Whispering Winds Motel

4/10

Poor

28 Jun 2026

Anna

The room was not good. The office attendant was never there. There was mold on the shower curtain. The floor in the whole room was grimey The soap dish in the shower was all rusty and got all over the soap…
It’s a cheap stay, and you get what you pay for.
I felt safe at least! And the bedding wasn’t bad. The ac worked! The tv was hard to operate, but there was cable. Parking was easy.

Partner

4/10

Poor

22 Jun 2026

Cheryl

We stayed at this place, as we were attending a wedding in the area. One of the reasons we booked it was the loungers around the pool. The plan was to hang out by the pool in the morning / early afternoon and read and relax before the wedding. The pool area as shown in the pictures of this place does not exist. It was very disappointing. There was not a comfortable chair to be found to read outside and relax.

Family

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Kim

Not at all what I expected for $150.00-shower curtain had mold on it.no recognizable sign for the lodging-the smell outside smelled like something dead.-the pictures were not what I got-I made a bad mistake and I would not recommend!!

Partner

4/10

Poor

31 May 2026

Deborah

This is an older motel that appears to be in the process of being restored. The beds were comfortable and generally it was clean, but the floor needed a good mopping. The location is great. The managers were a young couple who were responsive to our needs. I wish them luck in turning this into an affordable stay near Skaneateles, NY.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

11 May 2026

Kathleen

The picture posted were not accurate. There was no heat or internet. We finally got a mobile heater and TV service our last evening there. United was not cleaned or serviced during our stay

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 May 2026

Teri

The staff wasn’t there at check in. Room was unlocked with key in it. The floors were dirty and dusty. The Wi-Fi was unreliable. Also heard people in the room next to us talking/arguing.

Pet

8/10

Excellent

10 May 2026

Heather

For the money this property was a good deal. All the hotels around were crazy expensive I’m not sure if it was due to Mother’s Day weekend or the food truck festival nearby but everything was crazy. I’m not one to normally choose motels but this one was pretty good I thought. Not bad for a place to crash after our event. It was a nice touch they had free water, pop, and snacks in the room. Nice tv.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2026

Addy

Place was beautiful, clean, well kept! Will definitely stay again!

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2026

Laura

Staff was wonderful and very accomodating

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

12 Dec 2025

Mark

Outdated,dead bugs on floor,nice bed

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Nancy

Loved the room. It was very clean and private. Will be staying there again.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Oct 2025

Christian

The room was clean and comfortable. We had the memorable experience that a transformer blew and burst into flames on a telephone pole nearby. The electricity went out and there was no running water. Thankfully the power came back on at 1 am. Interesting experience but we were safe and warm!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2025

Asher

I love the carport, place was clean and fairly nice especially for the price!

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

16 Oct 2025

Darlene

Very accomodating owners, carport, coffeemaker, microwave, mini fridge. No fan in bathroom. Bedding could be updated to really make it comfortable.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2025

Lynn P

Our stay was delightful! We called and asked if we could come in a day early since our drive was going quicker than expected. They were more than accommodating and welcomed us! Nice private entrances with a carport! The property is older but that is part of the charm and well kept! Next time we are in the area we will be visiting again! Thank you so much!

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

11 Oct 2025

Lori

We had trouble finding the place as the sign out front was so faded it was unreadable. The front desk was not manned but the owner was there quickly. They put us in one room but had to switch us when someone else started moving into our unit. We were able to have covered parking with our unit. The room was very dark with limited lighting. The bathroom was very small but if you wanted to rest your head against the wall while using the toilet, you could the sink had come off the wall but had been repaired. Floor was dirty but the shower had decent pressure and hot temperatures. Overall, I would not stay here again.

8/10

Excellent

10 Oct 2025

Robert

The property is pet friendly, our room was clean and parking was fine. My interactions with the staff were great.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

04 Oct 2025

Devin

Rooms need to be more clean and staff can be a tiny bit more friendly.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2025

Matthew

The staff I dealt with are extremely friendly and hospitable. Room is at a very affordable rate and clean comfortable and enjoy every time we stay here.

Business_and_leisure Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

03 Oct 2025

cornelis

The property has a nice gazebo for outside seating.
The room was clean and the bed comfortable.
Other than that this facility needs a lot of TLC and is in poor technical shape.

