Spencer Hotel & Spa Chautauqua

Lovely bed and breakfast type hotel centrally located in the heart of Chautauqua. Easy walk to everything. Charming owner, Helen. Very sweet. Nice breakfast. Eggs Benedict one day and egg casserole the next. Our room was small but functional. Comfortable bed.

What a special place! My friend and I traveled to Chautauqua for the eclipse and felt so lucky to have discovered this hotel (and Chautauqua itself!). This is a hotel with genuine character, clearly run (and maybe owned?) by a small group that really cares. When I accidentally broke something in the room, they could not have been more accommodating and understanding. They were lovely about my friend and I being able to return to the lobby for bathroom and water access even after we'd checked out. A few other things about the stay...breakfast is included and was delicious. There are nooks and crannies with interesting things to look at everywhere. The room was sunny and comfortable. And the price was very reasonable, especially considering that they were in the path of totality and could have probably charged much more!

We just experienced a once in a lifetime early April stay at the Spencer Hotel due to the solar eclipse. Our lovely host, Helen, along with her husband, afforded us a glimpse into the magic that is Chautauqua. The Spencer Hotel transended us into a space that reflects the interfaith and humanitarian mission statement. The ambience that Helen has created for over 40 years is reflected in the author themed suites with hand painted walls that illuminate the author’s imaginative books. Our particular room was dedicated to C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia series which was uniquely appointed with a wardrobe that allows the guest to enter the fantasy that an artist has illustrated and hand painted on the walls. The location is nestled in the heart of town, steps away from the amphitheater, a short walk to the Chautauqua Institute and all the amenities that surround it. Our breakfast was artistically crafted and gently served by Helen herself. If you’re looking for a magical stay in Chautauqua, then the Spencer Hotel is our suggestion.

I had booked a two-week stay at the Spencer, because it was the only accommodation available for the weeks I wanted. My stay was so terrible that I left after one week -- and their new manager, who was fired shortly afterward, agreed to refund me the second week because she saw how horrible the conditions were. (The owner then refused to actually give me the refund for the longest time, and I had to dispute the charge with my credit card company. She finally relented, and I got my money back.) But I digress. I don't know where to start with this inn. It was grand in its day, yes, and could be again. But it is very outdated, and needs significant capital improvements, which the owner clearly refuses to undertake. For example: there are two faucets in the bathroom sink, one for cold water and one for hot, so you can't adjust the temperature. When I arrived, there was a problem with my hot water faucet, which was never fixed (although a housekeeper did barge in with a plumber one day without knocking because she "thought" I was out.) I did have cold water, though, and had to be content with that for a week. There was no shower in my "suite," only a claw foot tub. There was no shower curtain, and only a hand-held shower head. So you had to hold the shower head with one hand while soaping with the other, and trying not to get water on the walls or the floor. Another guest on a lower floor told me there was a lot of water damage on her bathroom ceiling. I can see why. The tiny "kitchen" -- stuck in a narrow hallway outside the bathroom -- had no dish soap or sponge, and only two mugs and two plates. There was a microwave and a mini fridge, but preparing any kind of food was impossible. The elevator was a relic from the 1940s, maybe -- there was an accordion door you had to close yourself, and if you didn't, the elevator wouldn't work. So if someone accidentally left that door open and you were on the fourth floor, you were stuck -- the elevator wasn't coming. I could go on and on. I paid over $350/night for this room, and it wasn't worth a quarter of that. Many other guests who were there that week had similarly horrible experiences, but there were some old-timers who have been coming year after year who still loved it. But if you have any choice in the matter, do yourself a favor and stay anywhere else but here!!!

We booked a room in October, 2023 for April, 2024 as the Spencer was one of the very few Chautauqua properties open in April. We paid in full the stated rack rate at the time of booking and received an email confirming the reservation and describing the transaction as a'contract for stay. Last month, the owner, Ellen Edgington emailed to tell us she had discovered that the eclipse was happening during our stay and that she now wanted to double the price. We promptly wrote back to refuse the increase. She responded that she reserves the right to change a rate at any time (including presumably after a guest checks in). Despite being told we would not agree to or authorize any rate increase, she processed an additional credit card charge. Needless to say, we will NOT be staying at the Spencer and would caution others to beware.

Booked a room and paid up front for two nights for the April solar eclipse, and three months after I booked it they told me they were raising the nightly rate to more than double the original booking price! They first claimed it was a ‘computer glitch’, and when I said it seemed like they were raising the rates because they’d realized they were attracting bookings for the solar eclipse, they replied, yes, that was true! So, they lie, then tell me ‘everyone else is doing it. It would be one thing if they did this back when I first booked it, but now I am completely out of luck. No apologies on their part at all.

This wouldn't be a terrible hotel if the rooms were $75 in-season. As it is, though, it costs more than the Athenaeum, yet our room didn't have it's own A/C so we sweltered some nights, there was no dresser (only a wardrobe with no drawers), the room was tiny, and the bathroom was minuscule and felt old and dirty. And the breakfast buffet was very limited, just oatmeal, a fruit cup, and bread pudding. Please, stay anywhere else if you can.

Loved the Themed rooms and the sitting porches. Especially enjoyed talking to the hosts and learning the History of the hotel and Chatauqua. The hotel is a very short walk to the amphitheater and activities in the village.

Let's just say - they have a good photographer and post compelling photos on their website. On the plus side, you can't beat the location. It's a few buildings down from the Amphitheater, so you can enjoy the evening symphony easily from the porch or terrace. Also, the entire staff was kind and helpful. They really tried to accommodate the guests, but there was this sense that these gals were quite fearful of screwing up. On the downside, the room was straightened up, but it didn't feel clean - especially post-pandemic clean. The room we stayed in had 1-1/2 bathrooms - both very small with no room to hold personal belongings. The shower experience was no better than you'd find at a campground. The amenities were cheap and never replenished, so we ended up buying shampoo, conditioner, and body wash at the plaza store. The floor wasn't level, evidenced by our roller bags rolling around on their own. The bed was way too soft and uncomfortable. There was no airflow in the room and there was no way to control the air conditioning. The windows were permanently shut. Despite the Spencer's charm and history, we won't be staying here again.