Hunter Lodge Bluebird by Lark — Hotel in Town of Hunter

Hunter Lodge caught my attention when friends of mine raved about their stay there a year ago.

When looking at prices to stay the week of "Easter Break" I found them to be quite reasonable. However, there are things to watch out for including a "lodging tax," "other taxes" and the strangest of all, an "amenity fee" of $20 per night for what the heck I don't know. What amenities? This was a complaint brought up in a prior review that the hotel vowed to look into, but I guess not hard enough to remove it.

We brought our dog, so paying an additional $70 pet fee for two nights was understandable. That's a very common fee for hotels.

It's just a bit crazy that one gets attracted to a reasonable rate only to see all these fees tacked on.

That's enough about that.

Overall, we found the lodge to be an enjoyable, comfortable stay. Nothing about it screams "premium." The rooms are basic but a bit dark (due to being painted in green and with limited lighting). However, the bed was very comfortable, the shower was quite nice and the room included a mini-fridge which allowed us to store our dog food and kept our drinks ice cold. Our room was a "Deluxe King Patio" which was located on the ground floor with a view of the mountain. It was nice to be able to open the door and let our pet out. There is a pet bag/garbage receptacle on site which we thought was nice and we made certain to clean up after our dog.

Being it was a pet-friendly room two dog dishes were sitting in the corner ready for us to use. That was a nice plus.

Kudos to the hotel for embracing digital keys. There is a digital key app that you need to download to use your phone to unlock the room. It worked great for the main room entrance but unfortunately, not the patio door. Hopefully, the hotel will upgrade those locks for digital key use.

It was nice to have the room cleaned and towels replaced for each of the nights we stayed. Thank you for that service.

A continental breakfast is included in the stay, featuring bagels, cereal, muffins, and coffee. While the coffee was the only item that seemed fresh, the food was sufficient to fuel your morning routine. Breakfast starts at 8 am, and I'll second the suggestion by another reviewer that the hotel consider an earlier start time, as many guests prefer to leave the hotel earlier. Unfortunately, to date, the hotel hasn't taken that suggestion to heart.

There are these beautiful pictures of the fire pit on the hotel's website and we were disappointed during our two-night stay it was never lit for the cold evenings. We were told it only gets lit "by request," but that comes with a bit of guilt in having to be the one to ask the staff to go to the trouble. There is a familiar quote, "if you build it, they will come." I think the hotel should have made more of an effort to make the first move in starting the fire pit -- especially with the amenity fee that is being automatically tacked on to the bill.

The hotel makes for a wonderful "home base" for those that want to ski or hike. Being we visited in April, the weather has been perfect for several hikes we did at Kaaterskill Falls, Windham Path, Ashokan Reservoir, and Diamond Notch Falls.

The one issue we did run into was that there weren't many places to eat in the area. While we considered eating at the hotel's tavern, it had an extremely limited menu of only a handful of items. We went to Tannersville and found everything closed during our stay. We ordered a Pizza from MaMa's Pizza (which was very good) and on another day we ate at the Hunter Mountain Brewery which had a very diverse menu with food that was good, but far from great. It just seemed, for some reason, that following Easter, the area felt like an abandoned ghost town with empty roads, empty restaurants, and closed shops. Fortunately, there is a Topps supermarket open four minutes away.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay and plan to return.

I would just like to join another reviewer in asking for more clarification on the "amenity fees"...

We stayed in the King Loft Suite room 305 on 11/29-12/1. We enjoyed our little home away from home. It was a very nice and spacious room but our bed was not comfortable. It caved in in the middle and feels long overdue to be replaced. We didn't have time to report it during our short stay. I wanted to bring it up at checkout but nobody was at the front desk. We had to check ourselves out on a tablet.

The couch was a nicely designed twin daybed with ample cushions and a twin trundle along with a coffee table and 2 arm chairs. This room could be great to share with 3-4 friends. The Loft has a tv and king bed. It was nice that the room had 2 tvs.

The bathroom was very clean and felt new.

We didn't get to enjoy our balcony cuz it was really cold and snowy.

We loved the whole vibe of the hotel. The decor of the common areas and our room was super chic and modern. I liked the shower products (body wash, shampoo, conditioner) the hand soap was nice. The lotion was too watery.

We had a nice bench located near the door to the balcony. It would be nice if there was also one in the entry way, especially in the winter. So we could sit and remove boots from coming in from the snow. On that note, a rug by the door could also be a nice touch to keep any water or dirt from getting into the room.

The tavern had a nice vibe. Wish music was a little louder. Also the food was good but wish there was more selection. Our server/bartender Stephanie was great. But please get her some help. She was handling the bar and dining room alone.

Complimentary breakfast was a nice offering. The pitcher of ice water was too small for all the guests. The plastic cups were big and would take up majority of 1 pitcher. Please get larger pitchers.

The location was convenient. Cute shops and restaurants were just a short drive away.

The library/lounge room was very nice. Again loved the furniture and decor

It would also be nice if the hotel had vending machines for snacks and drinks, especially since the tavern closes at 10.

The website could be improved to detail what amenities come in the rooms. I had to email hotel to ask about hairdryer, iron, microwave and fridge.

Also we didn't see a safe in the room. It would be nice to have safes.

It was also nice to have a $10 credit per night towards food at their tavern.

The parking lot could have been salted and shoveled better. On our arrival, it wasn't shoveled and there was no salt laid down. So it was a little dangerous. Carrying bags while trying to walk across the ice. The next day, it was improved but still a bit icy

Overall, we enjoyed the hotel. It is reasonably priced and a good value. If we knew that hunter mountain didn't open tip Dec 1st, we would have booked the following weekend. We would like to come back with friends and do...

My stay at Bluebird Hotel at Hunter Mountain was an absolute delight from start to finish! Every aspect of this charming establishment exceeded my expectations, leaving me eager to return for another visit. First and foremost, the people at Bluebird Hotel truly made my experience unforgettable. From the warm greeting upon arrival to the attentive service throughout my stay, the staff went above and beyond to ensure I felt welcomed and cared for. Their genuine hospitality and friendly demeanor created a welcoming atmosphere that instantly made me feel at home. The location of the hotel couldn't be more perfect for those seeking a mountain getaway. Nestled amidst the breathtaking scenery of Hunter Mountain, every window offered stunning views of the surrounding natural beauty. Whether I was enjoying my morning coffee or exploring the nearby mountains, the serene ambiance of the location was truly rejuvenating. Now let's talk about the shower – a seemingly mundane aspect of any hotel, but at Bluebird Hotel, it was a delightful surprise! The luxurious rainfall shower head provided a blissful escape after a long day of winter sporting adventures. The water pressure was perfect, and the temperature control made for a spa-like experience that left me feeling refreshed and revitalized. Don’t get me started on the scent of the shampoo and body wash! Amazing! As for the rooms, they were nothing short of exceptional. Impeccably clean, cozy, and tastefully decorated, my room felt like a serene sanctuary after a day of exploration. The plush bedding ensured a restful night's sleep, and the thoughtful amenities provided everything I needed for a comfortable stay. Overall, my time at Bluebird Hotel at Hunter Mountain was simply magical. From the wonderful people to the breathtaking location, the heavenly shower, and the cozy rooms, every detail exceeded my expectations. I cannot recommend this gem of a hotel enough - it truly was a...