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Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES.

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A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a kitchen with yellow cabinets, and a living room with a blue sofa and a rocking chair.
A window with a view of a winding road through a wooded area with bare trees, a mountain in the background, and a black object on the window sill.
A cozy bedroom with a large bed, multiple pillows, a star decoration, and framed wall art.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, a rocking chair, a dining area with wooden chairs, and a bookshelf filled with books.
A wooden deck with a table set for four, surrounded by white railings and overlooking a lush green landscape.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Laundry made easy
    One of the few properties with an in-unit washing machine and dryer.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Catskill State Park

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Gas barbecue
  • Internet access
  • Air-conditioning
  • Washer/dryer

Explore the area

View in a map
West Shokan, NY
  • Place, Catskill State Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center
    ‪39 min drive‬
  • Place, Hunter Mountain
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Basement Queen

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom/Den on main floor (across from half bath)

1 Double Bed

Bunk Bed Room

2 Single Beds

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Queen Room

1 Queen Bed

Sleeping Nook

1 Single Futon

Twin Room

3 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

1st Floor - Off Kitchen

Toilet

2nd Floor

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

Add dates for prices

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About the area

West Shokan

Located in West Shokan, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Mount Tremper Arts and Empire State Railway Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Emerson Place Kaleidoscope and Brown's Station. Consider Tinker Street Tavern for a night out or Straus Center - Frost Valley YMCA if you're travelling with kids. Enjoy the area's slopes with snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating.
Map
West Shokan, NY

What's nearby

  • Catskill State Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Belleayre Mountain Ski Center - 39 min drive - 52.4 km
  • Hunter Mountain - 42 min drive - 55.3 km
  • Mohonk Lake - 51 min drive - 52.0 km
  • Kaaterskill Falls - 57 min drive - 66.0 km

Getting around

  • Rhinecliff Station - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tetta's Market - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪World's Largest Kaleidoscope - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Bread Alone - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Good Friend - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Snyder's Tavern - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Unplug. Reconnect. Take a midday nap in total silence. Retreat. Create. Say YES. located?

This family-friendly West Shokan holiday home is located in the mountains, within 3 mi (5 km) of Catskill State Park and Olive Free Library. Esopus Creek and Brown's Station are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family reunion

Enjoyed the area. Thanks for letting us stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jul 2023
Hosting this guest was a pure pleasure! As always, they treated our home like it was theirs, and were super responsive and great to work with on every level. Would absolutely rent to them again anytime in the future
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Shokan retreat

We enjoyed our stay and found the place comfortable and clean. Perfect hang out spot with family and kids. We would return.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Perfect Weekend Getaway

We had a terrific time at Counting Stars! So many beds, enough bathrooms, beautiful yard and loved the hike up to the lookout! It was a fabulous time meeting up with friends and so relaxing to hang out in the home without feeling crowded. Looking forward to booking this house again in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Spot - Lovely House is a Little bit Tired

Came for Olive Day 2023. Terrific location. This lovely house is a little bit tired - but the times seeing friends at nearby Davis Park made it just a great stay. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Oct 2023
Shepard- so glad you enjoyed your time. We are always welcoming back repeat guests and hope you will become one as well! As for “tired”- ouch! :) We respectfully disagree with that assessment. We love our home and spend lots of time there as a family. It is a home, not a showroom or a business. It’s near the woods and is warm and colorful and inviting, as well as perfectly clean and well loved. We know that our price point, which we have kept consistent over time, equates to our guests getting great value out of their time… instead of a cold impersonal hotel stay, they can relax and relate in a home with spaces for togetherness and time apart. We are sorry to hear you didn’t find that feature of our home to be valuable - our guest book is filled with delightful notes from prior guests who love our vibe. And for future guests who may read your review- I am happy to clarify our vibe :) When it comes to decor, are not striving for perfection in our home- we host families and welcome chidnren and pets and we take great care to strike a balance between relaxed comfort and attention to detail. There is artwork we have created, and been gifted. There are family heirlooms and antique unique pieces that were Chosen for their character. Many novels and poems have been written there, and several short films were shot there too. It’s possible that it speaks more to artistically minded folks? The house was just renovated (spring 2023) on both the basement level, and the main level, including all new floors.. In addition, we have many new pieces of furniture and are constantly adding new kitchen/house gadgets (a great large speaker with great sound and a Kcup coffee maker are most recent additions!) We are always listening to guests’ feedback on specific ways to make our home more welcoming. One guiding principle of ours is: If you are wanting a space to connect with your people and are less concerned with how Instagram-worthy your photos are and more concerned with how you FEEL together, we know you will love our eclectic, book-filled and light-fulled open floor plan space where we have cultivated a truly connection-centered guest experience. We are definitely biased but we do believe it’s a magical home!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday near Catskills

