New York Getaway House Review: A Romantic Catskills Getaway

To celebrate our 14th anniversary in a safe way during the Covid-19 pandemic, we took a romantic Catskills getaway. The kids spent time with their cousins while we road tripped to the Catskills Mountains for some much-needed time to recharge as a couple. We stayed 3 nights at Getaway House Catskills West to literally get away from everything and everyone. Our Catskills vacation was pure bliss, as you’ll see in our Getaway House review.

These getaway cabins offer the benefits of camping without the hassles and inconveniences of sleeping in a tent, similar to glamping. Our tiny house in the woods had all the luxuries we require- a comfy Queen sized bed, clean linens, hot shower, flushing toilet, and kitchenette. Plus a fire pit to get cozy around every night with s’mores. Our nature retreat was exactly what we needed to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other.

Read our New York Getaway House review for all the details on this tiny cabin nestled in nature. See why Getaway House New York makes for the best weekend getaways from NYC and beyond. Getaway is also a great choice for a relaxing family getaway in one of their cabins for 4 people, which we plan to try next with the kids. These tiny houses for rent in nature are a safe and contactless way to travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Make sure to use our Getaway House promo code “WTAdventurers” for $25 off your stay. Check availability here.

Getaway House Catskills Location

Getaway House Catskills West is located in Catskill, NY. Getaway House Catskills East is located nearby but we did not visit that location. Getaway House NY expanded into two outposts due to such high demand for the Catskill cabin rentals. The Catskills cabins are situated in the woods on what appears to be a former campground. They keep the exact address a secret and send it to you before your arrival, which makes the getaway all the more exciting.

Although we are closer to the Getaway House DC, which is near Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, we decided on Getaway Catskills since we’ve never been to the Catskill Mountains in New York. Since it is just 5 hours from Baltimore, we decided that a few extra hours on our road trip was worth it to explore somewhere new.

Getaway Houses are located throughout the United States within a few hours drive from many major cities. They are perfect for city dwellers who want to rent a cabin in the woods and escape the chaos of the concrete jungle. During a pandemic, who can’t resist the appeal of going off the grid for awhile?

The current Getaway House locations include Atlanta, Austin + San Antonio, Boston, Charlotte + Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh + Cleveland, Portland, and Washington D.C. These tiny cabin getaways are so popular that Getaway House will likely add more locations. We plan to visit the Getaway House Shenandoah as a family trip next time. We also plan to experience the Getaway House LA which has gorgeous mountain views.

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – GetAwayHouse NY Cabin

Is Getaway House safe?

Getaway cabins have exploded in popularity because they offer guests a safe way to travel during a pandemic.  We never came into contact with another person during our 3-night cabin getaway thanks to contactless check-in and check-out. We received our keycode to access our mini cabin just before check-in. If we needed anything (which we did not since they provided everything we needed), we could just text or email Getaway House and a staff member would respond.

The cabins are deep cleaned in between guests by staff wearing personal protective equipment to disinfect and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Cabins are spaced at least 50 feet apart so you won’t come into contact with other guests, unlike at a hotel where guests share elevators and common spaces. Getaway houses offer the kind of vacation that is ideal during a pandemic- get away from other people while escaping into nature to relax and de-stress.

Getaway House Amenities

Getaway houses are brilliantly designed to master the limited space. It is functional and minimalistic, offering what you need and nothing more. We’ve been curious about the tiny homes that have become so popular and it was fun to try one out.

Getaway houses have either one Queen size bed or two Queen beds, usually lofted. The beds are next to a giant picture window so you feel like you are sleeping in the woods, without the bugs. 😉  We couldn’t get enough of the fabulous view into the forest. We delighted in the shadows of the leaves dancing on the wall while sipping hot tea and snuggling in bed. It was such a romantic way to celebrate our anniversary.

Our cabin had a small table for dining indoors, although we ate our meals outside on the picnic table next to the fire pit. Our kitchenette included a two burner stovetop, mini fridge, sink, tea kettle, a pot, a pan, dishes, mugs, and utensils. Scissors, a can opener, wine opener, fire starter, dish soap, paper towels, aluminum foil and utensils for grilling over the fire pit are also provided. We made our meals over the fire because that’s so much more fun! Why cook in a kitchen when you can grill over an open fire?

Our cabin also had complimentary individual packets of olive oil, salt, pepper, sugar, and coffee creamer. We brought plenty of food for our visit, but there are also food items for purchase including oatmeal, pasta, tea, coffee, and soup. Items are priced under $10 each and they are billed to your tab after check-out.

If you need some entertainment, there is a shelf with some books, a deck of cards, and a radio. Our cabin Joycie had a book called “How to Relax”, which is not hard to do at Getaway House.