Leisure

6/10

Pleasant

29 Sep 2025

James

The room was clean, and the adjacent parking space was convenient. The bathroom could use an update. It is very small. The road noise was a negative.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

05 Sep 2025

Mary

Embrace it

Someone bought an old motel and tried to update with a very low budget. The beds are new and super comfortable but the rooms remain very basic and dated. However it was clean. You have to be up for this old style no frills motel thing though.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Aug 2025

Jacob

Good dive motel in great location.

First this location alone made it worth it. You are right next to lakes and parks and trails. There were certainly some things that could have been better but overall worth it if you don't care about too many comforts.
The AC unit did not work at all and left a puddle of water on the floor and dresser. I defrosted it to at least get rid of the water issue but that was it. Luckily it was pretty cool the week I was there so no big deal.
The windows were all broken in one way or another. To close the bathroom window takes two people, one pushing the window from the outside and one cranking on the inside. Not great.
The fridge was very nice and roomy but filled with ice. I defrosted that as well and worked pretty good after that.
Then there was the usual motel things, terrible shower head that you need to bend over for to get your head wet, mold in the bathroom and a shower curtain that was about a foot too long.
Again, I am not picky and none of this was a deal killer.
The number one thing that really made the stay tough for me was the smell. The staff coated all the bedding, including pillows in a thick coat of fabric softener. So much so I had to remove my bedspread to alleviate my headache from the smell. The sheets still smelled but less so. I found out on the last day there they also had an open gallon bucket under the bed of gain fabric softener to add to the mix. The smell was so strong that even with all the windows open it was difficult to get to sleep. Unnecessary

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

27 Aug 2025

Matthew

There was dust everywhere. Mold in the tub and hair on the floors.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Aug 2025

mary

Cute rustic motel type accommodations. Convenient location. Definitely needs TLC

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

13 Aug 2025

Anne

The motel does not have a front desk service for most t

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2025

Sam

Super quiet. Will stay here again

Leisure

4/10

Poor

04 Aug 2025

Joan

Bed was terrible, AC was unbearably loud, sink faucets wouldn't turn off, coffee tasted like water, very cold sterile room with poor mattresses. Very uncomfortable stay.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2025

Craig

Our stay was cozy and staff very nice! I highly recommend

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2025

Paula

The room

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2025

Robert

Liked the old wood panelling rooms. Comfortable beg. Pool had very short hours and was uninviting.

4/10

Poor

29 Jul 2025

Samantha

First, this property is no longer Whispering Winds, it is now the Skaneateles Inn. All of the positive reviews in the past are likely from previous property/owners. Although the staff was very pleasant and accommodating (we were able to switch the night we had originally booked), the room itself was extremely unpleasant. When you flush the toilet, the water in the sink slows to a trickle, so difficult to wash your hands. Then the shower pressure was awful (unusable). The water was scalding hot and once I had put shampoo in my hair, the water stopped coming out of the shower head altogether. I tried multiple times to get the water to come out of the shower head with no success. I had to kneel (on my flipflops bc I wasn't comfortable going in the shower without them) and put my head under the slow running, scalding hot faucet, to get the shampoo out. After a wonderful day on the lake, the experience really put a damper on our getaway. Other issues: no sheet on one of the beds (they quickly brought one when called), was supposed to be a king bed and got two double, light out in the bathroom (which I notified on checkout, so not sure if it was fixed) and the AC unit is ridiculously loud! Would not recommend this motel, unless there are MAJOR updates made to the property.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2025

Bethany

Cute Motel

Lovely little spot. Very quiet and a bit hidden. Check in was very quick and the stay was nice. We were just in town for the night, and it was a perfect fit.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Jul 2025

Kelly

It was a great spot for me and my family to lay our heads for the night. It truly would’ve been a 5 star review if the bathrooms were scrubbed down a little better. Unfortunately the pool hours (11am-5pm) didn’t work for our quick little stay. The outdoor area was beautiful at night filled with fireflies!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Jul 2025

Debra

Overall, good. Place is older and new owners who are updating.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Jul 2025

Melissa

Vintage vibe

This is an old-time motel but well maintained. Check-in required ringing at office and waiting for someone to come from another building, went smoothly after that. The room was tiny, especially with a king size bed, but comfortable. Love the wood paneling! Bathroom also small but very clean. Coffee service in room didn't have decaf available. Bottled water and sodas were cold in fridge, a nice touch, with payment on the honor system. All in all, a satisfactory overnight stay. Pricey for the type of accommodation but one of the least expensive in this popular vacation arra.

