When I arrived I was excited and captivated by the naturally beautiful surrounding but as I got closer to the resort, I felt disappointed. The place is not well maintained, it looks old and is nothing like what they show you in their pictures. The receptionist was friendly but she didn't seem like she knows her stuff, she was slow, kinda blurry, and she told us there were no keys to our room! This really got me feeling insecure because no matter how "safe" you claim the place to be, I would still like to be able to lock my room door when I sleep! So we had a debate for a while and we were told, we could decide if we wish to stay or leave and if we leave, she has to forfeit our deposit for it because the room was booked! Oh my god, what an easy way to rip your guests off! So my friend and I decided to give it a try because we do not want to give our deposit away for nothing and we've travelled all the way here so we felt tired enough already. The room was awful as the windows don't open and close properly, so there was bound to be bugs at night creeping in. I had to use a towel to close off any gaps. The beds were big but I think they are old and had some bedbugs as my friend who has very sensitive skin woke up with some rashes! The food was nice but a little too much for the pocket. For that kind of price, I would think I'm paying for fine dining. I wanted to join their meditation class, but they had so many questions and conditions asked, I decided to forget it. They even ask you if you are a Buddhist and what kind of Buddhist, what school of Buddhism. I mean cmon isn't this place supposed to be spiritual and not judgemental. Why do I need to tell you my faith just to join a meditation class? Shouldn't meditation classes be free of labels and discrimination? It felt like if you were not in their club, they don't really want you joining them. So we decided to forget it. Oh and don't be fooled by their internet connection... it is not stable. Overall, it was a bad experience, and I keep thinking what if something bad happens and we get stuck out here in the woods?! It's like one of those horror movies where people get killed by a psychopath and we're all stuck in this old mansion where the rooms don't lock! Nightmare. We spend 2 nights and that was it. There's just something about the place that doesn't feel right, they whole energy feel very money driven instead of spiritual. So don't be fooled by the pictures, looks can really be deceiving as it is just too overpriced for an old creepy mansion. Oh, and I didn't appreciate the fact that they were promoting fly fishing. There were flyers everywhere and I thought they are supposed to be Buddhist and nature conservatives, no? Look I'm vegetarian so that was a real bummer. Sorry, but you will not see me returning there again. read more

I wasn't going to recount my bad experience with Menla, Dewa Spa but when I saw them promoting fishing recently when they project themselves to be a place of spirituality with heavy emphasis on Buddhism, I felt compelled to say something. Basically, there are a lot of heavy misleading marketing and it is becoming clearer that this place is really about just capitalising on spirituality to make money. Travelling from overseas I was very excited and very much looking forward to a trip to the spa, which was a treat from a dear friend. The cost was actually expensive however it was in return for the spiritually infused service and environment as it was said to be. The entry and the natural bush surrounds are beautiful and impressive - Unfortunately that the best of it. It was hardly relaxing when there are so many not so subtle pressure to sign on to more packages. And I am quite cheesed off with a couple of people there who immediately took off their nice mask and blatantly showed disdain after I declined their attempts to push more packages onto me. In fact, I had to bear with their sarcastic jabs of being cheap etc and they weren't even focused on doing a good job providing the spa treatment. So, if I don't sign up more I am relegated to half-hearted services? After all those "spiritual opening speeches"? And when I attempted to highlight the unfair treatment to management, I was told they would get back to me but basically was given the run around until l left. In short, I really wanted to love it being a spa junkie. Sadly, it was the worst as it wasn't as how it promoted itself to be and quite an embarrassment to keep "not so subtly" dropping the names of Dalai Lama and supposedly famous Tibetan Buddhism scholar Robert Thurman (apparently very close student of Dalai Lama) to get more sales. If they really revered the Dalai Lama, one would think they would have respect for the Dalai Lama than to use his name in vain. read more

We came here when it first opened and and a few times after, and I thought this place was heavenly but I have seen it deteriorate over time. Menla now seems to focus just on profit and not much else. I get it that the business has to survive and that is not my problem. It becomes a problem when the 'spirituality' is contrived and you see it in the behaviour of the management and everything seems hurried, forced and money driven and so horribly over priced. If its a retreat you are after, there are much better and cheaper places to go in the US and Asia. If it's spirituality you're after, get recommendations from friends who actually practice under an authentic teacher of any tradition. The good ones will all carry the same message. You won't find much here at Menla. 'Menla' refers to healing and wellness and yet you see the management of Menla and the principal of Menla promoting the killing of animals for sports. If that's what you want, fine. Go on safari if you have to but killing other beings and healing and spirituality don't go hand in hand as Menla is suggesting it can. This is just one example that at Menla what you hear and what you get are very different things. Other than this hollow philosophy, the place is also run down and the staff don't seem too keen to respond to requests. read more

Basically, overrated and overpriced. Mother nature is gorgeous but the rest was not very impressive. So I could have gotten this at the park. The service was so-so, and my room was damp and cold. There isn't much to do unless you like hiking. They have some meditation classes, but nothing out of the ordinary that I couldn't get from my yoga class. I thought it was supposed to be some kind of spiritual place, but honestly, it didn't feel anything like it. More like they'll charge you on the way to enlightenment! I expected a little more since it is supposed to be a Buddhist based place. What really ticked me off was when I saw them promoting hunting and fishing! A place of healing promotes the harming/killing of animals? That was it for me. read more

