UPDATE: AvantStay staff have worked with us in making up for the negative details shared in my…read moreoriginal review (below). They have treated me with kindness, respect, sympathy, and professionalism -- all things we expected when first booking. I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT AVANTSTAY WANTS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE LUXURY EXPERIENCE THAT YOU PAY FOR. I'm glad that my original review helped the hosts in resolving things because that stay clearly didn't represent the company's values.
Will definitely be working with their amazing customer service team the next time we take a group trip.
The River House in Catskill, NY is a beautiful property with unique charm and character. The setting is peaceful and scenic, and we really enjoyed spotting deer, bald eagles, groundhogs, and other wildlife during our stay (lots of ticks).
- We chose this property for a combined bachelor/bachelorette trip with a large group of ~30 people, so our expectations were understandably high. For an occasion this special, we hoped for a comfortable, clean, and well-equipped home that could easily accommodate everyone. While the location and layout had great potential, issues with maintenance, cleanliness, and limited kitchen facilities made the stay more challenging than expected.
- The house had 2 spacious living areas that were great for indoor games and hanging out, especially on rainy days. It was one of the highlights that made the space enjoyable for a large group. However, there was a strange, unkempt stage-like structure on the property that felt out of place and made a few people uncomfortable -- it added to the sense that parts of the property weren't well maintained.
- We chose AvantStay after months of research because they specialize in large group rentals, and while the booking process was smooth, the experience lacked the warmth & attention to detail a local host might provide.
- For the $13,000 price, there were quite a few disappointing issues. We found wrappers and earplugs under the bed in the master suite, dead bugs in the basement rooms, worn-out couch cushions, and a dirty sponge in the sink. The shower curtains were cheap, the kitchen pantry and cabinets were disorganized, and the dishwasher shelves were broken. The indoor plants were dead, the flower beds overgrown, and there was only one small stove/oven -- not enough to cook for 28 people.
- That said, the local concierge was responsive. He brought us extra tables and chairs when requested and quickly replied when we flagged the house being too hot and the lack of extra linens.