The bathroom is located next to the kitchen and has a toilet and hot shower. These two necessities are the reasons why I haven’t been able to convince my better half to go camping. Organic, natural, and  biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided in reusable bottles mounted to the shower wall. Fresh towels for each guest are stored on a towel rack above the toilet. Even with the shower curtain, we somehow managed to get the floor really wet while showering. Thankfully there’s a small window in the bathroom you can open to let in fresh air and let out steam.

Getaway cabins are equipped with heat and air conditioning, which we turned on to stay comfortable. That’s another major advantage over camping- climate control. I cannot sleep when I’m too hot or too cold, so being able to regulate the temperature of our cabin was essential for a good night’s sleep.

There is storage space for luggage under the bench next to the bed. We could fit our bags underneath so it never felt too cluttered. Each cabin also has a lantern, a cell phone lock box, a shelf full of books, and a deck of cards. The cell phone lock box was a huge draw for us since we wanted to focus on each other and not get distracted by our phones, which leads to the cell coverage.

Getaway House Wifi and Cell Coverage

Getaway houses are not equipped with wifi on purpose- to encourage guests to unplug from technology and plug into nature and each other. Depending on your cell phone carrier, you may have cell service at the Getaway House outposts. We had service with Verizon at Getaway House Catskills West. However, since we had committed to a technology-free anniversary getaway, we did not use our cell phones except for taking photos and videos.

That’s where the cellphone lock box comes in handy. Lock ‘em up and relish being fully present with each other, or with yourself if you’re on a solo trip. Since we are on our phones way too much at home, the simple act of disconnecting made our getaway unlike any other we’ve taken. I’d love to have a cellphone lock box at home. Or at least carry that tradition forward for all our anniversary celebrations to come. Less time on the phone equals more time for cuddling and whatever else may happen when you’re giving your partner undivided attention. 😉

Cozy nights by the fire

The Catskills cabins are incredibly romantic outside next to the fire pit. Each cabin is equipped with a fire pit and cooking grate and Adirondack chairs. We made fires each night to cook our dinner, roast s’mores, and just relax with a glass of wine or cup of tea. Fire wood and fire starters are available for purchase for $6.50 and $2, respectively.

There’s something so entrancing about staring into the flames and watching them dance. We are usually so busy fixing s’mores for our kids whenever we are around a fire pit as a family that we don’t have the chance to relax. This time, we felt like kids ourselves roasting our marshmallows and biting into that gooey chocolate goodness. Getaway House provides guests with a complimentary s’mores kit, but you’ll want to bring your own if you love them as much as we do!

Things to do near Getaway House Catskills West

Getaways in the Catskills offer many adventures in the great outdoors. Although many people come to the Catskills cabins for New York City breaks and to simply relax, we wanted to do some exploring. Getaway House New York provided us with a map and guide showing things to do nearby, from hiking and sightseeing to shopping. They also provided information about where to get groceries and provisions, although we brought everything we needed from home.

The Scenic Catskills Byway is a must-do if you enjoy a leisurely drive through beautiful scenery. It reminded us of driving through the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, with babbling brooks running alongside the road.

If you’re into hiking, we recommend stopping to see Kaaterskill Falls. There are different hikes you can take, but the hike to the waterfall is short. You can hike to 3 different outlooks, and we recommend seeing each one as the view is very different from each perspective. Be prepared to go up and down steep steps, and you will get wet at the mid-level overlook.

We also took the hike from there to Sunset Rock. The hike offered beautiful views along the way and a breathtaking overlook where we saw a bald eagle soaring overhead. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks because the hike certainly worked up our appetites.

Another hike we highly recommend is Overlook Mountain Trail. It is 4.8 miles roundtrip and uphill for the first half, so be prepared to sweat. But the view from the top is 100% worth the effort. There are abandoned hotel ruins along the way and a fire tower you can climb to see all the way to the Hudson and even Manhattan on a clear day.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the summit while drinking in the spectacular scenery. Make sure to stay on the marked trails though, because there are rattlesnakes in the area.

Getaway House Price

Getaway House prices vary significantly depending on how far in advance you book and the date of your stay. We’ve seen prices ranging from $99-$369/night, with mid-week stays being cheaper and lower prices when you book long in advance. If you plan to stay several nights (either consecutive or on separate trips), we recommend purchasing a Getaway Often Pack. These start at $300 for 3 nights at a getaway cabin in any location and offer significant savings, although promo codes cannot be used on the packs. Compared to expensive city hotels, these small cabin rentals offer an affordable weekend getaway from NYC and other big cities.

Last thoughts of our Getaway House Review

We are huge fans of Getaway House and cannot wait to visit another location with the kids. I’m also planning to go with some friends for a girls trip. If you’re looking to escape from the everyday grind, a tiny house getaway is the perfect way to unwind, clear your mind, and connect with loved ones and nature. Remember to use promo code “WTAdventurers” for $25 off your stay at any Getaway House location. Find the Getaway house near you here and check availability.

Disclosure: We were hosted by Getaway House, but all opinions are our own.

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