Partner

2/10

Poor

15 Jun 2025

Brenda

Couldn’t sleep due to a dog barking in the room next to us and a cat meowing in the room on the other side of us. The pillow cases were dirty. The carpet, bedding , bathroom were so outdated and the water was so cloudy that I couldn’t shower or brush my teeth. There was a dead bug on the bathroom floor. Paid for a garden view room. There was no garden. People were partying out side until late. It was an awful experience and I’m ashamed that I paid for a room like that

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2025

Kassandra

We had a great experience at Whispering Winds! The staff was super friendly and the check in process was quick. This is a very cute little roadside motel - the rooms are more like tiny bungalows than a hotel room. Everything was clean and well cared for. The whole place is a little dated but honestly, that really added to the charm for us. Our only complaint (and it's a small one) is that the walls are paper thin, so you can here everything going on outside very clearly. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a budget friendly, cute little spot!

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

08 Jun 2025

Jennifer

Very outdated mattresses are old and uncomfortable. Air conditioner was old and settings didn't function

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2025

Susan

This place is kind of old school, and adorable. Neat as a pin, and way quieter than a regular hotel.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

18 May 2025

Tracy

Property is older and a little run down. Mostly clean other than some areas of the floor. There were some stink bugs in the room. It’s a no frills kind of place.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

17 May 2025

Karen

Stink bugs everywhere! Alive and dead. On the ceiling, under the beds, in the bathroom. They came and got rid of them the first night, but we got back too late to call them on the second night and that’s when we realized there were dead ones under the bed.

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2025

James

Clean

Clean and quiet

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2025

John

Eclectic property. Manager apparently lives on site. Communicates through Ring doorbell. Easy check in/out. Convenient to cute town of Skaneateles. Close to Syracuse. Happy I stayed there.

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

20 Apr 2025

Chantell

This place was filthy. The ceiling was caving in. The entrance door didnt allow for any safety or privacy. Our toilet wouldn't flush. The shower curtain was filled with slime and dirt and the place smelled like mold. We were extremely disappointed with our stay.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

03 Jan 2025

Malia

I liked the place we were staying in but definitely bring your own blanket cause they only give you one. The bed was huge and and comfy and the room felt like a cabin which was cool and it was a pretty big room. The only thing was the bathroom was a little dirty when we got there but just the shower. I would stay here again!

Leisure Pet

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2024

Steven

Property management contacted us while we were en route to let us know about their holiday hours and that our room and check-in had all been handled making for a super smooth check in process and easy stay after our long drive. The property is dated but quaint and adorable. An affordable, nostalgic stay.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

03 Nov 2024

Ted

I stayed for 5 days. Towels and linens had spots. The shower did not work, the staff fixed it but water pooled in the bottom of the shower every time I used it. The TV never had reception. The walls were paper thin and I could hear my neighbors carrying on into the night. Stay only if desperate and everywhere else is full....

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

27 Oct 2024

Verified traveler

Deceptive

Will not be staying there again. Very dated and needs a tremendous amount of TLC. Clogged drains, significant mold, misuse of extension cords and power strips. New owners have their hands full with this money pit and we wish them luck, but their photographs are misleading and deceptive.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

22 Oct 2024

Thomas

Staff friendly, good location. Rooms in desperate need of complete renovation including fixtures, mechanicals and furniture.

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

21 Oct 2024

ALEXANDRA

Stink bugs.

