Starlite Motel

The location and charm it has is worth the price. Very clean, but could use a little update. My room had a small kitchen with a full size fridge that made things so much easier since you don’t have to go out for every meal. The backyard is very large with a fire pit and a hill the kids love exploring and climbing in the woods directly behind the rooms. The front of the building is painted in cute colors that makes it very quaint. They also put up colorful lights in the front and back which look really cute and make it stand out from other motels. The people who own it are very nice and accommodating. Everytime I bring my kids to camp I stay here. Also it’s 10 minutes away from a nice little town called Phoenicia. Which gives you a little something to do. Definitely recommend.

Great location 15 minutes near Phoenicia, NY. Older motel, but well maintained and clean. Great price point. Nice kitchen space with a full refrigerator, stove and microwave. Big backyard space with a fire pit and individual grills and outdoor furniture provided. Great staff. |Internet was pretty bad, but that seemed to be a problem throughout the area, including for friends who were staying at an AirBNB in Phoenicia.

Very clean and easy to find. The owner was very accommodating. Beds were comfy and the kitchen area was nice. No road noise or noise from other rooms. The bathroom could use some updating. Also, the WiFi was not working correctly. All in all nice visit and the area is beautiful.

It's right off Route 28, but it's set back nicely. It's kind of a worn place, but sweetly appointed. My room was clean and had a sweet and functional kitchen (please install pulls on the cabinets). I couldn't get the toaster to work, but that might have been me. There's a back door out to a sort of semi-common area. It's a bit awkward coming outside to have a cup of coffee and someone is already out there, ten feet away, smoking a cigarette. What do you say? ||But it's pretty back there. The fire pit is lovely, stocked with chopped wood, and they've installed those goofy starry laser lights to shine into the woods behind, which in this case is strangely mesmerizing. And perhaps it's a bear deterrent?||Like with all old-style roadside motels, much of the experience is determined by how the other guests surrounding you behave. I would think it might be rowdy during ski season.

Huge room with everything you could possibly need to feel at home. Beautiful setting with mountain views. It reminded me of the old school motels of yesteryear. The beds were a little soft for my taste and I wish the windows could open to get fresh air but all in all a nice stay.

This is a cool place.||This not a room service type if place but it is cool.||Our room had a kitchen with a stove, but the best was the area out back. Every room has a table, umbrella and BBQ.||There is a great fireplace with wood. We made a great fire. There is also a really screen house.||We never saw an employee. There was a note on the office door telling what number room we had.||It's a very cool place of you are looking for a laid back type of experience .||One complaint... the roku remote in room 8 is broke.

Just came home from staying at Starlite so we could pick up our repaired camper. SO glad we found it on Tripadvisor! It’s a gem! We’d choose this place, hands down, over any hotel chain! Had a bit of a problem finding it, as both our GPS and Google Maps took us to a residence. So I’d advise punching in Rose Mountain Road, rather than the actual address. ||Very simple, clean rooms, with some retro touches and decor. Check-in was super easy. Small, but full kitchen with full-size fridge and small stove / oven. It has cups, plates, pots and pans, and a coffee maker, as well as coffee and tea bags. There’s a back door off the kitchen in the unit that leads to the true attraction, in my mind: the back porch with two chairs and a table for each unit, which looks out on a picnic table and grill (bring your own charcoal) for each unit, as well as a screened house, pergola, and firepit, all of which have comfy seating. Firepit is stocked with wood, and a loaded wood rack, along with some charcoal lighter fluid. All has ambient lighting going on, and at night there’s a sweet little light show shining on the woods behind the hotel. We sat out there for a couple hours, and my eyes were constantly drawn to it. I’ve never felt so relaxed at a commercial hotel, so it was a great way to unwind after a 7 hour drive.||Apparently there’s excellent trout fishing in the area, for anyone who digs that. This can serve as a great home base, as I believe most of the units have two beds. Go fish, then come back, and grill up your fresh trout. Delightful!||Wanted to add a video, but apparently limited to photos only

Bed is comfy, rooms are clean, enjoyed the back space area and fire pit. TV was a bit confusing to use at first, but we managed. Wish there were more eating spots that appealed nearby, but the ones we did go to were great. We are already trying to book our next adventure there.

