Hilton has expanded its attain into new territories over the previous few years, from budget-friendly manufacturers to a brand new luxurious partnership and even into the nice outdoor.
It is the latter one, fueled by a partnership with out of doors hospitality model AutoCamp, that has intrigued me essentially the most. In any case, one does not essentially at all times equate an Airstream getaway with incomes Hilton Honors factors.
However I made a decision to have fun my current 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 components 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 knowledge exhibiting youthful vacationers more and more searching 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 visitors, however take into accout sleeping lodging are cut up between a queen-size mattress and a settee that folds right into a double mattress (so it could be ideally suited for 3 adults or two adults and two youngsters). Tent lodging have an analogous setup whereas cabins provide extra space because of bunk beds along with the queen-size mattress and folding couch.
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 possibly can usually discover charges beginning round $200 per evening.
When reserving AutoCamp Catskills, you may need 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 Categorical Surpass® Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts, automated Gold elite standing, and the power to improve to Diamond standing by way of the top of the following calendar 12 months by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
- Hilton Honors American Categorical Enterprise Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts, automated Gold elite standing, and the power to improve to Diamond standing by way of the top of the following calendar 12 months by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
- Hilton Honors American Categorical Card: Earn 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts, automated Silver elite standing, and the power to improve to Gold standing by way of the top of the following calendar 12 months by spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar 12 months.
- Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card: Earn 14 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts and automated Diamond elite standing.
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The data 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, dwelling to an excellent restaurant and procuring scene, is only a 10-minute drive from AutoCamp Catskills. If you happen to’re trying to pay respect to 1969’s well-known peace-love-and-hippie-laden Woodstock music competition, simply word that it truly passed off 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 website.
If you happen to’re trying 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 outdoor and soak to start with of fall foliage.
Checking in
Examine-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 number of the tech-forward elements of Hilton, like cell check-in and cell keys from the Hilton Honors app, weren’t supplied throughout my keep. Additional, my very own check-in was delayed whereas a disgruntled Hilton Honors Diamond member was complaining a few 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 positioned, 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.
Bear in mind: AutoCamp Catskills costs a nightly $37.80 amenity payment, which works towards actions, espresso and tea, board video games, on-site parking, and EV charging.
The rooms … er … Airstream Suites
The Airstream Suite was a good distance from what I used to be used to rising up when my dad thought shopping for an RV was a sensible post-retirement thought. I am glad 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 tips on how to drive an RV (no offense, Dad!). Plus, the water stress 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 residing 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 material curtains and pull-down, blackout shades for the home windows that, based mostly on later-than-usual wake-up instances each mornings, had been efficient at holding out the morning gentle.
Whereas my childhood RV reminiscences made me just a little skeptical about what the bathe expertise can be like at AutoCamp, I am glad to report that it was on par with some precise resort stays in current reminiscence.
Water stress within the walk-in, glass-walled bathe was greater than glorious when it comes to tenting and RV journey, and fewer than stellar in comparison with a luxurious resort. Day by day housekeeping isn’t supplied at AutoCamp, however you may get contemporary towels and linens upon request.
Once more, you are right here to be one with Mom Nature and never one with heated lavatory tiles and night turndown service, people!
One thing to notice: Whereas Airstream Suites and cabins embody en suite bogs, tent lodging don’t. Toilet and bathe services are positioned in the primary Clubhouse for these visitors.
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 mix I by no means knew I wanted!
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Eating at AutoCamp Catskills
Visitors can head to the Clubhouse every morning for granola, scorching espresso and tea, that are included within the nightly amenity payment. Past that, you should buy extras in The Kitchen and Common Retailer. The Kitchen is open all day and serves all the things 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 excellent begin to the day and the cauliflower pizza and tater tots a good night snack, however for those who’re a foodie in search of a real style of upstate New York, you may need to head into Saugerties or Woodstock for heartier fare. For these trying to prepare dinner nearer to their home-away-from-home, the Common Retailer gives a wide range of objects for buy, from chips and salsa to all the things you want for decent canine and burgers cooked over your individual hearth pit.
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Facilities
When you will not discover issues like a spa or full-service restaurant at AutoCamp Catskills, there are many choices to maintain visitors entertained. You possibly can anticipate experiential choices like morning yoga, recreation 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 motive to return at a unique time!
Whereas many actions are included within the nightly amenity payment, some include a further value.
Causes AutoCamp Catskills won’t be for you
Whereas AutoCamp Catskills has loads of strengths, there are some issues which may make different lodging lodging higher to your upstate New York getaway:
- These in search of a full-service resort with facilities like day by day housekeeping and a full-service restaurant ought to take a look at close by resorts 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 some extent of “roughing it,” whether or not it is the scent of campfires out of your neighbors or — for those who’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 just a few proud Hilton Honors members visiting on the similar time, there gave the impression to be some rising pains when it comes to adapting loyalty advantages to this new partnership. Be affected person but in addition 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 most important public areas, and essentially the most accessible lodging are the Accessible Suites, that are tiny house-style lodgings with ramp entry. These areas function a roll-in bathe with a fold-down seat, hand-held showerhead and seize bars, in addition to a roll-under sink within the lavatory.
Trying out
AutoCamp Catskills was a enjoyable, dog-friendly place to remain and have fun our anniversary with out having to journey too removed from our dwelling in Boston. Hilton Honors members ought to welcome the brand new providing as a novel option to get pleasure from a number of the most beautiful components of the U.S. (different areas embody Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast and Joshua Tree, California, out west) — all whereas incomes factors.
Associated: The very best locations to remain close to Zion Nationwide Park
I actually stay up for the following alternative to verify in to one of many Airstream Suites and make s’mores whereas my canine longingly seems to be on.
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