Best hotels in the Catskills and Hudson Valley: Top 8 places near New York City
Catskills Mountains and Hudson Valley are some of the most sought-after regions where New Yorkers (and others) go to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in charming and cosy hotels with a relaxing atmosphere. With endless miles of scenic walking trails, state parks, colourful towns, interesting restaurants, breweries, and an art scene, there's plenty to see and do even if it's not your first visit.
In fact, there are so many places to stay in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills region now that it's hard to know which hotel to choose. Therefore, it's best not to waste your time compiling an exhaustive list but rather study the top-rated hotels in the area to choose the one that will be your ideal home base for your Catskills and Hudson Valley vacation.
1. AutoCamp Catskills
This glam campground didn't open until 2022 and is a great option for those looking for the best and most unusual hotels in the Catskills and Hudson Valley area. The 37-acre year-round campground has a selection of diverse safari-level lodges and tents, but its main attraction is its collection of restored Airstreams trailers. Guests can enjoy a stay in nature with all modern conveniences. There is a spacious and bright living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a private bathroom with a rain shower, a dressing table, and luxury bath amenities inside. However, the main attraction of this accommodation is the panoramic window above the bed in the bedroom, through which you can admire the starry sky. There's space for a campfire, an outdoor dining area and a private patio next to the trailer on which you can spend time with a glass of wine. The central Camp Clubhouse has a general store and a restaurant with a kitchen.
2. Eastwind Hotels
Windham is a great place to travel any time of year with good hotels for exploring the Catskills Mountains and the Hudson River Valley. Eastwind Hotels attracts attention with sophisticated rooms and suites decorated in an elegant combination of Scandinavian style and vintage furnishings. The most attractive among them are the separate Lushna Suites with terraces, outdoor showers and hammocks. They epitomize the Scandinavian idea of excellent camping with maximum comfort. Inspiring views of nature complement the simple aesthetics of the cabins. They have 2 or 4 beds depending on the class (standard or deluxe), a bathroom, a fire pit and a barbecue area. Pets are allowed for an additional fee. Eastwind owns another charming Oliverea Valley hotel further inland in the Catskills Mountains. Its 27 rooms are perched on the mountainside, and the grounds include an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a sauna, hammocks and a communal campfire area.
3. Hotel Kinsley
Devotees of classic chic accommodations will also find plenty of great hotels in the Catskills and Hudson Valley area. For example, the historic buildings of the chic Hotel Kinsley in Kingston's residential neighbourhood. This luxury hotel is a complex of four restored 17th- and 19th-century homes reimagined to suit the needs and demands of modern travellers. Each of the buildings has its own individual charm. The main one occupies a former bank and houses 10 rooms, an excellent restaurant and a bar, as well as a small spa and a sauna. Another sister building, a 1770 mansion with 13 rooms, is a few blocks away. They're equipped with all the modern amenities, including heated floors in the bathroom, and the deep soaking tubs themselves are bound to show up on your Instagram thanks to their spectacular pedestal placement. The hotel is a convenient point for exploring Kingston's architecture and art scene, hiking trails in the region, and visiting local farms and breweries.
4. Hotel Lilien
One of the reasons why hotels in the Catskills and Hudson Valley area are so popular with tourists is the spectacular scenery of the surrounding nature and waterfalls. There is the fairly new Lilien Hotel with 18 original rooms filled with Victorian furnishings and decor minutes from one of the most famous local waterfalls, Kaaterskill Falls in Hunter. Vintage details like stained glass windows, 1890s wood paneling, a sitting area with a wood-burning stove, and antique Persian rugs coexist here in harmony with modern amenities, including luxurious Brooklinen linen bedding and comfy Wright mattresses. A continental breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel is minutes from the hiking trails and ski slopes of Hunter Mountain, the waterfall, and the Mountain Top Arboretum, but there's plenty to do on the grounds, too, namely play pool, swim in the pool, and relax on a lounge chair with a drink or sit with a book by the fireplace.
5. Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection
There are cool hotels in the Hudson Valley and Catskills that allow you to enjoy a chic vacation and a laid-back countryside atmosphere. It only takes an hour and a half to get to the town of Gardiner for an escape from New York City into the wild comfort of nature. The Wildflower Farms Hotel is surrounded by flower meadows and wild forests. Its detached cabins overlook the majestic Shawangunk Range. The expansive grounds feature orchards, indoor and outdoor event spaces, a restaurant and a bar near the outdoor pool, as well as miles of scenic trails. The cabins and cottages have large ceiling-to-floor windows that open onto private patios with seating areas. Interiors are made of natural materials to blend harmoniously with the surrounding nature. From ice climbing in winter to fall harvesting, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure and new experiences at any time of year.
6. Kenoza Hall
Among the well-known hotels of the Foster Supply Company, which owns six hotels in the Catskills and Hudson Valley region, Kenoza is a newcomer. It was originally the site of a summer resort in the early 1990s. It has been restored and now features 22 rooms and 10 bungalows on 55 acres, outdoor seating overlooking Kenoza Lake, several common areas, a restaurant, a full bar and a full-service spa. Guest rooms and bungalows are well decorated with historic and custom elements, such as original hardwood floors and sleigh beds. The hotel's daily activity programme focuses on an active lifestyle and wellness. Meditation, yoga classes and walks on private trails are offered on site. In addition, you can take part in canoeing and other activities on the beach and water, then indulge in treatments at the spa or relax in the bar. It is the heart of the hotel and the oldest part of the building. It was once the family dining room of the previous owners, and its interior retains the original handmade latticework, wooden beams and former spa signage.
7. The Maker
One of the exciting hotel options in the award-winning Hudson Valley and Catskills area occupies three historic buildings in the Town of Hudson. The Maker is an eclectic mix of 19th-century industrial design, Art Deco and the Belle Epoque. You will find a 24-hour cafe, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, a lounge and a gym open to the public. The hotel has 11 spacious rooms, each unique and with its own story to tell. The Architect Studio, for example, has a bedroom with a king bed, a spacious bathroom with a shower, a deep soaking tub and a heated floor, as well as a living room with a carved black granite fireplace, a walk-in closet, a work area and modern amenities like signature cosmetics and bedding, iPad on demand or wake-up service with complimentary coffee and pastries. Terrace lofts are reminiscent of bohemian Parisian rooftop studios thanks to light from skylights and private large terraces overlooking the Hudson River. All suites are decorated with vintage furniture, antiques and art.
8. The Shandaken Inn
This retreat less than 2.5 hours from New York City has been welcoming guests for over a century and is among the historic hotels of the Hudson River Valley. It was originally a clubhouse for visitors to the Rip Van Winkle Golf Course in the late 1920s. But in 2019, after a global renovation, the hotel was opened in its place with 12 acres of bucolic grounds and a country rustic estate atmosphere. The hotel has 15 rooms and three cute two-bedroom cottages with decor reminiscent of the glory days when it was the central vacation destination for the entire region. But there's still plenty to do here: there's a fitness room, a tennis court and a pool open seasonally, as well as a restaurant and a bar, a fire pit, and a short drive to Hunter Mountain with skiing or ziplining in warm weather and miles of hiking trails, including to Kaaterskill Falls. All rooms have a variety of amenities, including free Wi-Fi, bedding and bath amenities. Free breakfast is also included. Some rooms feature fireplaces and sitting areas.