Have been going for a couple of years now for my birthday wkend & I love it !!! Michelle & her staff make u feel right at home - I'm a June girl so barbecuing and hanging in the yard around the fire pit w new friends is fun, fun, fun - Woodstock is right around the corner - okay 30 minutes away but so worth the trip ! Lake to swim in and hang out - Antiquing ? Yup, there's that too ! great restaurants for dinner - we make our own breakfast in our own kitchen - I love it !! See ya next year Michelle

Very clean but bring food (very limited restaurants) Kitchen facilities available plus grill outside each room for BBQ

Really nice and clean motel in Big Indian New York. The nightly cost of the room was very low. The room has everything you need to be completely comfortable in including a full kitchen, Wi-Fi, cable tv, and Netflix. Outside grounds are very nice also. Motel is located in the Catskills in a great location for skiing, hiking, biking, swimming, weddings ( which we were there for), or just to get away and relax. The owner was very nice and accommodating to me and my family. I would 100 percent recommend this motel. Great bargain. This place is a gem. I will be back with my family on our next vacation.

After countless stays in soulless corporate hotels, this lovely establishment is an absolutely terrific change for us. This tiny drive-up motel is a genuine throwback to an earlier, simpler age, but with enough updates to please the modern traveller. The suites are fresh and clean, the beds are exceedingly comfortable, the kitchenette is basic but cheery, the bathroom spotless and bright. Not everything is perfect, but this really only adds to the charm. The proprietors clearly love their facility and want to impart some of this to you! My favorite amenities were the luxurious lanai in the back yard, the grill (one for each suite!), the blue and green lighting, and of course the location in the heart of the Catskills. If you want a five-star, starched, concrete-and-glass experience, this is not for you. But if you desire a place not just to lay your head but to get a taste of the easy, homegrown pace of life in the Catskills, you have found it.

Very clean room includes kitchenette two full sized beds bath. Not directly on highway

We were invited to a wedding in the area and needed a place to stay for a weekend in September. It was perfect. Great reviews led us to choose a quaint little motel. Very clean, little kitchen, tv, a well stocked bathroom with toiletries and plenty of towels. Each back patio with their own private grill. There's a fire pit in the back and they have lights illuminating the trees. Great price, other hotels and inns around were pretty expensive. Great little stay for a weekend away, not much, but what more do you need? Would highly recommend staying if in the Shandaken area... yes 5 stars.

Perfect for travel with young kids: great "back yard," full kitchen, etc. *Outdoor space: Our toddler spent hours climbing the different chairs in the back area and throwing balls, running around, rolling little cars, etc. This was why I booked this place, and I was not disappointed. *Kitchen: We easily made our own meals, which is cost-effective, good if you have picky eater, but most importantly, critical if you're here mid-week, when so many restaurants are closed. *Comfortable: Overall, the room was good for families. There was enough space, there was a real tub (not just a shower), the curtains blocked the light, the mattresses were firm enough, there was a table to color at, etc. The room was nice enough, but there was a bit of wear, so I didn't worry that we would destroy it. *Location: It was right off the main thruway, but it wasn't loud because of that. Belleayre Beach is a 2-minute drive away, which is nice. The nearest full playground that I saw was in the town of Margaretville, about a 12-minute drive away.

Just spent a few days here in July 2021 while we were in town for a wedding and it was wonderful! Loved the old-school motel vibe, the back area with chairs is perfect if you have a dog, and the beds are amongst the top 3 comfiest I've ever experienced in a hotel. If you're anywhere near Big Indian, you have to stay here, just a lovely little place.

