We were a family of 6 adults, generally willing to go with the flow but also vocal and opinionated about the places we stay. Everyone in the group LOVED our stay here, for a host of reasons:
1) Host: Incredibly responsive and communicative. Above and beyond. After I mentioned the family had suffered a loss during Covid and we were hoping to lift mom's spirits on Mother's Day, we arrived to a house filled with Mother's Day balloons. It made her smile with surprise and happiness. Priceless. A left-behind item was sent to us with uncanny speed. He supplied local recommendations. In sum, just a swell and caring host.
2) House: Quirky and delightful. We loved finding and chatting about the art on every wall. It's not museum-like, though, it's super comfortable. Literally more space than we could use over our long weekend – whole rooms we hardly entered but which could be a life-saver for larger family gatherings that need space for privacy and separate interests. The living room was a great place to sprawl. The spaces pictured on the listing are exactly as shown (the upstairs suite has its own bathroom and feels very private despite its position as a loft). But there are even more sitting areas and hang-out spaces than pictured, and an office. Plus, the deck was a terrific spot to lounge – and much more outdoor space we didn't get a chance to use. So much space! An incredible value.
3) Packing: We had to buy some travel-size hand soap mid-way through the visit but apart from food and books, that was it. Leave everything else behind, because it's here. Beds were comfortable and linens provided so no need to tote those or mattress pads.
4) Hanging out: Remarkably for us (we're big device and TV users) we never once turned on the TV, spending time talking, doing a jigsaw, cooking, eating and visiting local towns & sites.
5) Location: Hudson's just 15 min away and you could easily spend multiple days poking into the shops and restaurants there. Coxsackie had just a tiny handful but we managed to spend a solid hour or two in them because of thoughtful curation, plus the waterfront park is charming. Catskill had enough shops and cafes for a day or crammed afternoon. Just the tip of the iceberg, though. Fab sight-seeing. A long weekend not nearly enough time.
We spend a LONG time choosing a home base for family trips, comparing descriptions and reviewing comments of dozens and dozens of possible homes here on VRBO. This exceeded expectations.