I've camped on site and enjoyed the experience. If I were going by myself, I'd probably do this again.
Andy
@yardtrain posted:Thanks for the help. I see that all the hotels jacked up the prices for the York weekend. Per night is basically $200 a night. A bit more than I anticipated. We only need a room for Friday night thankfully.
Did a quick search - Days Inn has rooms for Friday for about $130+taxes, so probably around $150 all in. While not my first choice, I'd stay there to save $50. However, checking out the other options a little north on I-83, as mentioned above, is a good idea. May also be some alternatives to the west along US 30.
Yardtrain...Check out the Wyndham Garden. I get a very good rate because I stay there 6 nights. Days Inn is crap.
It's funny, I pay over $300. a night at vacation hotels. The rate I get at the Wyndham is a real bargain. You guys make me laugh. You buy trains for hundreds of dollars, maybe $1000. of dollars at York, but you don't want the pay $150 a night for a room.
The newly renovated Yorktowne is showing the evening four nice options at less than $200 per night for that weekend. I was on the fence about attending this spring but this might be fun to add to the experience.
@eddie g posted:It's funny, I pay over $300. a night at vacation hotels. The rate I get at the Wyndham is a real bargain. You guys make me laugh. You buy trains for hundreds of dollars, maybe $1000. of dollars at York, but you don't want the pay $150 a night for a room.
There's no vacancy at Wyndham.
@eddie g posted:It's funny, I pay over $300. a night at vacation hotels. The rate I get at the Wyndham is a real bargain. You guys make me laugh. You buy trains for hundreds of dollars, maybe $1000. of dollars at York, but you don't want the pay $150 a night for a room.
People like to spend their money differently. Some folks would rather save money on the room in order to buy an extra boxcar or two. No need to make fun of someone for that.
@WRW posted:The newly renovated Yorktowne is showing the evening four nice options at less than $200 per night for that weekend. I was on the fence about attending this spring but this might be fun to add to the experience.
I hope it's a positive experience - looks like an interesting place. In the past, I've read about problems with theft from vehicles in their parking garage - hopefully that's been addressed - downtown York is a bit sketchy at night. Also, when I looked into it a few years ago, the website was vague about in/out privileges from the parking area. Please post about your experience.
I like to stay in the Gettysburg area on rt30. I don't get this obsession to be so close to the fairgrounds so the hotels can gouge you just because it's York week! The Econolodge is very affordable and clean and the trip back and forth is very pleasant! You should easily be able to book at this time.
if your a vet,call the hotel directly for a va discount ,any sites like priceline etc dont give them and if you book thru them the hotel if they have one will not give it,learned the hard way !
@k-liner posted:I like to stay in the Gettysburg area on rt30. I don't get this obsession to be so close to the fairgrounds so the hotels can gouge you just because it's York week! The Econolodge is very affordable and clean and the trip back and forth is very pleasant! You should easily be able to book at this time.
That's an interesting alternative - the rates are lower in Gettysburg. Out of curiosity, I checked Hanover - too close to York I guess, as rates aren't much less there, and some were shockingly high.
A major benefit of staying in York is being able to meet other train folks for meals. On Thursday, many OGR folks go to the Round The Clock for breakfast and/or Quaker Steak for dinner, and there are other worthwhile evening events. I prefer a short drive after dinner and try to avoid winding roads in the dark, especially if an adult beverage was involved.
I'll share another strategy... Make the best cancelable reservation you can well in advance. Shortly before the meet, check again - there may have been some last-minute cancellations - book the best one and cancel the original reservation. I have scored some nice rooms at good rates by doing this in the past. Unfortunately, this strategy has been less successful the last 2-3 years.
I’ve stayed at the Hampton Inn of if I-83 in Shrewsberry. Clean rooms, hot breakfast ,before COVID, plus a hot tub to soak in after a long day at the fairgrounds. It’s a little less than a half hour to the fairgrounds from there. There is the added benefit of a Ruby Tuesday next door. Check it out.
If your asking at this late date, Feb 9, go onto hotels.com and check out the availability in the area. Show attendance is down and the are and surrounding areas have been built up so there is likely rooms somewhere nearby. BTW i just booked my room in York last week so there is some availability,
Enjoy the show
No mention of the Best Western near the Quaker Steak Lube restaurant.
Any thoughts?
Best Western is right next to quaker steak. I'm sure it is sold out.
@Lyinel posted:No mention of the Best Western near the Quaker Steak Lube restaurant.
Any thoughts?
It's across the parking lot from LaQuinta, so I've gotten a good view - last couple of times it has looked to be in need of some maintenance, and it appears to have some long-term residents.
Good location, but I've never checked it out so have no idea regarding price or availability.
Tks. Looks like for October the best western is 1/2 the price of La Quinta.
I suspect there’s a reason.
