Chrystie House Bed & Breakfast — Hotel in City of Beacon

Like many people, I use to do a lot of work in Manhattan but have found in recent years my usual go-to hotel became completely unaffordable, tripling in price while greatly declining in overall value. My needs have changed through the years but being a former employee of a well-known 5 star hotel chain (I’ll give a hint… It’s initials are RC), a lot of my needs have stayed the same. I still seek out a high ‘bang for the buck’ ratio, savor my peace, quiet and comfort with the pursuit of excellence alongside genuine charm and soulfulness above all else. I abhor anything corporate, steering clear of it as best I can, pursuing the real, the unconceptualized, which isn’t easy to do in this day and age. As anyone with the same viewpoint and taste can attest when it comes to places to stay, such places are getting harder, if not impossible, to find which makes them all the more thrilling when you discover them, like tiny nuggets of gold to be absolutely treasured. I came across Chrystie House in Beacon, NY after an extremely long search for a small inn within easy access of NYC, where I wouldn’t need a car and would be surrounded by greenery and tranquility. Other inns certainly have charm but are not within easy access of a train line. Many of them are also geared toward the popular wedding venue market which introduced a sort of loathsome ‘Spring Break’ atmosphere, killing any sense of serenity I was pursuing. Many were also decorated with a sad sort of decor that one frequently comes across as such places: The endless bric à brac, the tiresome, distracting tchotchkes. Not so at Chrystie House! This beautifully-appointed home has the calm atmosphere that can only come with an original Colonial house, the effect of which is simply restorative. In my gorgeously appointed room, my first night I fell asleep to a gentle patter of rain falling against the original sash windows as the sound of crickets beyond lulled me to sleep. There’s lots of natural light streaming in everywhere coupled with the overall feel that comes naturally with such a solidly-built, very old home. Our forefathers were certainly onto something with their admiration of Greek proportions and style! The sound of the slight creak when walking across the wood floors, the feel of the wood banister buffed smooth from generations of hands gliding over the railing while coming down the stairs, the years of well-maintained, genuine patina that never grows old for those that appreciate such things, the barely-there pale pink color of the walls in the welcoming breakfast room, made of real, original plaster. But it’s cozy too with many inviting places to linger over a cup of tea, listen to those evening crickets and their restful songs while watching the stars come out at night. The owners have a massive collection of art books (as well as many others) that they graciously offer to share during your stay. I could go on and on about the delights of Chrystie House, from the plushest towels you will ever use, to the best bed and mattresses you will ever encounter, the warmth of the rooms in Winter… The owners have created a rare oasis of tranquility. I look forward to my next...

The other deservedly 5-star reviews on Chrystie covered most, if not all, of what i cover below. I absolutely loved my stay at the Chrystie B&B - walking in, you are greeted by the most welcoming kind couple (Yuan and Yuling or Lynn) as they walk you through a very very elegant, chiq, history-filled house. It’s been renovated so it feels super clean and fresh, while still maintaining the strong historic feel.

We stayed in the CJ slocum room, which had a beautiful view over the gardens and gorgeous Hudson valley treys. Each room has its private bathroom where you are pampered even better than some of the most luxurious hotels you’ve stayed in (think old Victorian rain shower, the most unique bathroom tiles, very thoughtfully placed spa items like creams and so). Outside the house are a bunch of chairs, lounge chairs, and tables where you can eat a meal or sunbathe and take in the beautiful stillness of Beacon & Hudson Valley nature. The house is of course non smoking, but I smoked outside just far from the house to avoid any smell going in, and there were no issues at all.

P.S. if you are a literature or art lover, you will FALL IN LOVE with your stay in this house. The rooms are filled to the brim with historical books (English, French, Arabic, chinese, etc) and novels that you can get lost in for days. The walls throughout the house are filled with gorgeous Hudson Valley-inspired paintings that one of the current home owners (Yuan) has painted all of. The owners’ son will often play piano in the sitting room downstairs which sounds beautiful, but the door is also closed incase any of the guests need to nap or so.

All in all - only good things to say about me and my girlfriend’s stay here. The house is beautiful and clean. Super accessible to the train station, Main St & the Roundhouse waterfall, and Dia Beacon. But at the same time nestled away enough that you really feel like you’ve gotten away from the city. The hosts will welcome you so...

Chrystie House, Beacon NY Review

Our daughter, after much research, selected two nights at Chrystie House for my wife and I as a gift on our 40th wedding anniversary. We couldn’t be more grateful. Chrystie House is a gracious, comfortable, beautiful and stately Federal Era mansion overlooking the Hudson River in Beacon, NY. Not only has it been fully restored architecturally, but the owners have created a very special environment inside the home. All the woodwork, including the floors are original. But the furniture, the window treatments, the lighting, the attention to fresh flowers and plants all contribute to a feeling of harmony and peace. A lovely baby grand piano and a wonderful library of art history and literature greeted us in the living room.

But there are two aspects of Chrystie House that contribute to its being a special refuge. The house is filled with original art that has been selected and placed with great care. We found the art a continuous source of pleasure and an indication of the care that our host takes for guests. The other is the host herself. Lynn came out of the house and greeted us as we pulled in to park. She is warm, attentive, and quietly, with grace and humor made us feel welcome, special and well taken care of.

Our room was wonderful, full of light with a beautiful four poster bed, love seat, fireplace, and a view of the river. The bathroom was vintage tile, with a huge tub (my wife’s delight), and the best shower I've ever experienced in any hotel or BnB.

If you are looking for a retreat in the Hudson River Valley, do yourselves a favor and visit Chrystie House.

Charlie and Ayn...