Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills.
The cottage is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every visit. We use natural products on food prep areas and for insect control. Your health and ours is what matters most. (Please no cats as the host and cleaner are both very allergic to them.)
Built in 1890, Bear cottage is well-maintained and has beautiful hardwood floors, light filled rooms with local art, comfortable furnishings, and a nice selection of books and music to enjoy during your stay.
The living room has a cozy gas fireplace, and flows from the entry hall and into the dining/library/music room, which is perfect for entertaining, listening to music, playing games and being together. The country kitchen has everything you need for meal preparations, including an electric stove, coffee maker, dishwasher, and microwave.
There are two bedrooms, each with a queen sized bed and antique dresser, as well as hooks for hanging clothes.
The bathroom has a bathtub with shower.
Bear Cottage is perfectly suited for 4 guests. No more than four adult guests, please. (Babies and toddlers are not counted.)
If you need more space, we have a separate VRBO Listing- “Phoenicia 1890 Bear Cottage that includes the renovated attic with two additional bedrooms, a second bathroom and mini kitchen. Message us for more information.**The upstairs area is never rented out separately.
Parking: per township rules, there is no on the street parking. The driveway is long and will accommodate four cars parked end to end.
Although cell service is poor in Phoenicia, the cottage has Internet, Smart TV (Netflix ready if you have an acct.), DVD player, CD/Aux player, music, books, and movies for guest entertainment. There is no cable at the cottage, but you won't miss it.
We have a large backyard with a picnic table, front and back porches with rocking chairs, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings.
Bear cottage is located in the beautiful hamlet of Phoenicia. Phoenicia is small, but incredibly charming and there are wonderful shops and restaurants, including the famous Phoenicia Diner. Try the incredible pancakes at Sweet Sue’s, wood-fired pizza at Brio’s, and chips, guac and margaritas at Alamo Cantina. Time your visit just right and you may be able to buy unique and cool stuff at the Phoenicia Flea. Local boutiques, hiking trails and the Esopus Creek are all nearby within walking distance.
Come to hike, fish, ski, canoe, tube, and connect with nature. Take your dog for a ramble, explore nearby hamlets, or have a spa treatment. Phoenicia is the perfect spot to escape city stress. ***Please note, this being the countryside things are a bit different. The cell phone service is poor in some areas. We have wildlife and insects. Phoenicia gets a lot of rain and there are three creeks within three blocks of bear cottage, so there is moisture. And last, but not least our all volunteer fire dept is activated by a loud siren that goes off every day at noon and as needed for emergencies. Dear Guest, I hope that you have a lovely drive to Phoenicia and a wonderful visit. Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything at anytime. The cottage has been closed up between visits, so it may be a bit stuffy/musty when you first arrive. Leaving the kitchen door open and just using the screen door often does the trick. I have a dehumidifier running on each floor and an air purifier in the entry. Being so close to three bodies of water and in a place that receives a lot of rainfall makes everything green and lush, so the positive outweighs the negative as far as I’m concerned. All my best, Lindsey
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Max combined weight of 150lb for dogs. $20 pet fee (per pet/ per night) initial quote is for ONE dog - second dog fee will be added.
Important information
You need to know
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
Note from host: Please dispose of sanitary products in trash.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Phoenicia
Phoenicia is home to this holiday home. Catskill Mountains and Catskill State Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Empire State Railway Museum and Pine Hill Community Center.
Is Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. ?
As of 7 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. on 12 Apr 2026 start from AU$273, 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 Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Bear Cottage Is Close To Everything You Want In The Catskills. located?
Situated in Phoenicia, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Esopus Creek and Catskill Mountains. Catskill State Park and Empire State Railway Museum are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
My four year old truly said it all “This is the cutest house ever!” You could not ask for a more homey, clean, and comfortable house to stay in for a family. We felt right at home from the second we walked in. Thank you, we can’t wait to come back!!!
Less than a block off of the main street through Phoenicia. Perfect for a week or weekend away for two couples or one couple with one or two children. House is well-maintained and well-stocked without being cluttered. We had a great stay.
Our family enjoys hiking and the beautiful outdoors. We are looking to achieve the DEC NYS Firetower Challenge and this house was a perfect spot to stay and hit some of the nearby firetowers. The host was very responsive and the house was homey. We would love to come back and stay!
We drove right past the driveway because the plantings conceal the house so well from the street.Inside the furnishings were attractive and comfortable. The kitchen utensils were more than adequate, except that we did not find kitchen or barbecue tongs.
Our second time staying at Bear Cottage - we love this homey getaway. Cozy, quirky decor, well equipped kitchen for family meals and plenty of comfortable seating for movie nights. Best of all, while family was skiing at Belleayre I worked remotely and was just steps from downtown when I wanted to break for lunch. Brios pizza is unmatched ( try the pizzas with signature sesame seed crust), and Peekamoose Tavern is great for a more upscale meal. Excellent communication with our host, well supplied paper goods, coffee& tea selection and s fas fired stove in the living room that turns on with a flick of a switch. We will be back!
