NEWSLETTER
From cigars and brandy after a black tie gala at a Rockefeller Great Camp to soaring over wine country and feasting at the newest Michelin-starred restaurants, indulge in the ultimate luxury experiences in New York State. Enjoy pampering appointments at the most exciting yoga retreat and spa in the state or head to the Hamptons for a destination retreat you will never forget.
Originally published: 2/5/2020. Updated: 8/13/2025.
The Point Resort (Adirondacks)
For a luxurious experience that transcends the everyday, escape to a rustic Great Camp in the Adirondack Mountains. The Point Resort on Upper Saranac Lake was once the summer idyll of William Avery Rockefeller II, and is now a private Relais & Chateaux property that offers an all-inclusive respite right on the lake. As the sole Forbes Five-Star property in Upstate New York, you can expect a level of luxury that will spoil you for everyday life. Enjoy meals prepared by Chef D’Anthony in the Great Room, where the dress code is black tie on Wednesday and Saturday nights to keep the Gilded Age spirit alive. The camp, which was built nearly a century ago, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2018, revealing lavishly furnished rooms filled with antique and artisan treasures. Spend the day exploring 75 acres, take a sunset boat cruise, then curl up by a roaring fire lit by attentive staff in your own room. Kids aren’t allowed on property, so for a luxurious retreat that the whole family can enjoy, head to neighboring Whiteface Lodge, where opulence and kid-oriented amenities await. Or simply rent out an entire compound on an island, complete with a private chef. Dry Island in the Adirondacks is a kingdom unto itself for $4,000 per night. Rates at The Point range from $3,400-$5,000 per night and require a 2-night minimum.
Sagamore Resort (Adirondacks)
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Indulge in a luxury escape on Lake George with more than 140 years of history at the Sagamore Resort. With award-winning waterfront dining from eight on-site venues, immersive outdoor activities, a rejuvenating spa, and an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed golf course, this gem in the heart of the Adirondack mountains is an ideal year-round destination. This family-friendly resort offers rooms and suites in the main hotel boasting extraordinary lakefront views, spacious balcony suites, marble-accented bathrooms, as well as cozy lodge stays, multi-room houses, and accessible accommodations. With 70 alluring acres to explore on its own private island, the Sagamore earned third place on Travel+Leisure's World's Best Awards 2025. Rates vary.
The Hamptons (Long Island)
From the Gilded Age to the Gold Coast, the Hamptons are synonymous with luxury. For an elegant retreat close to the beach, head to Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, a full-service boutique hotel that offers suites situated between an orchard and Topping Rose Farm. Check in and take a dip in the heated outdoor pool, or hop in a luxury car shuttle to the beach. Pamper yourself at Farmaesthetics at Topping Rose House, the on-site treatment studio offering a spa menu that caters to your every need. Concierge staff will guide you on your explorations of Long Island so you can spend more time sipping regional wines and less time planning excursions yourself. Nothing is overlooked at this elegant escape, including the demands of your palate. Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House offers an elegant setting to enjoy farm-to-table cuisine prepared to perfection. After dinner, savor a cognac in the Bar & Lounge as fresh air from the orchard perfumes the air. Rates available upon request. For an on-the-beach retreat, head to Gurney’s Resorts in Montauk, the only oceanfront resort in the Hamptons, or book a stay at Montauk Yacht Club on picturesque Lake Montauk. Rates vary.
Yoga & Spa Retreat (Catskills)
YO1, one of the most exciting yoga retreats and spas to ever open in New York State, is named in honor of the Sanskrit word meaning “youth.” With its rejuvenating classes, wellness offerings, and sumptuous accommodations, YO1 could very well be a new fountain of youth, where mind, body, and spirit are soothed and restored. This holistic wellness resort offering authentic, all-inclusive amenities includes a wellness counselor to discuss your health and wellness history, along with your goals while a guest, and to create a personalized plan for your stay. Guest rooms, including ADA-equipped rooms, are designed to be sanctuaries, featuring luxurious amenities such as steam showers, lavish bedding, and views of Bailey Lake. While a guest at YO1, you’ll enjoy Ayurvedic and Naturopathic therapies, yoga classes, Acupuncture, and freshly prepared meals that you can learn how to make during culinary classes. Rates vary.
Chautauqua Institution (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Luxury meets historic retreat in Chautauqua at the Chautauqua Institution’s Athenaeum Hotel. This elegant retreat is a gateway to the region’s arts and culture offerings. Enjoy concerts and lectures, arts programming, and lively discussions during the institution’s event-packed, nine week season, running from June through August. When you book the Chautauqua Experience package at the Athenaeum, prepare for a week filled with enriching experiences, from sailing lessons to a round or two at the Chautauqua Golf Club, designed by legendary course architects Seymour Dunn and Donald Ross. Take advantage of the health and fitness center’s on-site staff for a one-on-one training session, or simply stroll the grounds. After a day of arts and entertainment, fresh air, and fun, head to your table at Heirloom Restaurant, the hotel’s on-site restaurant offering casual and upscale fare right on the water. Price for the Chautauqua Experience package is $1,869 per person, per week.
