SerpApi.Org
The quirky town of New Paltz, New York, now has a lovely new 28-room resort, and we were the first to stay.
New Paltz Way
- The hotel’s second-floor suites have large terraces and feel like your own private tree house.
- The location, next to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and a stone’s throw from New Paltz’s Main Street and the Wallkill River, creates easy access to outdoor recreation and the town’s amenities.
- The on-site self-guided spa has a sauna, a steam room, a frost cabin, and a relaxation pool.
On my many day trips to New Paltz, New York, I have wondered how such a visually and culturally dazzling destination had gone so long without a new luxury hotel. (Its most prominent stay, Mohonk Mountain House, opened in 1869.) But when in early July I first glimpsed New Paltz Way, its black steel-and-cedar structure nestled among the trees beside a picturesque rail trail, I knew it was worth the wait.
Co-owner Ryan Giuliani says as soon as he saw the site 2021—then occupied by an abandoned box factory—he knew it was a perfect place for travelers to “have a guest house in the Hudson Valley without having to own a guest house.”
As with Way Hospitality’s other outposts, Woodstock Way and Kingston Carriage House, New Paltz Way does not have a full-service restaurant or bar; besides a few delivery arrangements, guests are sent tips on walkable places to dine and unwind 48 hours before arrival. “We want people to really experience the local communities, not just jump in and out,” Giuliani says.
At the check-in counter, a wall of rocks reminded me I was in “the Gunks,” the unofficial rock climbing capital of the Northeast. Then I passed a table of Yeti gear that guests can borrow and stepped into a woodsy-scented parlor. This main communal area, which now hosts DJ sets, was filled with eclectic decor, a top-notch vinyl bar, and original art by local artists, including large-scale paintings by Scott Ackerman showing teeth-baring cats. In one corner of the parlor, a cozy fireplace and a furry loveseat drew guests reading books, their adorable dogs sitting nearby. In another stood a boulder brought in from the town of Kerhonkson.
“I feel very connected to this beautiful land,” says Kasia Bloom of Projekt Bloom, who designed the interiors, describing the hotel’s aesthetic as old-world warmth with modern style. “I always think of the Indigenous peoples who lived here before us, and I truly feel their presence in the rock formations surrounding the hotel,” she adds.
At a time when the Hudson Valley’s boutique hotel scene is crowded with properties focusing on their own reputation, New Paltz Way is betting on the community. The team directed me a short walk up the road to Water Street Market, a flower-lined micro village tucked just off Main Street. At the beloved Antiques Barn, I bought a bright geometric scarf from a local who told me the hotel had purchased pieces from the barn.
But one of the strongest draws remains nature. I spent the next few days paddling the peaceful Wallkill River and biking 14 miles along the Wallkill River Rail Trail to the spectacular 940-foot Rosendale Trestle Bridge. The entire time, the wheels in my head were spinning with thoughts of everything I could do on my next trip now that New Paltz has an idyllic basecamp for adventure.
Read on for my full review of New Paltz Way.
The Rooms
All 28 guest rooms at New Paltz Way overlook the woods and rail trail, with views of the Shawangunk Mountains in the distance, and amenities such as heated bathroom floors, record players, and complimentary minibars stocked with Bjorn Qorn popcorn and coconut water. The majority of them also have private balconies (King Nook rooms are the only exceptions).
I settled into Room 42 and immediately felt the stress lifting off and vacation mode flicking on as I opened the door to lush views and a space bathed in natural light. Just in front of my balcony, giant maples and native black walnut trees soothed my tech-weary brain, while downy woodpeckers skipped up the trunks. So I sat outside, watching the birds, reading a book, listening to Miles Davis’ “Spanish Steps” (borrowed from the vinyl bar downstairs), and relishing the gift of time.
Food and Drink
While New Paltz Way has no on-site restaurant, the hotel offers twice-daily in-room deliveries from nearby gourmet market Grazery. (I ordered a cheese board and cider from the Esopus-based Metal House Cider, which did not disappoint.) Guests are also treated to a complimentary coffee and matcha bar; both the oat cappuccino with La Colombe beans and the iced matcha latte were superb.
Each season, New Paltz Way will rotate occasional morning nibbles from local businesses, so summer kicked off with freshly baked scones from Village Grind.
At checkout, I was presented with a pretty postcard and a sizable carton of blueberries sourced from Adelaar Farms; it was the kind of gesture that stays with you long after you’ve left.
The Spa
The self-guided spa has a sauna, steam room, frost cabin, and a relaxation pool. Spa kits held at the front desk include a robe and slippers. Outside, lounge chairs and fire pits face the rail trail and woods, with complimentary s’mores supplies available upon request.
The hotel’s gym is equipped with a Peloton Bike and lockers made of mahogany repurposed from deck boards.
Accessibility
The hotel offers several ADA-compliant rooms. The spa is also accessible.
How to Book
New Paltz Way is not part of any points-based loyalty program.
Nightly rates at New Paltz Way start from $239.
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
