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Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway
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Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway

1455 Washington Avenue, Albany, United States
from $159

Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway is a practical 3-star stay in Downtown Albany, Albany — good value for exploring the area and its landmarks like Ten Broeck Mansion.

The surrounding Downtown Albany district is one of the most convenient parts of Albany to stay in, with restaurants, cafés and transport links close by.

Rates shift with the season and with demand, so the live price on the booking page is always the one to trust — tap through for tonight’s or your dates' real availability.

Key facts

Class
3-star
Area
Downtown Albany
Guest rating
4.1 (448)
from
$159
Address
1455 Washington Avenue, Albany, United States

What’s included

The Albany booking trap: session nights and Saratoga overflow

The pattern that catches people out is the midweek/weekend inversion during Legislative Session. From January through June, Downtown Albany hotels are often more expensive on a Tuesday than a Saturday — the opposite of most US cities — because state government business fills rooms Monday to Wednesday and empties them by Friday. If your dates are flexible, shift to a Thursday-Saturday stay and the same room in Center Square or on State Street can drop $60-100 a night.

The other trap is Saratoga in August. If you have booked a Saratoga Springs hotel and it looks suspiciously cheap for race meet dates, check the address — properties in Malta, Ballston Spa or even Wilton often list themselves under Saratoga and sit 6-12 miles from the track. Conversely, if Saratoga is full, Albany, Colonie and Schenectady act as overflow at maybe 60% of Saratoga’s rate, with a 40-minute drive up I-87 to the racecourse.

Where to stay in Albany: the areas explained

Downtown Albany is the default for a first visit: it puts you within walking distance of the State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, the Times Union Center and the Amtrak shuttle to Rensselaer station. Rates here run mid-range on weekdays when the Legislature is in session and drop sharply at weekends. Center Square and the Mansion District, just uphill, are largely B&Bs in 19th-century townhouses on Lark Street and Madison Avenue — quieter, cheaper per night, and a 10-minute walk to Washington Park.

For lower rates, look at Colonie, Guilderland or Menands along Wolf Road and Route 5, where chain hotels near Albany International Airport (ALB) sit 15-20 minutes by car from downtown and typically undercut city-centre prices by $40-70 a night. Troy, Schenectady and Cohoes are viable bases if you have a car, each about 10-15 miles out; Saratoga Springs is 35 miles north and prices there behave like a separate market entirely, especially in racing season. Pine Hills, Upper Union Street, Delaware Avenue, Arbor Hill, West Hill, North Albany, Watervliet, Bethlehem, Delmar and the Pastures Historic District are mostly residential and have limited hotel stock — worth searching if you want a specific short-term rental rather than a hotel.

Best time to visit Albany month by month

January and February are the cheapest months in Albany proper, with downtown rooms often at $95-120, because temperatures sit around 20-30°F and there is no legislative crush on weekends. March through early June is Legislative Session peak: Monday to Wednesday rates in Downtown Albany and near the Empire State Plaza can jump 40-60% while lobbyists fill the Hilton and Renaissance, then collapse again Friday to Sunday. Tulip Festival in Washington Park (second weekend of May) is the one weekend downtown prices hold firm.

July and August are steady and warm, mid-80s°F, with the Saratoga thoroughbred meet running mid-July to Labor Day — this pulls prices in Saratoga Springs to $300-500 a night and pushes overflow demand into Albany, Colonie and Schenectady. September and October bring foliage traffic through the Helderbergs and Adirondacks, with a bump around the Capital Region’s college move-ins (UAlbany, RPI in Troy, Siena in Loudonville). November and December are quiet apart from graduation weekends and the Empire State Plaza tree lighting.

Questions, answered

Where is Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway located?
Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway is in Downtown Albany, Albany (1455 Washington Avenue, Albany, United States), close to Ten Broeck Mansion.
How much does Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway cost per night?
Recent rates started around $159 per night, but prices are set live — check the booking page for your exact dates.
How many stars is Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway?
Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway is a 3-star hotel in Albany.
Is Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway a good hotel?
Guests rate it 4.1 across 448 reviews. It’s a midscale choice for Albany.
What’s the cheapest month to visit Albany?
February is the cheapest month, with downtown rooms often at $95-120 and no major event pressure. January is similar but the first week can be inflated by the start of Legislative Session on the first Wednesday of the month. November, excluding Thanksgiving week, is the next cheapest. Avoid the second weekend of May (Tulip Festival) and any Tuesday or Wednesday during session if you’re trying to minimise cost.
How many nights should I spend in Albany?
Two nights covers Albany itself — the Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, the New York State Museum, Washington Park and Lark Street. Add a third night if you want to include Troy or Schenectady, both about 10-17 miles away. Four nights lets you drive the 35 miles up I-87 to Saratoga Springs. Beyond four you’re using Albany as a Capital Region base rather than seeing the city.
How do I get from Albany airport to downtown?
Albany International (ALB) is 7 miles northwest of downtown in Colonie, and the drive is 15-20 minutes down I-87 and the Northway. A taxi or Uber runs about $25-35. The CDTA Route 737 bus goes airport to downtown for $1.50 and takes around 30 minutes, running roughly every half hour. Most downtown hotels do not run their own shuttles, so budget for the rideshare.
Do I need a car in Albany?
You don’t need a car if you’re staying in Downtown Albany, Center Square or the Mansion District and only visiting the city itself — everything is within a 20-minute walk and CDTA buses fill the gaps at $1.50 a ride. You do need a car if you want to see Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Cohoes, Delmar or Bethlehem, because rail and bus links between those places are slow. Parking downtown is $15-25 a day at hotel garages. Rideshare works reliably in the city core but thins out in the surrounding towns after 10pm.
Is Albany better for families or couples?
Albany suits couples slightly better than families, mainly because the draws are political and cultural — the Capitol, the Albany Institute of History and Art, restaurants on Lark Street and Delaware Avenue. Families do well with the New York State Museum (free entry) and the Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany Aqua Ducks tour in summer. For a family trip lasting more than two nights, Saratoga Springs 35 miles north has more kid-oriented options including Saratoga Spa State Park. Book a suite in Colonie for family value — chains along Wolf Road are cheaper and roomier than downtown.
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