Location:

 

Western Catskills

This location was more remote - the definition of the “middle of nowhere” glamping experience. The cabins are within viewing distance of each other and the overall site seems smaller than the Eastern location. We shared an “entry path” to our cabin with one other cabin and parked in a parking section a couple hundred feet away from the cabin. Our fire pit still had privacy as the other cabin’s fire pit was on the other side of their cabin, but it also meant every time they walked by with their dog, they were within 10 ft of us sitting at our fire pit. 

 

Because there is zero cell phone service here (not just at the site, but also driving around the site), we definitely recommend downloading the area on Google Maps before venturing out. We visited that location on 11/2022 and there was no Wifi.

 

Eastern Catskills

This location is within a quick driving distance to a downtown area. This is great for those looking to explore restaurants, pubs, and other “towny” things. It also made grocery shopping for our stay super easy. This site seemed to have a lot more cabins and we both had some service (not amazing service, but worked for looking up local trails and some texting; I use Verizon and my husband uses AT&T). We visited this location in 2/2023 and there was Wifi. 

 

Human Amenities:

 

Both locations have been around now for a couple of years, and in general things are maintained relatively well. The blinds, bed, linens, sheets, cookware, etc. were all in good condition. However, there was mold in the showers caulk and drains, and the wooden seating gave me some splinters from wear and tear. Not the end of the world, just something to consider (especially if you travel with kids or pets). A blanket on the wooden seat fixed our splintering issue. 

 

Fire pit, adirondack chairs, and picnic table/chairs were all in good condition. Getaway House provides fire starters and stacks of firewood to use (at prices comparable to buying each items at nearby grocery stores). There is also a smores kit for purchase. 

 

In 2022, the weekend we went had a really abnormally warm, humid, and stuffy day. The AC in the cabin was not remotely strong enough to make us comfortable. In 2023, the weekend we went, it was pretty cold (lows were in the low 20s, high teens). The heat was strong enough when we needed it, but we had to reset it a couple of times because it stopped working. 

 

Neither time we went had the mini-fridge seem to be cold enough for our food. The second time we went, it was cold enough outside that we just left our food in the car. 

 

Dog Amenities:

 

There is a dog fee when bringing your dog, but they also provide amenities for your dog! There is a longline attached to the picnic table that is good for dogs up to 70lbs. Dogs are not allowed off leash in the site to ensure everyone else's safety and privacy. 

 

Inside the cabin, G was provided two bowls, a couple of small towels for dirty paws, and a bag of treats!

 

Things to do:

 

Western Catskills

The only few “easy” trails close by are all on hunting grounds. Because we did not bring any neon/orange gear and visited during hunting season, we opted for walking along the water near the boat launch by the getaway location. Everything else was a 40+ minute drive away. 

 

Eastern Catskills

We tried two main trails for the two full days we were there. The first one we tried was the North/South Lake loop - this is the foot trail that just follows along the waterside. It goes from wide and narrow hiking paths, to paved roads, to paths scattered throughout the nearby campsite. The first half is essentially completely flat with no accessibility differences in terrain. The second half reads more like a standard flat hiking path through the woods; still easy enough though. It had sleeted pretty heavily the night before, so the second part had areas that were pretty waterlogged and our boots squelched into some deep muddy parts. 

 

On our second day, we tried the famous Kaaterskills Falls. I had wanted to go all the way down to see the falls, but when we got to the view platform, all the steps were covered in snow and ice. We didn’t have the proper footwear for that type of trek, so we skipped it. The walk to the platform was a bit icy with snow and rain freezing overnight, but easy enough as long as you walk slowly. This area requires dogs to be on leash. Out of the 4 dogs we ran into, 1 was unleashed, but the owners quickly grabbed them to pass us. Easy walk for a nice view. Then we did the Kaaterskills rail trail. Elevation was basically zero again and completely flat. There were some old wooden slats from the old railway still on the ground that made some of the surfaces on the bumpier side, but easy enough for most people. The trail is a relatively straight and flat. Here we ran into an off leash dog that had zero recall without an owner in sight. We found their owner maybe 15 minutes later frantically trying to recall their dog. Not necessarily a cardio workout, but this trail served as a great leisure nature walk.

 

General FYIs:

 

The first time we tried Getaway House, we only stayed 2 nights and ended up wishing we stayed an additional night. By the time the three of us had settled into the cabin, it was time to pack up. 

 

The second time we tried Getaway House, we ended up staying 3 nights and it was perfect. We were able to settle into the location, relax, and explore. 

 

This is truly a great “glamping” experience, and even better for those in the city. The amount of items that need to be packed for the weekend is substantially lower than if you were to go camping. 

 

Reactive Dog Scale:

 

I would consider both locations reactive dog friendly to a certain degree. 

 

For a very reactive dog, sharing a walking path would prove to be quite frustrating. At the western location, the walking path hugged the back of our fire pit. This meant that every time the other group walked to and from their cabin, they were 10 ft from our fire pit and in our space. 

 

In general, everyone follows leash rules and understands that you are there because you want space and privacy to relax in nature. But it's important to note that you can see all other cabins and hear other groups pretty easily.