Was looking for a place in between NYC and Howe Caverns to stay for a couple of nights. Found the Starlight online and read the reviews which were great, so we went ahead and booked, and were NOT disappointed. Although an older, Catskill motel from the outside, I can only describe it as LOVELY and pretty SWEET. First and foremost--very clean, owner Michelle is lovely, and the beds were comfortable with nice cotton linen and quilts, updated bathroom with plush towels, washcloths, nice toiletries, and a full kitchen which had a small table with two chairs, and all the necessities (nice dishes, cookware and all necessary kitchen paraphernalia), microwave, a coffee maker and great coffee. Our room was large enough to accommodate a dining table to play games eat, etc. But what was really lovely was a back door in the kitchen which opened to the rear of the property--a large outdoor space in which each room had its own picnic table with umbrella, lanterns, charcoal grille; and there was an open fire pit with everything you needed, wood, chairs, etc., and an enclosed separate screened-in area to lounge in with a table to eat socialize, play games. At night there were lights strung across the back. We didn't have the necessities for roasting marshmallows, but Michelle immediately gave us what we needed, and we enjoyed doing that in the evening. We had wi-fi, and several streaming services....Netflix, Hulu, Sling, etc. were included! You're surrounded by the beautiful Catskill Mountains with a beach about a half mile away, and Belleayre Mountain ski resort just a couple of miles away. It was very quiet--the closest thing to being in your own bungalow. And pet friendly although we did not have one. (A little historic hamlet called Pine Hill is very close by with a nice eatery....Tito Banditos that made great Margueritas). It's near Woodstock so besides visiting the caverns, we stopped there as well. My family consisted of three generations...myself, my adult child and my 7-year old grandchild. We were pleasantly surprised as we were expecting an average, typical motel, but this was much more in many ways. I recommend it highly as a clean and very accommodating, comfortable stay.

Beautifully kept and gorgeous backyard!!! Rooms are more like little cottages and the owners could not be nicer!

I love retro motels-they're just quirky and add to the fun of a trip. Starlite motel is quirky is all the right ways- from the green and blue lights outdoors to the yummy breakfast basket that let us hit the trails well nourished! We stumbled across this as an option for a last minute trip to the Catskills and boy are we glad that we did! It is perfect for our speed of travel- and next time we're absolutely going to bring a cooler to use the fully stocked kitchen. Overall I totally recommend it to anyone who is looking for a homey and simple vibe to complement an outdoorsy getaway.

Guests beware, bad business lacking customer service here. Yesterday sometime after 5pm, I booked a room online for over two weeks from now. Within hours, I received some personal information causing me to cancel my plans entirely, so I emailed them at 10pm, replying back to my confirmation email, requesting a cancellation. I called this morning to confirm the cancellation and was told that because they had "already incurred credit card processing fees," I would need to pay a $25 fee. Absolutely ridiculous, and it's not about the money. I don't care if you're a small business, that is egregious and totally unreasonable. I have never stayed here, and thanks to the way they handle customers who are dealing with extenuating circumstances, I never will. Avoid!

Actually, we love old motels. They have a certain charm that you just don't get at a chain hotel. Starlite Motel has a great name and a retro vibe that is warm, clean and comfortable albeit a little worn at the edges. Hey, but that's why we love these places. Starlite has a full kitchen and a super "back yard" with grills and picnic tables. There is a screened-in back porch to keep away the skeeters. This would be great for a family with young kids (put them in the back and let them be your neighbor's issue for a while). Coffee and coffee maker available and fresh milk to get you out the door as well as breakfast items which we skipped because breakfast was 9 miles away in Phoenicia. The lady at the desk was helpful and friendly. I realize it is a "buyers market" but if this motel was $30 cheaper - it would be perfect.

Great motel. Lots to do. Weather permitting we loved using the fire pit outside. The area is amazing too! Full kitchen, WiFi, good lighting, soft bed. Not sure what more you can ask for.

