Luxurious Kosher Getaway

If you notice date of above review , it was the first week of June!!!!! This time of year is not hot just yet in NY and certainly not the Catskills . This customer begged for a discount non stop prior to coming . This should’ve been a big red flag that any hint of an issue would be a fight for a discount . His family as his writes above disagreed with him completely , they all loved and appreciated all we did . They understood his intention . People like him don’t allow small businesses to exist . He was very frustrated that we wouldn’t take a complete loss when we saw the house temperature was under 70. Oh well !

My experience at the Ellenville Estates was not what I had hoped it would be. My international extended family gathered for our first ever family reunion. We booked a stay the Ellenville Estates at a price of $3500 for two days. The owner also required a $1500 security deposit. The property itself was decent; spacious, but dated. The decor and amenities had a very 70s vibe. The house certainly does not have as many true bedrooms as advertised. However, for our party of 13 adults, it would have certainly been sufficient. There were two catalysts for this one star review: 1. The air condition was broken throughout the house. We informed the owner on Friday and she was unable to send out a repairman throughout the visit. The temperatures were sweltering, topping out at 84 degrees inside the house. I left with my wife Saturday night, one day early, when it was clear the situation would not be rectified. Nevertheless, as a seasoned traveler, I have experienced unforeseen and unwanted surprises. Amenities can fail even in most upscale accommodations. Had this experience resolved with an apologetic owner trying to make the best of a difficulty situation, this review would read very differently. This brings me to the second catalyst: 2. The owner was highly abusive when we asked for a partial refund. She said that we clearly could not afford the place and were using the broken air condition as pretense to not pay. (We paid in advance.) She then said a truly shocking thing - that these types of problems only occur when she rents to Jews. This was not all she said; she sent us a 10 and a half minute voice note filled with similar accusations. In the end, she agreed to a 25% refund on a wholly tainted weekend. This was an entirely unacceptable outcome in my eyes, but relatives wished to put the matter behind them. I would strongly caution anyone to think twice before renting this property. If you will not take that advice, I would urge you to sign a proper contract stipulating the amenities provided and providing for reasonable recompense in the event of a breach.