Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia.
Comfortable tri-level house nestled in the woods with seasonal mountain views. Each bedroom has en suite bathroom. Hiking trails, fishing, and skiing nearby; sweet swimming/picnic spot with waterfall a short walk away.
We love this house because it is a perfect place for a reset from our busy lives, whether if only for a few days, or for a week or longer. There are tons of windows, including 3 sets of sliding glass doors that lead from the DR/LR to the wraparound deck. We find it so relaxing to see the trees that surround us in all directions.
The living room has a sofa and two cushioned chairs. The dining area (part of the living room) has a wood table with removable leaves. It comfortably seats 6 or 8.
We are coffee fanatics and so, while there is a standard drip coffee maker available to use, we welcome you to use our Bialetti stovetop espresso makers (there is also an automatic drip coffee maker). There are instructions at the house. If you’re bringing coffee for Bialetti, have it ground to fine (the setting on a machine grinder should be one notch coarser than Turkish). There's also an electric milk frother.
Feel free to use our spices (in the drawer to the right of the stove), our olive oil (in the cabinet below the spices), our condiments (in the fridge). If possible, replace something if you finish it.
Upstairs, each bedroom has its own full bath with bath or shower. The master bedroom is quite big and, has a desk and a sleep chair for small children, a dresser, and bookshelves. From the smaller bedroom (also with a full bath (shower)) you can see the stars through the window on a clear night. There’s a small dresser in this room, too.
Between the two bedrooms on the top floor are two closets. We keep most of our personal stuff in the big one (mainly clothing). The smaller closet is where you’ll find towels and sheets to use.
The lower level is one big room + a laundry room and the utility room. The big room has a sleep sofa, a comfortable armchair, and a tv with streaming services. There's also a DVD player and a small collection of movies and cartoons you can watch. If you wish to use the sleep sofa for sleeping, let us know in advance please.
You can use the washer and dryer in the laundry room. There are also extra paper towels and toilet paper stored here. If you need to dry a few clothes and want to save electricity, there is a drying rack in the other room in the lower level - the utility room.
There is a charcoal grill. If you decide to use it, please empty ash once cooled, into a bag and put in outdoor trash bin.
The property is just over 3 acres, and it is located in the Catskills Forest Preserve. In the summer, you can barely see any other houses.
A short walk from the house is an exquisite pond surrounded by trees, with a stream that flows into it and a waterfall that flows out. The pond belongs to us and the handful of other houses in the area. You are welcome to use it - and swim in it! There are picnic tables and Adirondack chairs.
The house is ~15 min to Woodstock, less than 10 min to Phoenicia, 30 minutes to skiing, 30 minutes to Kingston/Saugerties, 10 min to Wilson State Park, 20 min to Pine Hill.
We are avail by phone, email, and text, plus we have neighbors/friends in the area who can help out in a pinch.
We recommend having a car, but the Trailways bus will drop you off at the foot of the road. Taxis are avail, plus the Trailways bus goes to Woodstock, Phoenicia, Pine Hill Lake.
Note: The house accommodates 4 adults, 2 in each BR. Additional guests should be children, as per local laws. There’s a sleep sofa in the lower level and a sleep chair in the master BR. Town of Woodstock Permit #20N-079
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
$50 xtra chrg per dog if fur on furniture
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Fee charged if smoking inside house.
No dogs on furniture
Please read rental agreement before requesting to rent
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1001006vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Willow
Willow is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Catskill Mountains and Catskill State Park, while Mount Tremper Arts and James Cox Gallery are cultural highlights. Empire State Railway Museum and Mountain Top Arboretum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
Is Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia. pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia.?
As of 12 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia. on 12 May 2026 start from AU$404, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia.?
Checkout is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Relaxing House in Catskills Forest Near Pretty Pond - near Woodstock/Phoenicia. located?
Situated in Willow, this holiday home is steps from Catskill State Park and within 3 mi (5 km) of Mount Tremper Arts and Esopus Creek. James Cox Gallery is 2.5 mi (4.1 km) away.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a lovely week and brought our 2 labs
It was perfectly situated near towns and restraunts, yet you felt once home you were nesteled away in the woods
House was kitted out well and
colette l.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Dominic W.
7 Feb 2017
Perfect Getaway!
My girlfriend and I were lucky enough to be Michael's first guests and we couldn't have found a more perfect place. The house itself has everything you'll need and loads of space inside and out. Michael gave easy to follow instructions to every aspect of the house and was readily available to answer any questions. It's close to both Phoenicia and Woodstock and yet feels really secluded and quiet. We both highly recommend this house for any getaway and are already looking forward to visiting again.
Dominic W.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thanks for the review, Dominic! It was great to have you as guests - we look forward to you visiting again :-)
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Sean T.
25 Aug 2018
Great house in the forest
We really enjoyed our week here—the house is perfect for a family, and me, my wife and 4-year old son had a great time. The house is well-equipped, clean and very efficiently laid out to make a vacation stay here easy and trouble-free. The pond was a nice bonus (and a very cold swim!). The location is great—close to good hiking, biking, Woodstock, Phoenicia, etc. the wrap-around deck was very nice for sitting outside in the morning and evening. Our dog also enjoyed it-he could clearly smell some interesting wildlife, but stayed close to us throughout the week. We’d happily stay here again, and would love to see the woods in the fall and the winter!