Loved this little slice of kitsch heaven. The brightly-colored exterior and playfully-painted outdoor furniture makes you feel like you're in a grown-up adventure. To make your escape from the real world complete, cellular service is non-existent. (It is in the whole immediate area.). The Starlite has wifi, which is spotty at times. If you need to text your friends, only those on your cloud can find you. This adds to the whole magic carpet ride experience. The rooms are very clean, and you're treated with a basket of carbo-loaded goodies you can try to save for breakfast. There's a kitchenette to store anything you need. There's even a back door leading to more picnic tables and grills. If I weren't so hell-bent on eating at the Peekamoose (worth the trip), perhaps I would've made friends with some other guests who wanted to grill out. The bathroom is stocked with good toiletries, which are worth trying. The owner of the hotel is very nice, easy-going and has lots of local goodies for sale in the office. The motel is far enough off route 28 to lessen any truck noise. It's very quiet there. This fabulous gem earns its 5th star when I learn to cut the cord from cell service. I think that's beyond their control

Loved this place. It is so homey and quaint. We were disappointed that we weren't able to use the grill in the back because of rain, but they have the backyard set up so invitingly. This place is right in the middle of everything. It's 30-35 minutes to some great sites, including Belleayre Beach, Windham, Woodstock, and the Pakatakan Farmer's Market. It also has two of the best restaurants about mile away in either direction. The only issue I had was that the room was a little musty. It must have been the hottest weekend in the Catskills, so we weren't able to open the windows much. We had to have the air going almost the entire time we were in room. The kitchenette is extremely useful, especially having a little one in tote. The breakfast was great, too- included a wide assortment of breakfast goodies. I will definitely stay here again.

i cannot recommend this place enough! from the clean rooms to the character to the breakfast basket waiting in our room to the woman who gave us roasting sticks and marshmallows just in case we wanted to start a fire out back. 5 minutes in and i already decided this is place we stay every year.

I Have to say, at first glance as we drove up we thought...just another funky road side motel. Boy, were we wrong. It's a charming little place with tons of character where the owners have thought of every last detail to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. There is a great back yard area that is easily accessed through the back door of each unit. The area has a fire pit, grills, plenty of seating for dining, lounging and just sitting back to take it all in. Highly recommend and would not hesitate to stay again.

I stayed here for a week and if I were to ever visit Big Indian again, I'd definitely stay here. Each room is built like a cabin, equipped with how many ever beds you request, a television, a full kitchen, and bathroom. My favorite perks were the blow dryer, the backyard, and the bunnies they have running around the property. Room service is perfect and the staff are very helpful and polite. The only drawback is the really bad wifi.

I can't say enough good things about the starlite motel. It's the little things that make this place great. We were greeted our first day with a bag of marshmallows and a bundle of wood for the fire pit and a jug of milk, what more could you ask for. The breakfast basket which was replenished daily had more food than 2 people could handle. The rooms were spotless and the kitchen is a perfect bonus. Free WiFi, a roku so we could still watch Netflix even in the mountains. Do yourself a favor and stay here a few nights.

My Girlfriend and I really loved this place. We went with 2 more couples. The owner Michelle and staff were very friendly. Each room gets fresh milk and a breakfast basket. It is only 10 mins away from a Freshtown market where you can get some fresh produce or some meet to cook on the grill in the backyard. I know that on these types of vacations you are supposed to be disconnected from the world and connected with nature but I was very excited when I saw they have a Roku in the room. For those of you who dont know what the Roku is, it is a Streaming media player just like Apple TV or WDTV. You can use your Pandora, Netflix or Amazon Prime account with it. If you have ever been to a trip in the mountains you'd know that there's hardly any to NO phone signal. But dont worry.. this place also has a Cell phone signal booster for Verizon and ATT. We will be coming back :)

When we were looking for a hotel for our girlfriend's getaway we found that our options were limited in the area. I had originally booked us at a ridiculously expensive motel w/hardly any extras. I stumbled onto this little gem while trying to find something a little cheaper or at least with some extras for the money. Well, we got both! The YELP reviews were what sold me on this motel after seeing that it was half the price of the others and offered a snack basket that seemed to be a highlight of our trip (it's truly the little things). When we got there, the vibrant colors of the outside made it very welcoming. Our hostess was so charming and friendly. She was waiting for us with our key already in the door in case we showed up while she was out. We were in room #8, which is the end room (there are only 8 rooms, so no overcrowding here) and it has a deck out back with a nice view. The colors are happy and the room was spotless! We had a full kitchen stocked with anything we needed to prepare a meal if we had wanted to, but we stuck to eating out and snacking on the the food in the welcome basket (which we received each day). The beds were comfortable and except for the occasional truck going by it was pretty quiet and peaceful. The bathroom is very clean complete with toiletries and a blow dryer. The tub is a little dated but still very clean, We will definitely be back, hopefully in the Spring or Summer!