The room I booked looked nothing like the pictures provided of other rooms. Outdated, cold (they did have a space heater in the room, but did nothing for the bathroom). As I slid into the bed I felt something crawling on my leg, to find it was a stink bug. That was just the beginning… over the next 30-45 minutes I had found over a dozen more stink bugs throughout the room. I had enough so I called property management. They ended up moving us to the Skaneateles Inn next door in which at quick glance was much more cleanly. But upon waking up in the morning I found another stink bug in the bathroom. I booked this place because of the price point and decent numerical rating, however I would not recommend staying here.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

18 Oct 2024

Sheri

Price was good. Property is a bit run down. Lighting was bad and surfaces had not been cleaned including the table and floors. Staff were very helpful and the beds were very clean. New pillows are needed. We kept our shoes on.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2024

Leslie

Kind and accommodating owner, spacious and comfortable room

4/10

Poor

13 Oct 2024

jonathan

Old worn out hotel, ceiling falling and pair peeling

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

13 Oct 2024

Chaithra

Heater in the room was not efficient.

4/10

Poor

10 Oct 2024

Dagmar

Dirty floors (bathroom corner) and window sills.
Broken toilet seat

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Oct 2024

Jane

I really liked the layout and decor. Even though it is your basic small motel room the furniture is sleek and had room and surfaces for spreading out as we do for even a short stay. Clean and comfy!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2024

William

Okay for one night

Room/cabin had rustic looks, antique style bed and decor. Bathroom was small and needed some TLC. Shower was small, box style. Price was a little high for what you get. But reviews were better than other hotels in the area.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2024

Andrea

Very nice stay

Very kind and accommodating

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2024

Andrew

Great location, good staff, clean

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Sep 2024

Karen

Convenient location. Property owners were courteous and helpful.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

10 Sep 2024

Candace

Only thing good was less expensive. Otherwise both beds had bugs;shower filthy; crack around entrance door so not tight

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Aug 2024

John

Old but clean and comfortable

2/10

Poor

24 Aug 2024

Rick

The motel gave our room to the wrong people, had to wait for them.to get back from dinner to get my room,
Then there was a sign not to usethe wateras it was not clean

10/10

Exceptional

22 Aug 2024

Sarah

Clean, comfortable, reasonably priced

We wanted a reasonably priced stay near Auburn and this was it. The place is definitely older and there’s no fix for that, but it was scrupulously clean and very comfortable. The staff was polite and accommodating and our room was quiet, even though I think the place was full. The bed was very comfortable. It felt like a throwback to an older time, but with AC and a fridge. Would stay again.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Aug 2024

Annette

The bathroom needed updating/ shower curtain was gross, shower needs a soap dish, and bathroom sink the water when turned on hit the sink needs a new faucet

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

15 Aug 2024

Verified traveler

Dated. Not enough lights or electrical outlets. Bathroom cramped. Mildew spots on bathroom ceiling.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2024

Steven

Quiet clean

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

13 Aug 2024

JERE

Very basic facility.

4/10

Poor

10 Aug 2024

Lori

The proprietor was friendly, but the publicized breakfast was not available. That was a perk offered by the prior proprietor, we were told.
The door to our room couldn’t be locked, and both the heat and the air conditioning were on at the same time. The shower curtain was soiled on the bottom and there were many suspicious dark spots (mold?) on the shower walls.
However, the king bed was very comfortable and it was wonderfully quiet!

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

06 Aug 2024

Saar

Don't book this place! It is dirty and decrepit and there is no service and no one at the office. It feels unsafe to stay here. On the day we left there was a creepy person hanging out in their car all morning. AVOID!!

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2024

Remi

We motorcycle across Northeast America 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 and love to find original places to stay. This «roadside » motel was perfect with its vintage feel. Loved it.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2024

Donna

Sheets didn’t fit. But staff replaced the next morning. Also no fire alarm. The owner got one for us the next days. Cleaning staff said none had fire alarms in the units. But we did have a ring to but the alarm in. Owner was very helpful. I would stay for short term again. But would make sure they had a afire alarm

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

21 Jul 2024

Frank J.

Clean, friendly. Somewhat small bathroom.
The bed was comfortable

Leisure

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jul 2024

Tina

Good price for the area

Tons of other people’s hair in the bathroom. Gross. The girl at the front desk was super friendly. The rooms are like stepping back to the 70’s or 80’s, electric baseboard heating, and all. If you want to be close enough to the touristy area, without it costing an arm and a leg, this is a good choice. Hopefully, you’re doesn’t come with complimentary stranger hairs in the bathroom.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Jul 2024

Karen

Older hotel that needs updating. Small bathroom. Met our needs for an overnight stay, but was expensive for what was provided.

