Why-fi?

  |  January 21, 2015
Whyficollage

We learned a little from meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg about the value of silence while perusing Chronogram.com, and we were intrigued by the idea of kicking off the New Year with a digital detox. One way to conduct such an experiment is by taking part in a group retreat at a facility like the Garrison Institute, but we were interested in our options for a more impromptu escape. To our delight, amidst a seemingly endless feed of Airbnb posts listing FREE WIFI in capital letters, we were able to find a contigent of hosts who are holding fast to the idea that a little time away from the Twitter feed may do a body good.

So with our mental health in mind, we present three charming rentals, hold the Wifi and TV, for any reader brave enough for a weekend spent off the grid!


1) Saugerties Meets Versailles

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Price/night: $300
Accommodations: Private bedroom, 1 bed
Max guests: 2
Min stay: 2 nights
House description:
We’re not sure how much detail we need to include about this rental, since we’ll probably lose most readers at the first photo of the gorgeous bedroom. Just in case anyone is still with us, Josepha has decked the space in Czech crystal, Venetian mirrors, and the cherry on top – a 19th-century gilded French bed. Basically, it’s fancy. As you can imagine, a weekend at this magnificant retreat is not cheap, but as Louis XIV would say, “Ça vaut la peine!”

Sample reviews:

“We had a great time, the room was more than we had expected with 18th century panelling from a Belgian chateau and a magnificent view overlooking a lake and park with horses grazing. The venue was breathtaking and very quiet and private and had the good luck of having the pool to ourselves when we visited. The location is perfect only 4 mins drive to the farmers market, restaurants and shops in Saugerties.
The hosts were amazingly thoughtful, and provided an amazing breakfast for an additional $10 each

. We were spoilt with peaches from the garden and home made parfait and pastries.
All in all we had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend it.”

“Amazing place and location!!! Josepha and her husband are great hosts, the room is stunning and the garden with the pool is so peaceful. Highly recommended.”


2) Schoolhouse in Bovina Center

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Price/night: $185
Accommodations: Full house, 1 bedroom
Max guests: 4
Min stay: 2 nights
House description:
The host of this sunny little schoolhouse has restored the space with love and care, and the effort has certainly not gone to waste. This rental has over fifty reviews and still maintains a five-star rating. We’re not really surprised – the beds look heavenly, the interior is bright and cozy, and there is plenty of space for pets (or kids) to romp around in the fresh air.

Sample reviews:

“We had a lovely few days at the Schoolhouse – it’s a wonderful romantic place. It’s really great waking up to see the dawn rising (there are windows all around). Megan and Joe were great hosts – and the place was very well equipped. Nice linen, comfy bed and charming crockery – and even without a full-working kitchen it still had everything we needed. Added to this Megan immediately came to the rescue when we couldn’t start our car we had a winning trip – and our cats loved it their too!”

“It’s hard to believe such a magical little place exists. The schoolhouse was as perfect as it was painted; the farms flanking the dirt road leading back, a picturesque pond and fields of wildflowers as a backyard, the perfectly appointed and quite romantic schoolhouse and the best star-gazing we’ve ever come upon. Joe has done an amazing job making the ‘simple life’ even more inviting.”


3) Ferndale Cottage

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Price/night: $85
Accommodations: Full house, 2 bedrooms
Max guests: 7
Min stay: 1 night
House description:
Is it weird that we got a little excited about the bunk beds? Oh well, it’s been a while since our summer camp years, and Sunshine Cottage has all of the makings of a trip down memory lane. Indian Lake is just a stone’s throw away for swimming and fishing purposes in the summer, and hiking and skiing trails are located close by for outdoor adventuring in the cooler months. The 70+ positive reviews of this cottage highlight the accessibility of the host, the cute record player (nice touch!), and rental’s location in historic Bethel, where the Woodstock Festival of 1969 took place.

Sample reviews:

“In the event that you need a getaway and are looking for a welcoming, comfortable, and well-managed home, Karen’s cottage near Lake Barnabee surpasses any other offer in the Catskill area. As a newcomer to airbnb and its resources, a few clicks led to this great find, and a standard has now been set in future renting ventures.

I sent a request to book the cottage only 3 days out and Karen had an immediate response with the go-ahead, which is greatly appreciated in any short-fused inquiry. Once the agreement for the stay was accepted, Karen ushered in simple, yet direct guidelines which led to an easy do-it-yourself opening process for the quaint and functional home. With Lake Barnabee a walk away, the cottage served as a home-base for a day of relaxation on the water and then a spring-board into a late-afternoon exploration of the Catskills.

Karen exemplifies the idea of an outstanding hostess with her guidance and quick, positive responses. For a first time airbnb investment, she allowed for an immensely pleasurable stay in the Catskills with no stress and should be further highlighted by airbnb as a renter that will continue to make this concept of connecting individuals through their home-space a thriving business.”

“A fabulous Fall experience at the Sunshine Cottage. We spent two nights here during that third week of October and had a fantastic time. The cottage is quaint, cozy, and literally a 2min walk from a small lake which was surrounded by multicolored trees – stunning at sunrise and sunset. The instructions & suggestions left by Karen were extremely useful and well detailed. We actually forgot to bring electronics for music or movies but were better for it. We spent both evenings at the fire-pit in the backyard, and then star-gazing once the fire had gone out. Walnut mountain is only a few mins away and worth the visit too. A perfect get-away during fall to see the change of leaves.”

 

About Elizabeth Wilson

Elizabeth Wilson is an Upstater born and bred with a generalist’s education and a specialist’s passion for the Hudson Valley. Ask nicely and she’ll make you a bagel sandwich. Ask really nicely and she’ll accompany that bagel sandwich with a Bob Dylan impersonation.

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