Avery C.
Yelp
My visit to the Collective Retreat at Hudson Valley was my first experience with "glamping" and I must say I left impressed, and am already preparing to schedule my next visit. As a traveler who logs more than 200 nights a year in hotel rooms, my idea of a getaway with my significant other does not include stays in traditional hotels as it seems to much like work.
I was pleasantly surprised to get a text message the Sunday morning of our planned arrival from the assistant manager letting me know they were looking forward to our arrival and to let them know when we were close to the location so they could have someone meet us in the parking area to assist with our bags. Through text, they were nice enough to answer a few questions for me and confirm our farm to table dinner reservation, which was one of the things I was really looking forward to.
We arrived at the parking area at around 4:30 pm, where they had someone waiting to grab our bags and drive us up to the main lodge building to get checked in. After an extremely quick check-in process, we were driven down to our "tent". Which I was pleased to find look exactly like the photos on the website. For those who don't travel a lot this is actually pretty rare. Normally the photos are taken when the rooms are brand new and look absolutely perfect when you arrive you get a beat-up version of the photo. This was not the case at all, in fact, I found the photos don't do the "tents" justice and the real thing is far better than the photos could ever show.
After we settled into our "tent" took a short walk and checked out the sheep we had saw on the way in. I couldn't help but immediately wonder what would be for dinner. Perhaps lamb, there was a bunch of yummy looking ones running around! After our walk, we headed back up to the main lodge for happy hour to enjoy a pre-dinner drink and relax in the hammocks and play some yard games. It is worth noting at this point that they do have a limited selection of liquor on site. Which based on some other reviews out there, I guess this is a new thing. We found ourselves playing giant Jenga for over an hour and before we knew it, it was time for dinner.
The farm to table dinner is simply a wonderful experience, considering the size of the kitchen they are working with every course we were served was absolutely wonderful. I had the dinner with the wine pairing. Couple notes on the farm to table dinner, first off you do need to reserve it in advance. Second is while the website shows a sample menu of seven-course, that is a sample menu only and the dinner may or may not actually be seven courses. I believe ours was five (six if you count the homemade bread and spread). Everything about the meal was great and I would certainly order it again especially after learning the menu changes weekly if not even daily. I do have to say personally on my next trip I will in all likelihood pass on the wine pairing, not because it isn't a great option but because my taste is wine is simply different than that of the sommelier and for that matter the vast majority of people. The Sommelier as a note is absolutely amazing, super knowledgable, and an absolute joy to spend time talking to. Her ability to do a pairing when the menu is constantly changing is a joy. One of the great things about the sommelier is she is also an experienced bartender which works well because some dishes actually pair better with a mixed drink than with wine that is available. Another note here regarding wine and spirits while you can bring your own beverages to the resort you can not bring it to the lodge, this is a bit of a disappointment for me as I would love to be able to enjoy the farm to table meal with my own bottle from home.
After our dinner, we enjoyed some time by the campfire before heading back to our "tent". When we arrived back to our "tent" I was pleasantly surprised to find that the location performs turn down service and not only was there a lovely handwritten note for us but also a pair of homemade cookies.
After a shower (yes the "tents" have showers, running water, and flushing toilets) we turned in for the night. A quick note here the hot water is actually hot, although it does take a few seconds to get that way, also the bath products are awesome. The beds are great, and easily compare to those is a five-star hotel. It wasn't until after I was in bed that I noticed one of those minor details that even my wife managed to miss. Everyone has different preferences in pillows, be it firm or soft; either the location is mindful of this or I just got lucky. Of my two pillows one was firm and one soft. If this detail was intentional and I expect it was, then this locations attention to detail exceeds some of the nicest hotels out there.
Pros: Absolutely Everything