Best Western Plus University Inn

I really liked this place. Happened to stay with them on a cold February night and was offered a fresh cup of coffee on arrival. The lobby is intimate (as a smaller town hotel’s should be) with a front desk manned by seasoned staff who know the property and the area (the woman who checked me in explained how “Olean” derived from the word “oil,” the region’s original industry). The hotel sits at an attractive perpendicular to the highway and boasts mountain views from behind. It’s just a mile in opposite directions to Olean and Allegany, two attractive towns with good bars and restaurants and indeed a dry-cleaner (where I had my clothes before heading back to Europe) and a barber (as I wanted to spruce up after 3 weeks on the road) – the hotel staff helped me choose both of these. The pool was the perfect size and after a simple but very tasty breakfast I had a nice swim before hitting the road. More generally Best Western is onto something with its new “Plus” brand, indicated by red logo rather than blue. Whereas traditional Best Westerns vary greatly by footprint and amenities, the “Plus” uplift is something more 21st century standard but with the same welcoming atmosphere. Home office clearly applies pressure to franchisees, as the man who checked me out explained that the Olean property will upgrade TVs to 60-inchers by yearend, although the TVs already there are excellent. It’s part of this nearly 80-year old American chain’s bid for the new generations of traveler, where they’re doing a bang-up job.

Fred