This renovated old-fashioned motor court style motel is adorable & delightful. We stayed in the king-sized bed room. The room was furnished and decorated as a little vacation cabin. Bed was very comfortable, with good pillows and soft linens. Plenty of seating, including little table & chairs in the kitchen. Adequately stocked with kitchen items, coffee maker, microwave oven, toaster and large refrigerator. We loved the breakfast basket, restocked each morning with coffee, various single portion cereals, bagel & muffin. There was even a fresh quart of milk and a stick of butter in the fridge, so we didn't have to go and buy milk for coffee! Shower had good water pressure for washing hair, with adjustable shower head. Plenty of towels and a basket of washcloths, toiletries & soap. Nice powerful hairdryer, too! Screen doors both back & front of unit to let breezes in (until it got too cold to!). A chair each at front and back doors to hang out. We didn't get to use the backyard, as it was too cold and rainy (and we were out much of the time), but would have been fun to light a fire or grill up some dinner. There IS electric heat in the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, separate control for each room. PS - You should know that there is no cellphone service in this area, but that is true almost anywhere you go in the area except on a few hilltops. There is VERY good wireless wifi throughout the motel, however. Most of all, our hostess was delightful!

Arrived on a Saturday afternoon in anticipation of our Sunday bicycle trip. We were welcomed with a wonderfully clean room with a breakfast basket and coffee ready to be brewed in the morning (and milk was also provided). TV and WI-Fi provided, nice little kitchen with frig completely stocked for those who would like to cook in, bathroom was small be very clean. Back yard was wonderful... picnic tables, B-B-Qs, screen rooms, fire pit, candles, etc. Michelle was very pleasant and helpful (came out back and hooked up my iPhone to a powered speaker for us). Ahhh...fire, music, drinks! Nice! We'll be back. Also, Peekamoose down the road for some great dinner and drinks.

Decided to get away and snowboard during Stella... Finally got to stay here after years of wanting to! It was more than I hoped for! Michelle was so hospitable and even offered me some of her groceries (for which we paid her, of course!) when we realized that every store and restaurant around was shut down from the snow. She saved us! The beds were comfy and the kitchen well-stocked. The breakfast items were great - there were even Cheerios for my gluten-free self. Will be back for sure!

It's not a five star hotel in the sense of a city or luxury hotel, but my friend and I were thrilled with the set up: a little kitchen with cutlery, etc., a fridge. Lots of little touches here and there that made my friend say, "Someone really loves this hotel." There was a white bunny sunning himself on the lawn. We went through the muffin basket awfully quick. They think of everything. Also, this place is near enough to Woodstock and hiking trails that you would have a very pleasant time looking around at all the sights and then come home to a place that feels quite like home. We loved Peekamoose the restaurant which is somewhere in the area. Worth looking into.

Excellent value for the money. Clean, comfortable, spacious with a full size kitchen. Each day they provide an very nice breakfast basket and fresh milk in the full sized refrigerator upon arrival. Michelle is very friendly, courteous and truly cares about her guests. Our room (#7) is one of the designated pet friendly accommodations. Our well traveled Boston Terrier, Monty also enjoyed his stay at the Starlite Motel.

I was totally satisfied with my stay here this summer. It's really cute, charming, clean & well kept, complete with a small kitchenette. You get a breakfast basket each morning stocked with bagel, muffin, cereal, etc - great for getting a quick start to your day. The owner was very friendly and helpful, I'd definitely stay here again.