This house was beautiful, well stocked and spacious. I had a fantastic time celebrating my birthday with friends. We made good use of every part of the house, and the floor nook bedroom turned out to be a popular spot. Would recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Roomy and comfortable

The home was spacious and roomy and allowed us to spend time together without feeling crowded. We played cards on the large deck before attending a wedding in the vicinity. We also took a hike in the woods. We enjoyed the owners decor.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful, spacious home

Lots of space to spread out. Fully equipped family home with full kitchen, cooking supplies, etc. It was wonderful to sit outside at night and look at the stars. It is in a small neighborhood but the other houses are not really visible. Do note that you'll need to drive 20 - 30 min to get to stores, restaurants, etc.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Annual Board Retreat

We rented this property for our annual non-profit organization's board retreat. We were looking for a quiet place to work through strategic planning and other details for the year. This property delivered providing bedrooms for all in attendance, a large dinner table to set all and multiple hang out spaces. Our hostess was very attentive and responsive. The hot water heater turned off during our visit and was quickly fixed with a repair person taking care of the system within hours of the issue.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Archival

8/10 Good

Lots of rooms and beds! clean linens and towels provided

Pros: - The home was comfy and cozy - The drive to the property was fairly straight forward, we used google maps and had no problem at all. - Don't forget to look up to the skies at night, you'll see many stars! It was really cool! - Lots of bed and rooms - Clean linens and towels provided!!! We love not having to bring blankets and sheets with us. - Price per night is great for the amount of space we're getting Cons: - 1.5 bathroom, tough for a group of 9 since there's only 1 shower - lots of instructions to read through from the owner, literally pages and pages... - owner instructed not to use the AC - basement felt damp and didn't smell pleasant - charging cleaning fee but still having to remove the bed sheets prior to leaving (in my past experience that's usually done by the house keeper) - charging damage protection and still charging a property deposit of $500 (in my past experience paying the damage protection means no need to pay a deposit)
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
So glad to hear you enjoyed the space & the stars. We love hosting groups of friends! Linens: Thanks for noticing our towels! We really want guests to feel that they are being treated to the best! We love visiting the house ourselves and using the "Spa" towels. Basement: The basement is mainly walkout, so most of the year it tends to be just fine in terms of dampness, though during a brief moist/rainy/hot time of year (late Aug/Sept) it can develop the typical mountain-house-in-the-woods "climate". We provide 3 excellent air purifiers for guests (one in each room), and rarely if ever have to run a dehumidifier. Air conditioning : Our 2 older wall mounted A/C units are being replaced in Spring 2018 with more eco- friendly modern units, so until then, we ask that they not be used. Ceiling fans throughout the house really keep the house at a comfortable temperature. Security/Damage Policy: Our double policy around damage protection offers us and guests better protection should accidental damage occur. We find that the security deposit helps guests stay aware of the impact they are having on the house (for instance to avoid us having to pay additional/excessive cleaning fees), and the damage policy insures the value of the things in the home beyond what a security deposit might address. We are both protected and secure, and we refund the security within 24 hours. Our beloved return guests only pay the damage plan. Sheets: With large groups, we don't know which of the beds are utilized during a stay, and so to minimize water wasting by washing unused linens, it helps if guests strip beds. Nearly all our guests do ask about what to do with their sheets and towels, and are more than happy to place them in a pile. It is most definitely not a requirement, however, as we will happily work with all our guests on what makes them feel they are away from it all. (Sometimes laundry is that slice of life that we would all like to forget about!) Home instructions: As for our lists of how to operate appliances, where to find great groceries, safely use the gas powered heating stove, stay free from ticks, & manage garbage, we find that most guests really appreciate NOT having to reach out to us during their stay. Our pages contain all you might need to ask us, and we take care to ensure that you will feel as comfortable in our home as you would your own: Knowing just what to expect from the house, as well as how to best care for it.
Archival