Sean T.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Sean and family were ideal renters and we would very happily welcome them back. Not only did they communicate well with us, and take great care of the house including leaving it perfectly clean, but also, they helped out in ways outside the purview of being renters - and without us even asking them to. Great guests!
This is a comfortable and picturesque place to stay. The Grogkill community has a wonderful pond. We loved sitting there as well as on the deck at the house just enjoying the breeze and the trees. I went there to write, and got a lot done. We love the area.
Michael was responsive to any questions/concerns we had. We are renting here agan we liked it so much.
The property is wondrous. Surrounded by trees, it is wondrous to look out on from the huge windows. Whenever we left the house to go eat or something, we would stop on the wrap-a-round porch for a minute or two to just appreciate the beauty of the property. Seeing deer wandering around just made the experience all the more better. This was our most relaxing vacation in many years. We truly enjoyed the property and the area.
Charles F.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Christopher C.
3 Mar 2019
Beautiful,Cozy,Private.
Clearly met our expectations.
Michael was receptive and was always available for any questions we had.
The house was equipped with everything needed to enjoy our stay.
It was exactly as advertised and that's exactly what we needed and wanted.
We will definitely be considering this for a summer escape as well!!
Christopher C.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Laura F.
15 Jan 2019
Great Thanksgiving Trip Away
We had a wonderful time at this home. We've tried several different houses for our annual run away and hide Thanksgiving trip, and this has been the best. Enough space for the two kids and the two dogs. Great amenities, rustic but technologically up to date. . Everything we needed to cook our Christmas dinner. The bedrooms were comfortable and spacious with plenty of bathrooms. We probably could've brought another couple with us and still been comfortable. It was very very cold out while we were there, so we didn't utilized the outside space as much as we would've liked but the deck and view are beautiful and it is private with out being isolated. The wood stove worked great and provided a great source of heat.
The area is great. The pond is beautiful and excellent proximity to both woodstock and Saugerties.
The hosts were very accessible without being intrusive. We know the area pretty well already, but they were ready with suggestions for excellent family activities.
Hopefully they'll let us come back next year!
Laura F.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
melanie g.
12 Sept 2018
Beautiful getaway in the woods! We really enjoyed out stay. The home is lovely and Michael is great.
The house is beautiful, clean and it had all we needed. It was our first experience witg VRBO but it won’t be our last!
melanie g.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Evan O.
24 July 2018
Nice quiet house in a good central location
My family enjoyed staying at this cute, quiet house in the forest. It is just the right size for a small family and has all the basics for a nice summer stay in the Catskills. It is centrally located to hikes and swimming holes, and the surrounding area is great for long bike rides. The arty decor was our style, and we really appreciated the stash of board games for our child. The nearby pond makes for a fun walkable excursion. Would definitely stay again sometime.
Evan O.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Helen B.
9 Aug 2017
Extremely peaceful
This is a lovely place that is well equipped and fun to stay in and an easy walk to a sweet pond and close to two sweet towns.
Helen B.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thanks you, Helen - It was great to have you as a guest!
Archival
8/10 Good
Jisk H.
12 June 2017
Beautiful house in woods, clean, helpful owner
Had a great stay, thank you Michael
Jisk H.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thanks, Jisk - great having you at the house. - Michael
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Jason C.
29 May 2017
Great Escape!
Fantastic cabin tucked away in the mountains. Great host, clean and well stocked!
Jason C.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thank you Jason, we're so glad you enjoyed the visit!!
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Zachary C.
7 Mar 2017
Great Experience!
This is a great house, right in between Woodstock and Phoenicia. Enough seclusion to feel like you've really gotten away from things but a quick drive to all the restaurants etc., that you want to go to. It feels bigger then the pictures show it to be and has all the amenities you want for a weekend away, a well equipped kitchen, wi-fi, Sonos speaker, TV (but we never turned it on) Apple TV, and a wood burning stove that we made a lot of use of on a freezing cold weekend.
My wife, son and dog got exactly what we wanted, a few days away to unplug and relax.
Michael couldn't have been more responsive or accommodating, and I think I asked enough questions to cross into annoying territory.
Zachary C.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thank you, Zachary! It was great to have you as guests, and we're so glad you enjoyed your stay :-) - Michael
About the host
Hosted by Michael Berman
We are Michael (a photographer), Kristin (a 5th grade school teacher), and Julia (in 6th grade). We love to travel, we love the outdoors, and we love this house for how rejuvenating it is to be there. We spend time here whenever possible and we're always sad to leave.
Why they chose this property
After a long long search we decided on this property because we love how close it is to nature. It has plenty of space for us and some guests, but it isn't a mansion. When we bought it in October 2016, it was essentially in move in condition, though we made some small improvements, and have plans for others down the road. Nearly all of the furnishings are brand new.
What makes this property unique
Our location is truly special. It's located in the Catskills Forest and it just feels great to be among the trees!