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 good open air.
It is the latter one, fueled by a partnership with outside hospitality model AutoCamp, that has intrigued me probably the most. In any case, one would not essentially all the time equate an Airstream getaway with incomes Hilton Honors factors.
However I made a decision to rejoice 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 elements of the Hilton Honors ecosystem.
What’s AutoCamp Catskills?
AutoCamp Catskills is the upstate New York outpost of the outside hospitality model AutoCamp, which Hilton partnered with earlier this 12 months. When the partnership was first introduced, Hilton leaders cited information displaying 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 bear in mind sleeping lodging are cut up between a queen-size mattress and a settee that folds right into a double mattress (so it is perhaps very best 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.
Find out how to e book AutoCamp Catskills
Now you can e book AutoCamp stays straight on the Hilton web site and earn and redeem Hilton Honors factors on an AutoCamp go to. Whereas my keep was complimentary, you may usually discover charges beginning round $200 per evening.
When reserving AutoCamp Catskills, you will need to use one of many bank cards that earn probably the most factors for Hilton stays, or probably one that provides automated Hilton Honors elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:
- Hilton Honors American Categorical 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 the top of the subsequent 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 motels, automated Gold elite standing, and the flexibility to improve to Diamond standing by the top of the subsequent 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 motels, automated Silver elite standing, and the flexibility to improve to Gold standing by the top of the subsequent 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 motels and automated Diamond elite standing.
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The placement
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 incredible restaurant and buying 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 pageant, 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 web site.
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 automotive with you, as Uber and taxi providers 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 to start with of fall foliage.
Checking in
Test-in on the Clubhouse is an unfussy affair at AutoCamp Catskills, however it’s vital to notice the AutoCamp association is a partnership and never an acquisition by Hilton. Which means a number of the tech-forward points 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 bought the keys to my Airstream Suite together with a s’mores equipment and a bundle of firewood for the outside fireplace 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 equipment. After I bought a map displaying 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 automotive to our two-night home-away-from-home.
Consider: AutoCamp Catskills expenses a nightly $37.80 amenity price, which fits 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 wise post-retirement concept. I am comfortable 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 so much 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 among these properties. The Airstream Suite was cozy and had a surprisingly ample quantity of area 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, have been efficient at maintaining out the morning gentle.
Whereas my childhood RV reminiscences made me a bit of skeptical about what the bathe expertise can be like at AutoCamp, I am comfortable 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 wonderful when it comes to tenting and RV journey, and fewer than stellar in comparison with a luxurious resort. Day by day housekeeping shouldn’t be supplied at AutoCamp, however you may get recent towels and linens upon request.
Once more, you are right here to be one with Mom Nature and never one with heated toilet tiles and night turndown service, of us!
One thing to notice: Whereas Airstream Suites and cabins embrace en suite loos, tent lodging don’t. Rest room and bathe services are situated in the principle Clubhouse for these company.
Exterior the Airstream Suite, there was a eating desk and benches, in addition to a seating space round a fireplace pit with a grill rack. We christened the s’mores equipment we bought 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. Pink wine alongside melted chocolate and marshmallows over graham crackers is the mixture I by no means knew I wanted!
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Eating at AutoCamp Catskills
Friends can head to the Clubhouse every morning for granola, scorching espresso and tea, that are included within the nightly amenity price. 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 incredible begin to the day and the cauliflower pizza and tater tots an honest night snack, however when you’re a foodie on the lookout for a real style of upstate New York, you will need to head into Saugerties or Woodstock for heartier fare. For these trying to cook dinner nearer to their home-away-from-home, the Common Retailer provides a wide range of gadgets for buy, from chips and salsa to all the things you want for warm canines and burgers cooked over your personal fireplace pit.
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Facilities
Whilst 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 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 cause to return at a distinct time!
Whereas many actions are included within the nightly amenity price, some include a further price.
Causes AutoCamp Catskills may not be for you
Whereas AutoCamp Catskills has loads of strengths, there are some issues which may make different lodging lodging higher in your upstate New York getaway:
- These on the lookout for a full-service resort with facilities like day by day housekeeping and a full-service restaurant ought to take a look at close by motels and inns as an alternative.
- These are supposed to be “luxurious outside lodging,” however it’s nonetheless a campsite at its core. Count on some extent 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 toilet 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 seemed 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 major public areas, and probably 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 toilet.
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 dwelling in Boston. Hilton Honors members ought to welcome the brand new providing as a novel technique to take pleasure in a number of the most attractive elements of the U.S. (different areas embrace Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast and Joshua Tree, California, out west) — all whereas incomes factors.
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I actually stay up for the subsequent alternative to verify in to one of many Airstream Suites and make s’mores whereas my canine longingly appears to be like on.
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