8/10 Good

Peaceful and Spacious - VERY HOSPITABLE owner

Three of my college roommates and I, along with our seven children (ages 7 months - 5 years old), gathered here to catch up as this was a mid-way meeting point for all of us to drive to. We absolutely loved our time here. The house was decorated very uniquely and made us feel at home. The layout allowed everyone to have private sleeping quarters and enough room to all gather for meals and games. The hike up the back of the house led to a gorgeous lookout and was easy enough for all of the kids to walk most of the way; the two year-olds needed to be carried the last part on the way down. There was a kiddie pool for the kids to splash around in and a fire pit for us to roast marshmallows and make smores. We were so thankful to have had this space to gather and make memories together with our families. The owner was very responsive and accommodating to our needs and questions regarding our stay. I would highly recommend this home for a peaceful, quiet getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Cassie: We are so glad you enjoyed your stay! We love the idea of the house being used as a gathering place for friends who want to reconnect. Glad too that the little blow up pool was put to good use! We would welcome you back as guests again in the future for sure...thank you for taking such good care of the home during your stay. -Jaye
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Lack of Proper Cleanliness

1. There are significant dust mites as my younger one suffered a lot from her allergies (She was put on medication)...I am deeply concerned and she is still suffering from that 2. Please clean the AC vents as they are health hazards 3. There is a foul smell there from the first-day bottom from the sink 4. Property was so beautiful, wish some landscape was done especially on the patio 5. Need more fans upstairs, get warm during nighttime I don't want to sound rude but saw awesome feedback we left, but the suffering of my kid made me a little sad.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Sept 2022
So glad we have a chance to respond to your review, our first less-than-stellar review in many years and across many rental platforms. We are, of course, saddened to hear of your child dealing with allergies, but we respectfully submit we do clean and maintain all our systems regularly, especially since Covid-times. Future guests can rest assured that we are on top of all home maintenance in this, our beloved second home. We have chemical sensitivities ourselves so are especially concerned with air quality. We have had ZERO complaints in 5+ years about any such thing described here….I don’t want to completely discount your sensitivities, but I will say that your claims are hard to understand given the way we care for our space. As for Landscaping, our aesthetics lean more toward wild and free, and less toward manicured and rigid. It’s part of our overall vibe as the house is backs to so much wild land. Vibes can differ & not warrant a bad review. As for fans upstairs, thanks for the feedback- though we do have a fan in every room, standing or window or ceiling. Finally, the notation about the smell in the sink- again, with hundreds of guests over the years, we have never heard such a thing. Perhaps you are unaccustomed to the smell of well water? It’s different from city supplied water…could that account for your smell sensation? We hope you find future lodging in your price range that meets all of your aesthetic/landscaping needs, your sensory needs and that you are able to establish clear source of the issues with your child’s health as we know our home is healthy and well cared for.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable, Charming Home, Great Location

We loved the area of the Ashokan Reservoir, with the available hiking and proximity to Woodstock. The house was cozy and comfortable for our family. The fire pit was a fun area. Just a little note that the TV in the basement didn't have Roku like the one on the main level, so the basement wasn't used much. Also, would have liked to have had propane available for the grill.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house for a family vacation

The house was wonderful for a family vacation with little ones. Loved the open floor plan and the cozy futon bed in the upstairs bedroom on the floor. The upstairs does get very warm so getting creative with the air flow to help the kids sleep was key and the outside was a bit overgrown around the deck and the grass was long so we didn’t spend any time outside. Luckily there was a fantastic playground down the street!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Starry escape

Enjoyed my stay. Lots of artwork. Good environment to relax. Place was a bit dusty but overall it was a really nice place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Owner was very responsive to several issues that needed attention
Stayed 28 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful house!

