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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown

74 State Street, Albany, United States
from $216

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown is a practical 3-star stay in Downtown Albany, Albany — good value for exploring the area and its landmarks like New York State Capitol.

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.

Because pricing is set live by the hotel and its suppliers, the figure shown here is a recent snapshot; check the current rate for your exact dates before booking.

Key facts

Class
3-star
Area
Downtown Albany
Guest rating
4.1 (491)
from
$216
Address
74 State Street, Albany, United States

What’s included

What Albany accommodation actually costs

Budget in Albany means $85-120 a night: chain properties along Wolf Road in Colonie, Central Avenue heading into Guilderland, or Route 9W in Glenmont. You get a clean room, free parking and a 15-minute drive to downtown but no walkability. Mid-range at $140-210 buys a downtown business hotel — Hilton Albany, Renaissance Albany, Hampton Inn Downtown — with garage parking usually charged separately at $20-25.

Top-end in Albany itself tops out around $260-320 for the Renaissance or the Morgan State House on Washington Park; there is no true luxury tier in the city. For that you cross into Saratoga Springs, where the Adelphi and Gideon Putnam run $400-700 in season. Rates spike hardest during Legislative Session Tuesdays and Wednesdays (February-June), Saratoga race meet (mid-July to Labor Day), Tulip Festival weekend, and graduation weekends in May at UAlbany, RPI and Siena.

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.

Questions, answered

Where is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown located?
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown is in Downtown Albany, Albany (74 State Street, Albany, United States), close to New York State Capitol.
How much does Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown cost per night?
Recent rates started around $216 per night, but prices are set live — check the booking page for your exact dates.
How many stars is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown?
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown is a 3-star hotel in Albany.
Is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Downtown a good hotel?
Guests rate it 4.1 across 491 reviews. It’s a midscale choice for Albany.
What should I book early in Albany?
Book early for the Tulip Festival weekend (second weekend of May), UAlbany and RPI graduation weekends in mid-May, and any Tuesday-Wednesday in Downtown Albany during Legislative Session from February to June. Saratoga Springs during the race meet from mid-July to Labor Day sells out months ahead — if that’s your target, book by March. Race meet overflow into Albany and Schenectady tightens by June. Everything else can be booked 2-3 weeks out without penalty.
What’s the average nightly rate in Albany?
The average nightly rate in Albany is around $150 across the year, weighted heavily by mid-range downtown business hotels. Budget properties in Colonie and Guilderland average closer to $105, and the Renaissance and Morgan State House sit at the top around $260-320. During Legislative Session Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the downtown average jumps to about $210. Weekend rates from October to February are the softest, often below $110 downtown.
Is downtown Albany walkable?
Yes, Downtown Albany is walkable — the core from the Capitol to the Palace Theatre to Lark Street is about a mile end to end. Center Square, the Mansion District and the Pastures Historic District are all reachable on foot from a downtown hotel. Grade matters: State Street climbs steeply from the Hudson up to the Capitol, which is a real workout in winter. Beyond that core, Pine Hills, Arbor Hill and Delaware Avenue are more comfortable by bus or car.
Why are Albany hotels more expensive on weekdays than weekends?
Albany hotels are more expensive on weekdays because the New York State Legislature meets in Albany from January through June, and lobbyists, staff and advocacy groups fill downtown rooms Monday through Wednesday. The Hilton Albany, Renaissance and Hampton Inn Downtown routinely sell out on session Tuesdays while sitting half-empty by Friday. This is the reverse of most US cities and catches leisure travellers out. If your dates are flexible, arriving Thursday and leaving Saturday or Sunday can save $60-100 a night on the same room.
What’s the best area to stay in Albany for a first visit?
Downtown Albany is the best area for a first visit, specifically the blocks between the State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza and Lark Street. You can walk to the New York State Museum, the Palace Theatre and the restaurants of Center Square without moving the car. Rooms here run $140-210 mid-range, and the Amtrak shuttle to Rensselaer station is a 10-minute ride. If downtown is booked out, Center Square B&Bs on Madison or State Street are the next-best walkable choice.
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