Autocamp Catskills assessment – The Factors Man

Hilton has expanded its attain into new territories over the previous couple of years, from budget-friendly manufacturers to a new luxurious partnership and even into the nice open air.

It is the latter one, fueled by a partnership with out of doors hospitality model AutoCamp, that has intrigued me essentially the most. In spite of everything, one would not essentially all the time equate an Airstream getaway with incomes Hilton Honors factors.

However I made a decision to rejoice my latest marriage ceremony anniversary by taking a visit to upstate New York with my husband and four-legged son to take a look at AutoCamp Catskills. This is what it was like having fun with one of many latest elements of the Hilton Honors ecosystem.

What’s AutoCamp Catskills?

AutoCamp Catskills is the upstate New York outpost of the out of doors hospitality model AutoCamp, which Hilton partnered with earlier this 12 months. When the partnership was first introduced, Hilton leaders cited information exhibiting youthful vacationers more and more looking for extra “exploration and journey” of their travels.

AutoCamp Catskills options lodging cut up amongst a mixture of tents, cabins and Airstream suites. Airstream suites can sleep as much as 4 company, however consider sleeping lodging are cut up between a queen-size mattress and a settee that folds right into a double mattress (so it may be excellent for 3 adults or two adults and two youngsters). Tent lodging have the same setup whereas cabins supply more room due to bunk beds along with the queen-size mattress and folding couch.

How one can guide AutoCamp Catskills

Now you can guide AutoCamp stays immediately on the Hilton web site and earn and redeem Hilton Honors factors on an AutoCamp go to. Whereas my keep was complimentary, you may typically discover charges beginning round $200 per evening.

When reserving AutoCamp Catskills, you may wish to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Hilton stays, or probably one that provides automated Hilton Honors elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass® Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels, automated Gold elite standing, and the flexibility to improve to Diamond standing by means of the tip of the subsequent calendar 12 months by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
• Hilton Honors American Specific Enterprise Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels, automated Gold elite standing, and the flexibility to improve to Diamond standing by means of the tip of the subsequent calendar 12 months by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
• Hilton Honors American Specific Card: Earn 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels, automated Silver elite standing, and the flexibility to improve to Gold standing by means of the tip of the subsequent calendar 12 months by spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
• Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card: Earn 14 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels and automated Diamond elite standing.

The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

The situation

AutoCamp Catskills is in Saugerties, New York, which is a three-hour drive from Boston and a two-hour drive from New York Metropolis. The closest main airport is Albany Worldwide Airport (ALB), a 55-minute drive away.

Woodstock, New York, residence to an incredible restaurant and procuring scene, is only a 10-minute drive from AutoCamp Catskills. In the event you’re seeking to pay respect to 1969’s well-known peace-love-and-hippie-laden Woodstock music pageant, simply be aware that it really occurred 40 miles away from its namesake city. You may discover a number of nature trails within the neighborhood, like a strolling path to the Saugerties Lighthouse on the Hudson River, a 13-minute drive from the AutoCamp web site.

In the event you’re seeking to store or seize a chunk to eat in both Saugerties or Woodstock, it is best to have a automobile with you, as Uber and taxi companies are restricted within the space. We discovered each cities to be nice for perusing bookshops and kitchenware shops, in addition to discovering dog-friendly locations to eat open air and soak at first of fall foliage.

Checking in

Verify-in on the Clubhouse is an unfussy affair at AutoCamp Catskills, however it’s essential to notice the AutoCamp association is a partnership and never an acquisition by Hilton. Which means a few of the tech-forward features of Hilton, like cellular check-in and cellular keys from the Hilton Honors app, weren’t provided throughout my keep. Additional, my very own check-in was delayed whereas a disgruntled Hilton Honors Diamond member was complaining a couple of lack of a room improve.

All that apart, my check-in expertise was pleasant and easy. I acquired the keys to my Airstream Suite together with a s’mores package and a bundle of firewood for the out of doors hearth pit. For Hilton Honors elite members, these with Silver standing get two eco-friendly waters with their keep, whereas Gold members obtain the waters, a bundle of firewood and a space-available improve. Diamond members obtain all the advantages as Gold members, plus a s’mores package. After I acquired a map exhibiting the place on the property my Airstream Suite was situated, I used to be off to seize a inexperienced wagon to maneuver our baggage and canine equipment from the automobile to our two-night home-away-from-home.

Remember: AutoCamp Catskills fees a nightly $37.80 amenity price, which matches towards actions, espresso and tea, board video games, on-site parking, and EV charging.

The rooms … er … Airstream Suites

The Airstream Suite was a great distance from what I used to be used to rising up when my dad thought shopping for an RV was a wise post-retirement concept. I am joyful to report the Airstream Suite at AutoCamp got here with not one of the repeated driving-into-a-fence drama that got here with my father studying drive an RV (no offense, Dad!). Plus, the water strain within the bathe was loads stronger than what I had within the RV getaways of my youth!

