Lodging at the Gaffer Inn

Reserving and Accessing Room: Easy to reserve and good communications followed from the Lodge. Note that this lodge does not have a reception desk, though the staff in the restaurant below are available if you need assistance. It operates more like . We received a code for the keyless entry (works on the exterior doors and the room door). We had no issue with either. There are two ways to enter - either from the back outdoor metal stairs, where the parking lot is (see more on parking below) or from the front door on Market Street. The back staircase is open grate type stairs on the exterior, which some other reviews noted as scary. We found that you do need to be careful on these stairs as our sneakers sometimes got snagged on the grate. It is a bit narrow and also there are two steps up from the landing into the hallway door. Just be aware to take care. Room: We stayed in Room 1 for a party of three. It was huge, with two, very comfortable queen beds, family room area with sofa, large screen smart TV, and electric fireplace. The room has a kitchenette with small sink, dorm-sized refrigerator, microwave, small Keurig- style coffee maker, decent counter space and shelf above. There were a few coffee pods and one tea bag provided (we didn't use this, but more variety would have been nice). I am one to pack food for trips, so this space was especially useful for us. We were able to eat oatmeal right in the room for our breakfast or have evening snacks. The bathroom was large with updated finishes and a decent-sized shower with sliding door. The water pressure was good and we had no issues with enough hot water. We also had no issues with noise for our stay in early October. I would agree with others that the room was a bit dark after daylight. It wasn't a big deal for us. Parking: There is a parking lot in the back that you must pay for between the hours of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Overnight is free. We were gone most days during the pay hours, so this worked well for us. We never had issues finding a spot. Location: OUTSTANDING. This accommodation is right on Market Street. If you exit by the front staircase, you come out right into the retail/restaurant area. The street is quite charming with many well appointed shops and displays. There are several restaurants to choose from, as well as coffee/bakery shops and ice cream/dessert shops. Very walkable and enjoyable. We originally booked for two nights, but because the room worked so well for us, we reserved another night and the folks in the restaurant ensured we had no issue keeping our things in the room. Highly recommend.

Great location! We loved how close everything was - plenty of restaurants, a supermarket, and a nice park all within easy walking distance. Free parking right behind the hotel on weekends was a bonus. Watkins Glen State Park is only about a half-hour drive away, too. The room itself was very clean, which we really appreciated.

Very large room; great location. Plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance.