What it’s like staying at AutoCamp Catskills

Hilton has expanded its reach into new territories over the last few years, from budget-friendly brands to a new luxury partnership and even into the great outdoors.

It's the latter one, fueled by a partnership with outdoor hospitality brand AutoCamp, that has intrigued me the most. After all, one doesn't necessarily always equate an Airstream getaway with earning Hilton Honors points.

But I decided to celebrate my recent wedding anniversary by taking a trip to upstate New York with my husband and four-legged son to check out AutoCamp Catskills. Here's what it was like enjoying one of the newest parts of the Hilton Honors ecosystem.

What is AutoCamp Catskills?

AutoCamp Catskills is the upstate New York outpost of the outdoor hospitality brand AutoCamp, which Hilton partnered with earlier this year. When the partnership was first announced, Hilton leaders cited data showing younger travelers increasingly seeking more "exploration and adventure" in their travels.

AutoCamp Catskills features accommodations split among a mix of tents, cabins and Airstream suites. Airstream suites can sleep up to four guests, but keep in mind sleeping accommodations are split between a queen-size bed and a sofa that folds into a double bed (so it might be ideal for three adults or two adults and two children). Tent accommodations have a similar setup while cabins offer more space thanks to bunk beds in addition to the queen-size bed and folding sofa.

How to book AutoCamp Catskills

You can now book AutoCamp stays directly on the Hilton website and earn and redeem Hilton Honors points on an AutoCamp visit. While my stay was complimentary, you can generally find rates starting around $200 per night.

When booking AutoCamp Catskills, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hilton stays, or possibly one that offers automatic Hilton Honors elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status, and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status, and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Silver elite status, and the ability to upgrade to Gold status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Diamond elite status.

The location

AutoCamp Catskills is in Saugerties, New York, which is a three-hour drive from Boston and a two-hour drive from New York City. The nearest major airport is Albany International Airport (ALB), a 55-minute drive away.

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Woodstock, New York, home to a great restaurant and shopping scene, is just a 10-minute drive from AutoCamp Catskills. If you're looking to pay respect to 1969's famous peace-love-and-hippie-laden Woodstock music festival, just note that it actually took place 40 miles away from its namesake town. You'll find several nature trails in the vicinity, like a walking path to the Saugerties Lighthouse on the Hudson River, a 13-minute drive from the AutoCamp site.

If you're looking to shop or grab a bite to eat in either Saugerties or Woodstock, it's best to have a car with you, as Uber and taxi services are limited in the area. We found both towns to be great for perusing bookshops and kitchenware stores, as well as finding dog-friendly places to eat outdoors and soak in the beginning of fall foliage.

Checking in

Check-in at the Clubhouse is an unfussy affair at AutoCamp Catskills, but it's important to note the AutoCamp arrangement is a partnership and not an acquisition by Hilton. That means some of the tech-forward aspects of Hilton, like mobile check-in and mobile keys from the Hilton Honors app, weren't offered during my stay. Further, my own check-in was delayed while a disgruntled Hilton Honors Diamond member was complaining about a lack of a room upgrade.

All that aside, my check-in experience was friendly and straightforward. I got the keys to my Airstream Suite along with a s'mores kit and a bundle of firewood for the outdoor fire pit. For Hilton Honors elite members, those with Silver status get two eco-friendly waters with their stay, while Gold members receive the waters, a bundle of firewood and a space-available upgrade. Diamond members receive all the benefits as Gold members, plus a s'mores kit. After I got a map showing where on the property my Airstream Suite was located, I was off to grab a green wagon to move our luggage and dog accessories from the car to our two-night home-away-from-home.

Keep in mind: AutoCamp Catskills charges a nightly $37.80 amenity fee, which goes toward activities, coffee and tea, board games, on-site parking, and EV charging.

The rooms ... er ... Airstream Suites

The Airstream Suite was a long way from what I was used to growing up when my dad thought buying an RV was a smart post-retirement idea. I'm happy to report the Airstream Suite at AutoCamp came with none of the repeated driving-into-a-fence drama that came with my father learning how to drive an RV (no offense, Dad!). Plus, the water pressure in the shower was a lot stronger than what I had in the RV getaways of my youth!

Is a stay at AutoCamp Catskills akin to staying at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad? No, but that's not the point of a stay at one of these properties. The Airstream Suite was cozy and had a surprisingly ample amount of space to unwind for all two- and four-legged members of my small family.

The kitchenette and living area featured a small table and a folding couch that pulled out into a double bed. There was a small closet area that had two folding TV tray tables for dining, a minifridge, a microwave and clothes hangers. Other amenities included a lantern, plates and cutlery, and a kettle with tea and pour-over coffee.

The bedroom featured a queen-size bed flanked by nightstands that had built-in USB-A charging ports and light controls. There was a mix of cloth curtains and pull-down, blackout shades for the windows that, based on later-than-usual wake-up times both mornings, were effective at keeping out the morning light.

While my childhood RV memories made me a little skeptical about what the shower experience would be like at AutoCamp, I'm happy to report that it was on par with some actual hotel stays in recent memory.

Water pressure in the walk-in, glass-walled shower was more than excellent in terms of camping and RV travel, and less than stellar compared to a luxury hotel. Daily housekeeping is not offered at AutoCamp, but you can get fresh towels and linens upon request.

Again, you're here to be one with Mother Nature and not one with heated bathroom tiles and evening turndown service, folks!

Something to note: While Airstream Suites and cabins include en suite bathrooms, tent accommodations do not. Bathroom and shower facilities are located in the main Clubhouse for these guests.

Outside the Airstream Suite, there was a dining table and benches, as well as a seating area around a fire pit with a grill rack. We christened the s'mores kit we got at check-in one night during our stay and paired our campfire creations with a bottle of nebbiolo we procured earlier in the day from a wine shop in Woodstock. Red wine alongside melted chocolate and marshmallows over graham crackers is the combination I never knew I needed!

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Dining at AutoCamp Catskills

Guests can head to the Clubhouse each morning for granola, hot coffee and tea, which are included in the nightly amenity fee. Beyond that, you can buy extras in The Kitchen and General Store. The Kitchen is open all day and serves everything from avocado toast ($12) to cauliflower crust pepperoni pizza ($15) and tater tots ($9). There was even a guitarist-singer performing one night while we snacked in the Clubhouse as others played board games.

We found the morning granola a great start to the day and the cauliflower pizza and tater tots a decent evening snack, but if you're a foodie looking for a true taste of upstate New York, you'll want to head into Saugerties or Woodstock for heartier fare. For those looking to cook closer to their home-away-from-home, the General Store offers a variety of items for purchase, from chips and salsa to everything you need for hot dogs and burgers cooked over your own fire pit.

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Amenities

While you won't find things like a spa or full-service restaurant at AutoCamp Catskills, there are plenty of offerings to keep guests entertained. You can expect experiential offerings like morning yoga, game nights, stargazing and guided hikes. Unfortunately, cloudy weather at night and rainy weather in the morning thwarted my stargazing and sunrise yoga ambitions — just a reason to return at a different time!

While many activities are included in the nightly amenity fee, some come with an additional cost.

Reasons AutoCamp Catskills might not be for you

While AutoCamp Catskills has plenty of strengths, there are some things that might make other lodging accommodations better for your upstate New York getaway:

• Those looking for a full-service hotel with amenities like daily housekeeping and a full-service restaurant should look at nearby hotels and inns instead.
• These are meant to be "luxury outdoor accommodations," but it's still a campsite at its core. Expect some degree of "roughing it," whether it's the smell of campfires from your neighbors or — if you're staying in one of the tent accommodations — a bit of walking time to get to the shower and bathroom facilities.
• As evidenced by a bit of grumbling I observed from a few proud Hilton Honors members visiting at the same time, there appeared to be some growing pains in terms of adapting loyalty benefits to this new partnership. Be patient but also aware that there are elite benefits to being Silver, Gold or Diamond with Hilton Honors when you go to stay at an AutoCamp.

Accessibility

There are accessible routes into the Clubhouse and main public areas, and the most accessible accommodations are the Accessible Suites, which are tiny house-style lodgings with ramp access. These spaces feature a roll-in shower with a fold-down seat, hand-held showerhead and grab bars, as well as a roll-under sink in the bathroom.

Checking out

AutoCamp Catskills was a fun, dog-friendly place to stay and celebrate our anniversary without having to travel too far from our home in Boston. Hilton Honors members should welcome the new offering as a unique way to enjoy some of the most gorgeous parts of the U.S. (other locations include Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast and Joshua Tree, California, out west) — all while earning points.

Related: The best places to stay near Zion National Park

I certainly look forward to the next opportunity to check in to one of the Airstream Suites and make s'mores while my dog longingly looks on.

Related reading:

• Hilton Honors: Everything to know about the loyalty program
• How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
• Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards