Winter Clove Inn — Hotel in Town of Cairo

One reviewer was unhappy that they didn't have TVs in the rooms. One of the reasons I'm giving it 5 stars is that it DOESN'T have TVs in the rooms. It's not that sort of place. If you want that sort of place, go to a Super 8 motel. Though no TV in our room, the dresser did have little shelves where you could put down your candlesticks. This is a 19th-century mountain inn, not a motel or a hotel. And it has been an inn since the 1830s, and run by the same family ever since then. It's at the end of a road up into the foothills of the Catskills. It's a beautiful example of such an old inn – almost all of the 19th-century great Catskill inns failed and now only the foundations remain – this is one of the last. The inn is slightly dilapidated – doors squeak and stick, floorboards squeak, your sink might have some chips in it, and the floor in your bathroom might be slightly stained (though spotlessly clean) but that adds to the charm. There is a bowling alley and indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts. There are trails on their land, ones not found on any Catskill hiking map (but some are marked on the Round Top Mountain Bike Association RTMBA Trail Map you can find online). On one trail, only a hundred meters or so from the inn, they have their own waterfall with a covered bridge over it and a swimming hole at the bottom of the waterfall. There are trails leading to a pond with bullfrogs, there is another trail into another hollow with waterfalls, another that leads up to a cliff with great views out over Rip Van Winkle Hollow and the Hudson Valley (Rips' Rock; it's 6.2 miles there and back if you make a quarter mile detour to The Ledges with a fantastic view of the northern Escarpment). There is a very, very big porch with lots of chairs and tables, and it's shaded in the afternoon. There is a large common room with a fireplace, views out past the porch, and yes, there is a TV there, but there is also a piano. There is a dining room where you can get three meals a day of very good food (included in the cost); mealtimes are 8A-9P, 12:30-1:30, and 6-7 PM. My daughter and I used it as a base from which to spend a week hiking in the Catskills. The room was comfy and homey, with a window-mounted air-conditioner that worked fine. The bathroom was not brand-new but was clean; no bad smells in our room (except for the two of us after a hike). We found plenty of hot water for showers. If you want to stay in a place that is brand-new and has all the modern conveniences, stay away. If you want a place that makes you feel right at home, and just exudes history, including a 3' high porcelain cat that has paintings of famous Catskill mountain hotels of the 1800s on it (at the main desk; check it out) then this is the place for you. Our only major disappointment is when the cat managed to escape from the kitchen to come out and mingle with guests in the dining room someone came out and dragged her back into the kitchen. We're used to having cats around while we eat dinner. However, one evening we were in our room and heard a meow out in the corridor; we opened the door and invited her into our room where she visited with us for a while. P.S. If the food is sometimes slow and the kids who are acting as servers in the dining room occasionally get your order wrong, don't sweat it. This is not a place for people in a hurry. Addendum a year later, bar is now open and very pleasant, some minor upgrades to the facilities, service in the dining room was better this year, food was even better and the equal of any four star...

Spent a long weekend with family at Winter Clove Inn at the beginning of November. Wasn’t our first trip and certainly won’t be our last. Comfortable sleep, beautiful scenery, great food, and amazing staff, as always. Things were different due to the pandemic but I was more than impressed by the steps the Winter Clove Inn has taken to keep guests and staff safe while still providing a much-needed “getaway” from everyday life. I’m focusing on that aspect of the trip - since I know some people are reluctant to travel because it’s hard to know how hotels and dining establishments are handling the pandemic.

There was signage on all entry doors to advise guests of new procedures and policies. Masks are worn in all common areas, including hallways. Plastic barriers were installed at the front desk and the Escarpment bar. The living room has these awesome little wood block signs that you flip over after you’ve sat at a table to let other guests know that the area hasn’t been sanitized. Board games and athletic equipment weren’t available, but we brought our own board games and basketball. Indoor pool was open and had guidelines posted. We were the only ones in the pool every time we went swimming, so that experience wasn’t much different. The pool area seemed notably clean and smelled fresh - much cleaner than other indoor pools I’ve been to.

The bowling alley was closed, which was a bit of a disappointment but honestly it didn’t detract from our experience - I was glad that staff was focused solely on the inn. Bonfire on Saturday night was awesome, and individual s’more kits were available to pick up at the front desk. No maid service during stay but each room had a plastic laundry basket and a request form for fresh towels/linens. It was super easy - we just left it outside our door when we went down for breakfast and we had new towels by 10am. We ran out of TP in our room but it was easy to stop by the front desk after lunch and ask for more.

Dining room spacing and procedures were great. Looks like some of the tables were removed and there was quite a bit of space between parties. Also they switched to disposable cups, individual ketchup/salt/pepper packets, and wait staff wore masks. A large group came in for a meal and they staggered the meal service times, which helped limit the number of people in the dining room. Food was excellent and I was happy with the choices for each meal. With picky kids it can be stressful trying to eat dinner as a family on a small menu. At one meal, when the choices just wouldn’t work for the kids, we spoke up and asked for a simple alternative— like a grilled cheese sandwich. The staff is so accommodating when you have a special request.

Overall a great experience at Winter Clove and a much-needed getaway and change of...

This "resort" was far from what is advertised. We originally thought that we had been swindled by the numerous 5 star reviews that previous guests had left. However, after spending two nights there, we realized that for the type of guests who enjoy this in-desperate-need-of-an-update-inn, apparently it was 5 stars for them. The check-in process was not at all informative. We had to ask what time the meals were served and then to our surprise we were told that breakfast was only between 8-9, lunch from 12:30-1:30, and dinner from 6-7. My husband and I don't even eat dinner that early on the average weeknight, nevermind on a vacation... When we entered the dining room for our early bird dinner - which looks more like a nursing home cafeteria than a restaurant - we were taken back when we saw that many guests had worn hoodies and sweatpants to dinner. Not exactly the romantic inn we had imagined from the pictures. You are only given two options for dinner and we cook more flavorful dishes at home. Again, I would say that they are catering to those with a very bland palate. I had to ask for a wine and beer list and then saw that the only wine available by the glass was Barefoot. That was the moment I realized that there was no hope saving this dinner. We declined the wine and spent the rest of dinner sipping on water instead. We decided that we would be going out to dinner somewhere else the following night as we could not bear to sit through another dinner there. Disappointing when you pay for an all inclusive - but we had a much more enjoyable dinner at a local restaurant.

The next morning, I made the mistake of saying that they couldn't possibly mess up breakfast, but alas, when I ordered two soft boiled eggs, I got basically raw eggs that I had to return. I stuck with scrambled eggs moving forward. All in all this weekend-away was not what we expected. Children run rampant and you can hear the constant running while in your room given there is no insulation. The toilet seat was a cheap plastic one that never opened right. The hot water handle in the shower became so hot it hurt to touch it and the shower did not drain well. They only give you a small packet of "conditioning shampoo" so bring your own toiletries. It seems that they cater to multi-generational families who have likely been going there every year since the 1970s and expect the same food and amenities from 40 years ago. For those looking for a nice mountain getaway - stay...