◆ AlbanyEco
★★ Downtown Albany · Albany ★ 3.1 · 299
Red Carpet Inn
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Lobby Sitting Area
Lobby Sitting Area
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Red Carpet Inn

500 Northern Blvd., Albany, United States

Red Carpet Inn is a budget-friendly stay in Downtown Albany, Albany — a no-frills base for seeing New York State Museum and the rest of the area affordably.

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.

Key facts

Class
2-star
Area
Downtown Albany
Guest rating
3.1 (299)
Address
500 Northern Blvd., Albany, United States

What’s included

24 Hour Front Desk Bathroom Cribs Available Free Wifi Free car parking Laundry Service Lifts Luggage storage Pets Not Allowed Picnic area Sofa bed Wheelchair accessible

Getting around Albany without wasting time

For Downtown Albany, Center Square, the Mansion District and Washington Park you do not need a car — it is a 20-minute walk end to end, and CDTA buses run frequent routes along Madison, Central and Washington Avenues for $1.50 a ride. Amtrak’s Empire Service and Lake Shore Limited use Albany-Rensselaer station across the Hudson, about 2 miles from downtown; a taxi or rideshare across the Dunn Memorial Bridge is $12-15. Albany International (ALB) is 7 miles northwest in Colonie, roughly 15 minutes by car or the CDTA Route 737 bus.

A car becomes worthwhile the moment you want to see Troy (10 miles north on Route 787), Schenectady (17 miles northwest on I-890), Saratoga Springs (35 miles on I-87), or the smaller Capital Region places — Cohoes, Watervliet, Bethlehem, Delmar, Guilderland. Parking downtown runs $15-25 a day in hotel garages; on-street metering runs until 6pm on weekdays and is free at weekends. The I-90/I-87 interchange at exit 24 is the main pinch point and adds 15-20 minutes during the 4-6pm rush.

How many nights in Albany, and what to do with them

Two nights is the honest answer for Albany itself. Day one covers the State Capitol tour (free, book ahead), the New York State Museum at the south end of the Empire State Plaza, and dinner on Lark Street in Center Square. Day two takes in the Albany Institute of History and Art, a walk through Washington Park, and the Pastures Historic District south of the Plaza.

Add a third night if you want to fold in Troy — the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market runs Saturdays year-round and the Hudson Valley scene along River Street is worth an afternoon. A fourth night makes sense if you are driving up to Saratoga Springs for the racecourse or the Saratoga Spa State Park, or over to Schenectady for Proctors Theatre and the stockade district. Beyond four nights and you are really using Albany as a base for the wider region rather than visiting the city.

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.

Questions, answered

Where is Red Carpet Inn located?
Red Carpet Inn is in Downtown Albany, Albany (500 Northern Blvd., Albany, United States), close to New York State Museum.
How much does Red Carpet Inn cost per night?
Prices are set live by the hotel — check the booking page for a real rate for your dates.
How many stars is Red Carpet Inn?
Red Carpet Inn is a 2-star hotel in Albany.
Is Red Carpet Inn a good hotel?
Guests rate it 3.1 across 299 reviews. It's a value 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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