Amazing experience!! Menla is a gem, tucked away in the Catskill mountains, not too far from NYC, but far enough to really let go. Sweet, knowledgeable and helpful staff were always available and happy to accommodate. I was very well cared for. Vegetarian food was excellent! Great variety and yummy and surprisingly satisfying meals. The grounds are spectacular, mountain views and rolling lawns and docile deer that come quite close to the paths. The yoga studio is lovely and the new spa is something to be seen!! Hand painted tibetan archways, beautiful atmosphere. Classy and comfortable and very welcoming. The rooms are cozy, serene, sunlit and draped with soft organic linens and curtains. I will be visiting again! read more

I like the greenery and surrounding however with the price they charged us, the accommodation and services provided are not bad but not worth the price. Th staffs might be friendly but not warm, it's kind of commercial feeling. I don't expect this with a place where I think should be more spiritual as it advertised. Yoga and other activities designed are actually good for city people like us, but if they can be done with a little bit more sincerity and motivation to benefit people like us who seek something more than a holiday getaway, the place would be visited by many. However, I still appreciate some friendly and kind staffs who trying hard to bring good memory and experience to us. Thank you. read more

I come to the US a lot for work and sometimes for relaxing when I have the time. I came to know about this place after reading some good things about it but when I finally managed to make a trip up to Menla Spa in the Catskills, New York, I was very disappointed. This place is nothing like it was advertised. Everything was overpriced and the service was just regular. Although Menla Spa is advertised as a place for Tibetan Buddhist healing but it does not feel anything spiritual about it. I will not be coming back here. read more

My whole experience at the spa is just chaotic and stressful. I planned for a yoga retreat earlier this month and it turned out disastrous. I wasn't planning to write this review until I saw their promotion on Fishing on their Twitter account. How can a place that suppose to give good energy and healing energy promoting torturing and killing of an animal ? They provide vegetarian food there but now it seems to be hypocrite. Killing on one side and vegetarian on the other side? How desperate can you be to get business? read more

I have come here to rest and recharge from my busy life after seeing the review and its world-class Dewa Spa. It was a day trip to join the personal yoga, Ayurvedic Steam Therapy and customized massage. I have made a reservation before coming. It was disappointing to find myself in a chaos instead of "peace and tranquillity". The sessions were not properly scheduled, as a result, I have missed my important appointment arranged after my visit here. It was a rush and stressful experience that I didn't enjoy. read more

I came here after reading the nice review but left disappointed. This is a Buddhist retreat center and it is all good but I am very disturbed after learning that they promoted fly fishing. How can you meditate on kindness while killing animals. This is morally wrong. The program is expensive also. If you can afford then go ahead as the place is nice. You pay for what you get. Note: The founder, Robert Thurman, is a famous Buddhist professor. I don't know why he encourages the participants to go fishing. read more

I was surprised that a Buddhist retreat would have meat options in their menu. Aren't Buddhists encouraged to practice compassion let alone killing? Furthermore, it's very disturbing that in your website, you promote fly fishing! Isn't this retreat meant to promote healing? I find it very contradictory. The organization should get it's belief system sorted out. Otherwise, it looks like a scam in disguise of a not for profit spiritual organization. read more

Overrated and overpriced for "spirituality". I want to love this place. Good food, good view, good facilities but that's just about it. I came to this place hoping for an experience I would not get elsewhere. However, it was not the case. It felt like any resort getaway sort of thing. With the extravagant price tag, I was hoping for more. If you are looking for something of a real spiritual experience, you will not find it here. read more

I have only managed to settle down to review this place, after I visited last year. Expensive and not spiritual at all. For a spiritual retreat, I can see no reason to serve meat or flesh of animals. Bob Thurman is Mahayanist Buddhist, as such I would think, compassion for animals should be a priority? Yet it is not. If I attend a retreat with Bob Thurman here I am afraid I will once again look forward eating meat again. read more

I was not happy in this place. First of all, the phone signal was terrible, and I could not receive calls from my friends and family. Then I had issues with the laundry service. I was expecting a problem-free weekend, but instead, I encountered numerous small issues that were causing additional stress. I am not coming back to Menla Spa in the near future as there are more decent holiday destinations available elsewhere. read more

I am Buddhist and was considering this place for a spiritual retreat but was shocked to see the review here. How could a Buddhist establishment promote fly fishing? You gotta be kidding! How could you? Where is the Dharma? Where is the compassion? And to think you would call yourself Menlha (Medicine Buddha). I hope the proprietors read the reviews and do something about this. read more

Everything looks good but this is the least spiritual place to be in. How could a professor of Buddhism like Bob Thurman promote killing which is against the most basic vow in Buddhism? A "student" of the Dalai Lama??? A selective "practitioner"? Hypocrite is what I think. What other lies he live. read more

One word, pricey. The scenary is nice but the room smells very damp and moldy. As this is advertised as a Tibetan-inspired retreat location, I was expecting a more spiritual experience, but it didn't feel spiritual to me. Had better experience at Omega Institute and Ananda Ashram in Monroe. read more

Menla Dewa Spa is so overrated. I went there thinking that I could get peace of mind from the stressful daily life in the city. But I did not feel peaceful at all. The energy of the place is strange, and the service is ordinary. I won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

This is a nice place, but the promotion of fishing in this Buddhist based retreat center is not acceptable or not appropriate. It creates so much suffering to the fishes. This is such a shame. Causing suffering to other sentient being cannot bring peace to anyone. read more