Troutbeck

First, the setting is magical and everywhere you go, you feel so close to nature. No manicured landscaping – just lots of wildflowers, old growth trees and overgrown shrubs. The main building has an old school, lodgey vibe and the common areas and dining spaces are cozy, comfortable and elegantly rustic. The staff was great – the front desk, room service, restaurant servers were all friendly and helpful. We enjoyed our meals (with our dog) on the deck overlooking the woods and in the breakfast room overlooking the grounds. The major downside to our trip was our room. We made our reservations last minute and brought a dog, so admittedly our options were limited, but our $900/night room (mid-week) was super disappointing. Our 1st floor interior room facing the parking lot in Benton House felt like a dark, dank well-appointed motel room. The screened porch had dirty floors and soiled furniture in a space that felt more like a crowded entryway than a comfortable lounge space. The room smelled like pee whenever we entered (and before we evidently got used to it) and was dark all the time. The only natural light came from the small window and door looking onto the screened porch, so even on the sunniest day, the room felt like it was in a basement. The bathroom was beautiful, but there was mildew in all the crevices and crumbling caulk all along the counter (that could have so easily been cleaned). Finally, there doesn’t seem to be any noise insulation – we heard toilets flushing, doors slamming, people talking, coughing, arguing, and what we could only guess was someone clog dancing upstairs. Just not our idea of a luxury getaway.

We made a last minute reservation at Troutbeck to celebrate our anniversary on 11/11. We had a wonderful experience from the moment we arrived to check out. The resort space is beautiful, that goes without saying. But I can't say enough about the staff who go over and beyond to make every guest feel special. Special shout out to Julio and Michele who went out of their way to make sure our stay was perfect. And the food!!! OMG! The food was amazing ~ every single meal was so special. They do amazing things with a plain old egg sandwich, which is not so plain! Everything we had was incredible. We were lucky to be there for Pasta Night and it was one of the most memorable meals we have ever had. The service in the dining room was wonderful. Unfortunately due to scheduling I was not able to indulge in a spa service, but Dineen {sp???}, the receptionist at the spa, also tried very hard to make it work. She was great. We brought our little dog with us and it was a great experience for him also. Dogs are allowed in every part of the resort including a designated area of the dining room. We didn't take him to our meals because our room was roomy enough that he was comfortable staying behind. I can't say enough good things about Troutbeck. We can't wait to go back when the weather is warmer to enjoy the flowers, the pool and I will definitely make sure to enjoy a spa treatment. Thank you, Troutbeck.

We only spent one night. The pool area and pool wait service was great. The room was Ok - clean and large but nothing special. The restaurant was just average p- some items delicious, others not good. The overnight rate is very expensive and does not include breakfast or any real “extras” that I would expect at a hotel/Inn at this price.

This property has significant potential. The pluses: - Really great food at the onsite restaurant - Located in upstate NY, near NW CT and the Berkshires What needs to be fixed in order to justify what they charge ($1000 for a small suite; $14 for a cappuccino if you want a double shot espresso): - some of the rooms are in outer buildings that are in dire need of repair and renovations inside and out - the rooms in the manor house (main building) have almost no sound insulation with any conversation from the reception or bar area easily traveling up the open staircases into the guest rooms - hallway and stairway carpet / runners are dirty / stained to the naked eye - other guests noted bathroom walls starting to cave in / soft to the touch - overgrown landscaping / grounds largely unkept I would go as far as saying that the property should shut down entirely for 6-12 months so that it can do an overhaul of its rooms, public spaces, building exteriors, pool / tennis area and grounds.

Troutbeck fully lives up to its reputation. It is beautiful, well situated and has incredible service. Any question or request that we made was met with a “yes”. Julio at checkout was especially gracious, leaving me with such a great feeling as I checked out. Take advantage of everything on the property…ping pong, billiards, Pilates, tennis. It’s all there for you. Also, it is very close to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, which is fabulous! Thank you Troutbeck for making my daughter’s 30th birthday trip so memorable!