Is a keep at AutoCamp Catskills akin to staying at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad? No, however that is not the purpose of a keep at one in every of these properties. The Airstream Suite was cozy and had a surprisingly ample quantity of house to unwind for all two- and four-legged members of my small household.

The kitchenette and dwelling space featured a small desk and a folding sofa that pulled out right into a double mattress. There was a small closet space that had two folding TV tray tables for eating, a minifridge, a microwave and garments hangers. Different facilities included a lantern, plates and cutlery, and a kettle with tea and pour-over espresso.

The bed room featured a queen-size mattress flanked by nightstands that had built-in USB-A charging ports and light-weight controls. There was a mixture of fabric curtains and pull-down, blackout shades for the home windows that, based mostly on later-than-usual wake-up occasions each mornings, had been efficient at protecting out the morning mild.

Whereas my childhood RV recollections made me a bit skeptical about what the bathe expertise can be like at AutoCamp, I am joyful to report that it was on par with some precise lodge stays in latest reminiscence.

Water strain within the walk-in, glass-walled bathe was greater than wonderful by way of tenting and RV journey, and fewer than stellar in comparison with a luxurious lodge. Every day housekeeping just isn’t provided at AutoCamp, however you will get recent towels and linens upon request.

Once more, you are right here to be one with Mom Nature and never one with heated rest room tiles and night turndown service, people!

One thing to notice: Whereas Airstream Suites and cabins embody en suite bogs, tent lodging don’t. Lavatory and bathe services are situated in the primary Clubhouse for these company.

Exterior the Airstream Suite, there was a eating desk and benches, in addition to a seating space round a hearth pit with a grill rack. We christened the s’mores package we acquired at check-in one evening throughout our keep and paired our campfire creations with a bottle of nebbiolo we procured earlier within the day from a wine store in Woodstock. Purple wine alongside melted chocolate and marshmallows over graham crackers is the mixture I by no means knew I wanted!

Eating at AutoCamp Catskills

Friends can head to the Clubhouse every morning for granola, sizzling espresso and tea, that are included within the nightly amenity price. Past that, you should buy extras in The Kitchen and Basic Retailer. The Kitchen is open all day and serves every part from avocado toast ($12) to cauliflower crust pepperoni pizza ($15) and tater tots ($9). There was even a guitarist-singer performing one evening whereas we snacked within the Clubhouse as others performed board video games.

We discovered the morning granola an incredible begin to the day and the cauliflower pizza and tater tots a good night snack, however when you’re a foodie in search of a real style of upstate New York, you may wish to head into Saugerties or Woodstock for heartier fare. For these seeking to prepare dinner nearer to their home-away-from-home, the Basic Retailer gives quite a lot of gadgets for buy, from chips and salsa to every part you want for warm canines and burgers cooked over your individual hearth pit.

Facilities

When you will not discover issues like a spa or full-service restaurant at AutoCamp Catskills, there are many choices to maintain company entertained. You possibly can count on experiential choices like morning yoga, sport nights, stargazing and guided hikes. Sadly, cloudy climate at evening and wet climate within the morning thwarted my stargazing and dawn yoga ambitions — only a purpose to return at a unique time!

Whereas many actions are included within the nightly amenity price, some include a further price.

Causes AutoCamp Catskills won’t be for you

Whereas AutoCamp Catskills has loads of strengths, there are some issues that may make different lodging lodging higher on your upstate New York getaway:

• These in search of a full-service lodge with facilities like day by day housekeeping and a full-service restaurant ought to have a look at close by motels and inns as a substitute.
• These are supposed to be “luxurious out of doors lodging,” however it’s nonetheless a campsite at its core. Count on a point of “roughing it,” whether or not it is the odor of campfires out of your neighbors or — when you’re staying in one of many tent lodging — a little bit of strolling time to get to the bathe and loo services.
• As evidenced by a little bit of grumbling I noticed from a couple of proud Hilton Honors members visiting on the identical time, there gave the impression to be some rising pains by way of adapting loyalty advantages to this new partnership. Be affected person but additionally conscious that there are elite advantages to being Silver, Gold or Diamond with Hilton Honors once you go to remain at an AutoCamp.

Accessibility

There are accessible routes into the Clubhouse and foremost public areas, and essentially the most accessible lodging are the Accessible Suites, that are tiny house-style lodgings with ramp entry. These areas characteristic a roll-in bathe with a fold-down seat, hand-held showerhead and seize bars, in addition to a roll-under sink within the rest room.

Trying out

AutoCamp Catskills was a enjoyable, dog-friendly place to remain and rejoice our anniversary with out having to journey too removed from our residence in Boston. Hilton Honors members ought to welcome the brand new providing as a singular method to take pleasure in a few of the most attractive elements of the U.S. (different areas embody Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast and Joshua Tree, California, out west) — all whereas incomes factors.

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I definitely look ahead to the subsequent alternative to verify in to one of many Airstream Suites and make s’mores whereas my canine longingly seems on.

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