Axel's take on UAlbany & Crossgates: #5 of 8 in Albany, 4.8/10
Stay here for campus plans and shopping, not historic Albany. UAlbany and Crossgates offer a strong hotel selection and useful campus connections, but little doorstep sightseeing or cohesive neighborhood life.
University visits and Great Danes games are the clearest reasons to sleep here. UAlbany’s Uptown Campus, Casey Stadium, the NanoTech complex and Crossgates give this part of western Albany several distinct destinations. Think campus paths, major roads and shopping facilities rather than a traditional neighborhood main street.
The Purple Line makes downtown outings practical, but a campus address and a Crossgates address are not interchangeable. Check which entrance or bus stop you actually need: distances and road crossings can turn an apparently nearby destination into an awkward walk. Skip it for a romantic city break or evenings spent drifting between independent bars.
- Best for: sports fans, shopping
- Skip it if: You want historic streets outside your door; You expect the campus and mall to feel like one walkable district
- Getting around: The 910 Purple Line links Crossgates, UAlbany Uptown and downtown. From ALB, 117 runs directly to Crossgates; transfer to 910 for the university if needed. Check the walk from your address to the relevant stop.
- After dark: Expect activity around scheduled games and shopping destinations, not a continuous late-night street scene.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $197 a night · usually 6% under the public rate
Where to stay in Albany: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in UAlbany & Crossgates
- Western Avenue beside UAlbany. Choose the campus’s southern side for university plans and nearby dining; check your destination’s entrance before assuming an easy walk. Hotels here: Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area, Days Inn by Wyndham Albany SUNY.
- Washington Avenue campus frontage. The northern campus edge suits university visits and highway arrivals; campus entrances are spread along this road. Hotels here: Hilton Garden Inn Albany/SUNY Area, Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway.
- Western Avenue at Crossgates. Base yourself at the mall approach for shopping and entertainment rather than historic Albany streets. Hotels here: Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall, NY, Tru By Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall, Residence Inn Albany Washington Avenue.
How to choose
- Choose Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area if you prioritize consistently praised cleanliness and staff, with breakfast, parking and an indoor pool included.
- Choose Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall, NY if your family wants a kitchen-equipped suite beside Crossgates for a longer shopping or university visit.
- Choose Days Inn by Wyndham Albany SUNY if keeping costs down matters most for a short campus visit; accept variable rooms, sound transfer and basic breakfast.
What paying more buys
Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area costs more than Days Inn Albany SUNY for stronger cleanliness feedback, consistently praised service, hot breakfast and an indoor pool. Pricier Homewood Suites Crossgates adds kitchen-equipped suite space. Those upgrades matter for families and longer stays; a brief campus stop may not justify them. Typical rates with Axel here run from $83 a night at Days Inn by Wyndham Albany SUNY to $274 at Residence Inn Albany Washington Avenue (last 30 days).
The best hotels in UAlbany & Crossgates, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area 9.0/10, no-frills 2-star near the University at Albany. An excellent university-area base that gets the affordable-hotel basics right. Why it's here: Standout cleanliness and consistently helpful staff, with breakfast, parking and an indoor pool included. Accept: Some room and hallway noise; downtown requires transportation. $175 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall, NY 8.5/10, 3-star all-suite hotel beside Crossgates Mall. A strong family base with useful kitchens, friendly staff and shopping next door. Why it's here: Kitchen-equipped family suites beside Crossgates, with helpful staff and included hot breakfast. Accept: Some worn carpets and upholstery; no airport shuttle. $150 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hilton Garden Inn Albany/SUNY Area 8.4/10, refreshed 3-star chain hotel across from UAlbany. A strong campus-side pick for clean rooms, comfortable beds and helpful staff. Why it's here: Cheaper campus-side comfort with refreshed rooms, helpful staff and free parking. Accept: Breakfast costs extra; pool availability needs confirmation. $129 a night with Axel against $145 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $16 a night less (11%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway 8.4/10, practical 3-star hotel across from the University at Albany. A dependable campus base with standout staff, but choose your room for quiet. Why it's here: Campus convenience with standout staff, spacious redesigned rooms and an indoor pool. Accept: Some rooms catch highway noise; breakfast costs extra. $150 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Tru By Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall 8.3/10, simple, limited-service hotel beside Crossgates Mall. A strong shopping-trip base, with welcoming staff and stripped-back rooms. Why it's here: A short shopping-trip base with welcoming staff, included breakfast and shared pool access. Accept: Minimal storage and workspace; nearby construction warrants checking. $174 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Residence Inn Albany Washington Avenue 8.2/10, practical 3-star extended-stay hotel near Crossgates Mall. Spacious suites and helpful staff make this a strong practical base, despite housekeeping lapses. Why it's here: Spacious full-kitchen suites with included breakfast and guest laundry for longer stays. Accept: Pricier here, with occasional missed cleaning and incomplete room preparation. $196 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Days Inn by Wyndham Albany SUNY 7.3/10, no-frills 2-star hotel across from UAlbany. A practical UAlbany budget base, with friendly staff but uneven rooms. Why it's here: The lowest-cost campus base here, with helpful staff and free parking. Accept: Variable room condition, sound transfer, basic breakfast and no elevator. $78 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