Our family of 4 and our small pup had a wonderful ski weekend thanks to Lindsay’s hospitality and her great cottage. We absolutely loved our stay, The home is charming and very comfortable with cozy bohemian decor, a great music collection and books io read by the fireplace. The house is bigger in person than it looks online with several areas to lounge, play board games and relax. The kitchen has an old fashioned vibe yet every kitchen tool and convenience terrific kitchen anyone would need ( from coffee maker, dishwasher & microwave to cast iron pans and an immersion blender). If it was summer we would have really enjoyed the front porch. Just a few steps to town where we picked up milk at the mini-grocery store and enjoyed dinner at Brio’s.
Note: laundry machines are not for guest use. 15 min drive to Belleayre Mountain. Great location!
Stephanie M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Lorraine S.
9 Sept 2024
Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Bear Cottage
One of our first nights the owner told us we were noisy on the front porch after 10. However we were in bed by 10. On another night we were accused of using the upstairs rooms that were locked to us. She was going to charge me extra because one of the neighbors heard the upstairs air conditioner running.
The house could be charming but it needs a lot of work. Ants were a problem in the kitchen and screen door was damaged and allowed flies in the house.
Several of the windows had cracks or broken glass.
During the 2 weeks we were there garbage or recycling was not put out for pickup.
Both of the outside porches were nice but quite dirty.
And true to its name we saw a bear by our back porch.
Overall we enjoyed our experience because of family nearby and it’s closeness to Woodstock and Saugerties
Lorraine S.
Stayed 13 nights in Aug 2024
Verified
6/10 Okay
Andrea D.
13 Sept 2023
Liked: Check-in, location
Country Cottage in Catskills
The cottage is decorated beautifully as shown in photos with antiques and country decor. One couch is not in working order. Has stacks of books placed under it to support it. We didn't sit on it. The dining room and kitchen tables were very large and exactly what we were looking for. The kitchen was well equipped.
The house smells musty and is damp. Humidifiers are on but never removed the smell. Window box A/C in the living room only, but air doesn't flow through the house.
The house was generally clean but had old spider webs on the mantel decor, ceilings, walls etc.
Located near the town fire department, has a very loud, piercing siren that was quite the surprise at 6am. The sirens went off on two different mornings.
The wifi worked well, but cellular service was not available. Not able to use our cellphones for work related phone calls.
The cottage is conveniently located to wonderful hiking trails in the Catskills.
Initial communication was fine. When leaving, texted the host and shared feedback about spiderwebs, musty smell, A/C, cellular availability, and sirens. This info was not present in the online listing when I booked. The text exchange did not go well. The host was argumentative. The host sent an angry text with profanity about my concerns to me by accident. It was intended for the concierge. She was embarrassed, apologized, sent a small refund gift, and updated the listing to address the items in my text.
This was my first time renting a Vrbo.
Andrea D.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Sept 2023
Many of the issues the guest mentioned in her review have to do with the fact that the property is in the country with three creeks nearby, we receive a lot of rain, and we are surrounded by mountains. Phoenicia, like much of the Catskills has poor to no cell service. However, you can still make and receive calls using FT audio or what’s up. The musty smell comes from close proximity to the three creeks and frequent rains. This is addressed by dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and cleaning using people and pet friendly products. The smell resolves quickly once the house is occupied.
The fire and rescue departments in the Catskills are volunteers. The sirens go off as necessary in times of emergency.
Being in the countryside means wildlife and insects. We use natural products indoors and have monthly pest service. Spiders while frightening to some, are beneficial in that they trap flys and other annoying insects. We remove webs with every cleaning, but spiders are industrious and generally not harmful. We treat them with peppermint spray.
Previous guests broke our much beloved large antique sofa. I have looked for an antique furniture restorer in the area, but haven’t been able to find one yet. The back legs of the sofa are currently supported by books and the sofa is functional. (I love to nap and read on it.) Additionally, we have a large pottery barn sofa and two pottery barn club chairs in the living room.
The guest wrote me a testy note complaining about the loudness and timing of the emergency siren and poor cell service, both of which I have zero control over. I explained what the siren was about and she became argumentative. I mistakenly send her a message I intended for the concierge about her complaints and I was terribly embarrassed about doing so. I gave her $50 for lunch on me and a honest and very sincere apology.
We had a great time at this property. While the property was well over 100 years old it has an update feel with all the amenities you could need. We’d stay again in the future for sure.
This cottage afforded us the perfect getaway! It very well appointed. comfortable, and is in walking distance to a small village with restaurants and shopping as well as beautiful trails. We enjoyed The Phoenician Steakhouse, Phoenicia Diner and Brio Pizza and Bar. The outside fireplace was perfect for the weekend and the indoor gas fireplace was lovely. Truly a hidden gem!
This property is walking distance from stores and restaurants. It was very comfortable with enough space for our family. We especially loved cuddling by the gas fireplace after skiing.