Budget Inn, Cooperstown

I say this with no amount of exaggeration whatsoever: staying at this place was the WORST experience I have ever had with a hotel in my entire life. I came to Sharon Springs to attend a college reunion in nearby Cobbleskill. From the day I reserved my room I should have known not to stay here. The man who took my reservation was incredibly rude and intrusive. He wanted to know every detail of my stay from where I’d be traveling to whether I was there to visit friends or family or for business. He would not take: “it’s none of your business” for an answer. I was running late the night of my arrival and called ahead at around 8:30 to make arrangements for a late arrival and was told that the desk clerk (who is also manager and owner apparently) would be leaving for the night and he would not be able to accommodate me unless I arrived before 9:00. He would also be charging me a $150 “no-show” fee (the cost of my 2 night stay)! There was no mention at the time of my reservation that arrangements would not be made if I arrived after 9:00 or that there was any time at which the hotel “closed”. I was told had I put my reservation on a Discover or Amex instead of a MasterCard he would be able to accommodate me but alas, I had used the wrong card. I finally called a friend who was also staying at this hotel (and had his own terrible experience) to go down and check in on my behalf, which he generously did. When I arrived I found a smelly, dirty room with a broken lock, no A.C., no phone, no hot water, no towels and signs everywhere along the lines of: “we have recorded your license plate number and will report any thefts to the police”, like there was anything worth taking. The next day I complained about the hot water and was told: “when someone else showers there’s no hot water” although there was NEVER hot water. I complained about the A.C. and was told: “I gave you a room with a stove and refrigerator for no extra charge”, which I did not ask for and did not use (but I would have used the A.C.). This room, by the way, had a stove in it but no fire extinguisher (although there was a holder for it on the wall) and a smoke alarm with no battery. Budget Inn seems to greatly value the safety of their guests. Whatever you do DO NOT stay in this hotel. You’re better off sleeping in your car or on the street. If this hotel were an apartment building we would call the owner a slumlord and the city would shut it down.