We had a great stay at Counting Stars. The house is very cute and has a lot of space which is what we love. It has a large deck and yard, fire pit, outdoor grill, wifi, and a few other amenities we were nicely surprised by, some of which we didn't get to use (games, hand sanitizers, air fresheners, a yoga mat, extra pillows and blankets, etc.). We had a few family members join us and it was nice to not feel crowded or on top of each other, especially with the weather not cooperating with us. We had alot of rain during our stay but were able to keep the windows open for air circulation without the rain going in. Thankfully we had a night where we could use the fire pit and try an outdoor yard game (which we brought). Our dogs were able to run and play frisbee as well. Note: the yard is not enclosed but they didn't stray off the property (initially the street being close by concerned me but once I got there I didn't even need to worry as no one really drives by). The location is nice and quiet - the only sound you hear is from a truck going up the street which was not often as it's really secluded (barely any cars driving up the street, we didn't even notice the neighbors). It's a short drive to a small grocery store or you can drive 20 mins to a Hannford supermarket where you can stock up for your stay. The Bread Alone bakery is very close, only about 10 mins drive. Meredith's Bakery is 20 mins away and has GF baked good (yay). The owner was really communicative if we needed anything but there's quite a lot of household supplies available. All you really need are your personal bathroom items, groceries and adult beverages (of course). Overall it was such a nice property to stay on.. we loved it.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable, Relaxing

We enjoyed our stay. Plenty of room for a crowd but still felt cozy for just the 3 of us. Wildlife was hiding but the neighbors' dog made an appearance one morning. Owner was generally responsive to our email questions/concerns. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family retreat

Our extended family thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Nestled near the end of a valley road, it feels secluded, but still was near services and stores. Plenty of sleeping options and separate areas for different people to congregate. The property borders in public land, and there’s a nice hiking trail just outside the door. Check-in was seamless. We had one question of the owners and they were super responsive. We came in winter and want to return in the summer.
Stayed 31 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place and location!

We had a great time for a Friendsmas during the holiday season! The owners were easy to get in touch with to get the passcode for the listing and we loved the location and space! It fit all 8 of us comfortably including our dog. Thank you for having us!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

family getaway

Nice time with family at a nice place
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Welcoming

The house was great- a good size for our family gathering-lots of room for everyone. We had snow showers so were not able to enjoy the outdoors, although some did the walk to the view and loved it. The Costa Rica and Florida people did love the snow and the great changeable weather of the Catskills a different experience for them. I am grateful for the welcoming space and it was a treat to work with the owners Denise Elliott
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lovely & Cozy home!

We had a wonderful time staying in this home! It was our first attempt at a multi-family vacation and it was a success! The location was great as it was close to many trails that we wanted to hike but also equidistant from Phoenicia and Woodstock -- both were easy to drive to. We loved the little hike to the overlook from the property! The house itself was well stocked with everything we needed -- towels, blankets, books, pamphlets, cooking supplies. I would highly suggest this home -- we all loved it :)
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Great Place!

We had such an awesome stay! The owners were very easy to work with and helped make our mini vacation one to we always remember. We highly recommend this house to anyone looking for a place to get away!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Great stay at Counting Stars!

We had a lovely family holiday at Counting Stars! Jennifer and Chris were great hosts who communicated easily and frequently with us. There was plenty a room for the family to spread out and have their own space but a nice open floor plan for when we all were together. When the new fireplace is in it will be perfect! We had a beautiful white Christmas and the kids enjoyed sledding outside in the front yard. Close enough to Peekamoose and all of our favorite restaurants and shops in Woodstock!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great place to retreat from the world!

The house was just as advertised. The outside fire was a wonderful perk. Overall, highly recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017
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