Partner

4/10

Poor

08 Jul 2024

David

The place looks like it hasn’t changed a bit since the 60’s. Walked to the bathroom and the bottom of my feet turned black. The room didn’t feel very secure. Definitely won’t stay there again. It was cheap though and available at the last minute.

4/10

Poor

23 Jun 2024

Ed

Unsatisfactory

Sheets dirty. Shower dirty did not use. TV did not work

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jun 2024

Erin

Nice people. They put forth effort to make us happy. The place needs some work.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2024

Brandy

The owner was great and very accommodating.

Business

8/10

Excellent

02 Jun 2024

Richard

Old-style motel, but staff very helpful.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

31 May 2024

Karen

A little pricey for accommodations but overall great experience

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2024

Robert

Cool backwoods area with lodge feel. Would stay again.

Business Self

4/10

Poor

17 May 2024

Zoila

I did not like that the rooms were very close to each other, I could hear the people snoring in the next room.

Business Family

6/10

Pleasant

12 May 2024

patricia

There apparently is no sound proofing between rooms. The people talking next door (when we were trying to sleep) sounded as if they were in our room. After a few hours of sleep (finally) their talk awakened us at 4am.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2024

James

CLEAN, friendly, would recommend

Nice place, CLEAN and nice service.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 May 2024

George

For an older motel, it was in fairly good shape.
Bed was good, but the laundry items (sheets , towels etc.)
all had a heavy perfume odor , most likely the detergent they use or dryer sheets. That happens to be a pet peeve of ours and we will learn to ask ahead. Most everything else I would say was made up of inexpensive repairs and cheap furniture. Par for the price I would say.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2024

Gregory

This is a classic American roadside motel, and the experience was wonderful. Clean, safe, and comfortable. We would stay here again if traveling this way.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

14 Apr 2024

George

Nothing special and not cheap.

Business_and_leisure

8/10

Excellent

12 Jan 2024

Bridget

Convenient to town.

Business_and_leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2023

Lindsey

Its quiet and the motel management are honest and trustworthy. Only complaint is the shower is cold and the coffee is week.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2023

Donna

Cute place

Great place for a little get away. Our room was clean and nice for the price. Staff was friendly.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2023

Deighton

Very great value and clean room. Super friendly and helpful staff!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2023

Debra

Very clean

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Sep 2023

Pauline

Whispering Winds was our option for a couple of nights while in town for a wedding. Looking for a more cost effective stay, they were a great option. It was easy to check in and out and within a 3-5minute drive to all we needed.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

24 Sep 2023

Verified traveler

We did not stay. Nobody at Check-in desk but a paper & key. Used key to look at the room. Did not match advertised pic & was not suitable. We put key back on desk (still no one there) and left to go somewhere else.

8/10

Excellent

24 Sep 2023

John Brian

Front desk staff was extra considerate, called to verify late check in.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Sep 2023

Philip

The manager was extremely friendly and helpful and made the experience decent. The property is in fair condition. We unfortunately were housed next to some very rowdy people. The place will work for you if higher end properties are not available or you are just looking for a comfortable bed.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Sep 2023

Kevin

Nice

4/10

Poor

11 Sep 2023

Stephen

Summary: An overpriced, faded, unmaintained property with a shower I wouldn't step into.

What a disappointment! I figured staying on old US20 just outside of Skaneateles would be pleasant. In entering the driveway, it was obvious the grounds are not maintained. Grass uncut, "farm art" vehicle parked in front, poor paint, etc. I could go on.

Somewhat like an Airbnb there was no one to check in with, but rather a phone number to call to get the lockbox key code. We got in without any fuss. The only time we saw any "caretaker" was the morning after to collect payment (he came to our room door to do this). Any notion of a nice "family motel" does not apply here.

The room was (once) as pictured but the interior of the building was at least as bad as the exterior. The bed was OK. The bathroom was in desperate need of a remodel, and even without the there is no excuse for its dirty condition. The shower curtain had substantial mildew along the bottom, and the floor of the shower was quite dingy. (Irony alert- there is an envelope on the dresser so you can be sure to tip the housecleaner. Is there one?)

A terrible value- possibly the worst value of any stay in the last 20 years. Expedia won't let me mention cost. I would urge you to avoid this property.

Leisure Family