So we just spent a weekend at the Starlite Motel for a nearby wedding, there were 6 of us, and we booked two rooms. The rooms were awesome! You can tell that everything was recently redone and painted in warm and unique tones. 3 of our 4 beds had a memory foam mattress topper so the beds were very comfy. We got two baskets of breakfast foods (cereal, bagels, peanut butter) and the milk we used was replenished when the room was serviced. Having a kitchenette was super useful and although it was cold and snowy the backyard area looked like a fun hangout spot in warmer months. The coolest part was the roku boxes so we could watch netflix, hulu, hbo go or listen to pandora while we hung out between wedding events. The owner was super nice and you can tell that they really care about keeping their guests happy. We've even talked about going back for a stay in the summer just for fun.

We actually own a house across the road from the Starlite, but whenever we have too many visitors (which seems to happen a lot), we send the overflow to the Starlite, and everyone always loves it. Very friendly owner. Super cute, clean rooms with a little kitchenette. A huge basket of goodies to eat in the morning. A beautiful backyard. Wifi and streaming movie channels. You can't ask for more.

The Starlite Motel provided us with everything we needed for a great stay while we attended a wedding nearby. The room was spotless and the welcome basket was lovely. We found this great place because they allowed pets and we are glad we did.

My group and I had the most wonderful experience with the Starlite Motel. We were forced to abandon ship at a nearby campsite during torrential downpours. We were up for a weekend from Brooklyn, so we waited until the last possible minute to make the call and decamped to town to assess our options. We had a terrible experience at the first two places (a restaurant and a gentrifying hickster motel) we walked into - the people there could barely stand to look at us long enough to deny us any help or even suggestions on other places we might check out. Luckily, we went to the nearby Peekamoose Restaurant and then found the Starlite Motel on Google. Keep in mind, it was a Saturday night, and there were 8 of us, so our hopes were low. Peekamoose really went out of their way without batting an eye to welcome us and give us a wonderful, creative, delicious meal. When we first called the Starlite, the lovely person at reception first said they only had one room. But then she asked how many people we had, and when we said 8 she said that they happened to have a rental house nearby and would let us stay for just one night - and all this for almost less than double per couple of any of the nearby motels we checked out! All this and sincere hospitality as well. The lady at the desk of the motel let us follow her in her car the short distance to the house (it was still pouring), and then came back with a basket of fruit, bagels, milk, tea and coffee for the next morning (because the store wouldn't open until check-out time). The house had everything - including a terrific covered back deck with comfortable furniture for lounging. We found the Starlite by happenstance and in somewhat trying circumstances, but I would love to stay here again (and eat at the wonderful Peekamoose down the road). Thank you, Starlite!

Had the most amazing stay here! Best motel I've ever been in, Brilliant management. There's a fire pit out the back where we spent the evening sitting around it. Can't wait to go back!!

We had a fantastic experience at the Starlite Motel. Close to Belleayre -- Clean rooms, breakfast basket and kitchenette were all a plus! It was a home away from home. The rates are affordable and I will definitely return. I can't wait to come back in the summer!

This is the best little motel! Normally when I think of a motel I think of the generic econo lodge type place. Not the case with the Starlite. The room was well decorated and there was such attention to detail. I loved how the kitchen had everything you could need including a wonderful little breakfast basket. Each room also has its own weber grill and table in case you are in the grilling mood. My boyfriend and I thought it would be nice to sit by the fire on a cool fall day so we built a fire in the fire pit which was all set up with wood, lighter fluid and lighters (there were also goodies for making smores but we had to head to dinner at Peekamoose so we saved our appetite). We will definitely come back when it snows for ski season. However, this is a great place to stay year round.

We loved our stay at the Starlite, which is a retro-motel that has been lovingly updated and is a refreshing option to 'modern' motels. This one has charm, personality and offers a very friendly 'big backyard' where guests can hang out at picnic tables, lounge chairs, and cook on propane grills or sit around a big open fire. If it's buggy or bad weather there are screened rooms to relax in and enjoy being outdoors. The kitchens are well stocked and the staff provides a sweet gift basket with breakfast foods, so really even if you aren't planning to cook your meals you get a nice breakfast included. We will be back!