Courtesy of AFAR: In 2020, the pandemic and subsequent lockdown fueled a flee north to New York’s upstate region. As more and more city dwellers opted for the countryside, many towns in the Hudson Valley and Catskills saw a swelling number of permanent residents, causing real estate prices to rise exponentially in some locations.
But for those who stayed in the city, a weekend getaway upstate is easily attainable within a one- to three-hour drive of Manhattan. And after several new hotels opened last year across the region, even more hotels and resorts are debuting in 2021, catapulting the vibrant Catskills hotel scene of the 1950s into a new golden age.
Read on for the best new 2021 hotel openings in the Catskills and Hudson Valley—plus one just a little farther north in the Capital Region that’s totally worth adding an extra hour to your road trip.
The Eldred Preserve
- Location: Eldred, New York
- Distance from NYC: Approximately 100 miles
- Book now: From $349 per night, theeldredpreserve.com
Sitting on 600 acres of land in Sullivan County, The Eldred Preserve encompasses The Bradstan Boutique Hotel, The Homestead Restaurant + Lounge, and the Preserve Weddings + Events. The Bradstan Boutique Hotel’s 28 rooms feature a modern design that uses wood, stone, and glass to highlight the gorgeous natural surroundings, along with plaid accents, branches, and pops of color. Choose from five stand-alone cabins and five signature suites, all with fireplaces, jetted tubs, and private patios; nine junior suites with patios; and nine standard rooms.
The on-site restaurant revives the Homestead, a Sullivan County classic of more than 60 years (the original location was destroyed by fire in 2015), bringing back steakhouse favorites and its beloved raisin bread. Guests can enjoy the grounds and miles of hiking trails; a 75-acre private lake known for excellent fishing, with kayaks, rowboats, and other paddle sports; and a soon-to-open outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. A winetasting room, a fitness studio, vegetable and herb gardens, and electric-vehicle charging stations round out the experience.