Hot Air Balloon Flights (Finger Lakes)
Imagine soaring over the rolling fields of wine country, the neat vines lined up below in perfect rows, heavy with ripening grapes. The air carries the faint scent of fruit, and the landscape is bathed in the golden light from the sun. Revel in panoramic views of the sparkling Cayuga Lake, and the aesthetic architecture of Ithaca College and Cornell University. That’s the experience that awaits guests of Southern Tier Balloon Tours’ Finger Lakes flight over Ithaca. Each flight can last anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour depending on the winds, but guests should plan for a three-hour experience to account for take-off, landing, and transportation between the two points. Celebrate with a traditional postflight champagne toast with the flight crew before checking into Belhurst Castle and Winery, named a “World’s Best Wine Hotel” by Wine Enthusiast, for a night of refined dining, luscious wines, and dreamy accommodations. Price for a private flight is $1,000/person.
Singer Castle (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Who doesn’t want to feel like royalty on vacation? At Singer Castle, you can. Located on Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River, Singer Castle has a storied past. The Scottish-inspired castle was built in the early 1900s and named for its association with the CEOs of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Frederick Bourne commissioned the castle for his wife and children as an island hunting retreat. Now, you too can live like a king, or a Gilded Age tycoon, when you rent out the Royal Suite. The suite, which is an entire wing of the castle, can accommodate up to six people and includes bedrooms overlooking the river and the grounds. You’ll find canopy beds, lavishly decorated rooms, and luxurious bathrooms equipped with period-style fixtures. Enjoy a sumptuous feast in the evening, followed by a private tour of the castle. Breakfast is included, though you may request your meals to be served in the tearoom, drawing room, loggia, or front terrace if the weather is fine. Shuttle service to and from the island is included in your stay. Price available upon request.
Otesaga Resort Hotel (Central NY)
For more than a century, the Otesaga Resort on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown has provided a sense of grandeur and luxury to guests. The waterfront location offers sweeping views of the lake, nicknamed “Glimmerglass” for its sparkling beauty, and is home to the award-winning Leatherstocking Golf Course. Play a round on one of the most beautiful courses in New York State, then relax with a massage in Hawkeye Spa, the resort’s on-site spa. Feast on deliciously prepared cuisine at one of several on-site restaurants, such as slow roasted prime rib and miso halibut, served at The Hawkeye Bar & Grill. The restaurant partners with regional farms to source cheese, yogurts, handmade caramels, meats, and veggies. After a relaxing morning at the resort, explore the wonders of Cooperstown. In summer, the Glimmerglass Festival offers world-class opera and theater performances in a unique outdoor theater, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s VIP Experience package elevates your visit. The package includes private behind-the-scenes tours and museum membership. Indulge your inner art lover with a visit to The Fenimore Art Museum, which is home to the extraordinary Eugene and Clare Thaw collection of American Indian Art. Permanent and visiting exhibits make this a must-visit during their open season. Brew enthusiasts can’t miss Ommegang Brewery, serving a flavorful food menu and award-winning craft beers on a 136-acre farmstead in the heart of Cooperstown. The vibrant venue hosts a year-round calendar of events including Fire Pit Fridays, festivals, and big-name concerts. Prices Vary.
Michelin-Starred Restaurants (Various Regions)
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Michelin-starred restaurants offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences that linger long after the last bite. New York State is home to around 75 restaurants that have earned those coveted one, two, or even three stars, making it a gastronomic tourism destination the world over. The Michelin list includes restaurants outside of New York City, chiefly Blue Hill at Stone Barns in the Hudson Valley, which earned two out of a possible three stars. Enjoy seasonally sourced, freshly prepared courses made with ingredients from the property’s working farm. New reservations are released one month at a time on the 15th of the prior month. If you can’t make it to their country location, make a reservation at Blue Hill in Manhattan for a family meal, which offers a specially curated, experimental tasting menu. Also in Manhattan is two-star Jean-Georges, a flagship French restaurant serving a six-course vegetarian menu and a 10-course chef’s tasting menu, and three-star Le Bernardin, offering a seafood-centric 8-course chef’s tasting menu. While not a Michelin-starred restaurant itself, the Culinary Institute of America has been a gold standard in professional culinary education for nearly 80 years. Over 20% of Michelin-starred restaurants in the country are led by CIA graduates. The CIA’s 170-acre riverside campus in the Hudson Valley features five student-run restaurants and a brewery. Prices vary. Reservations required.
The Queen of Spas (Capital-Saratoga)
Known as the “Queen of Spas,” Saratoga Springs offers an elevated experience any time of the year, but especially during track season. Home to the oldest horse racing track in America, the Saratoga Race Course is one of Sports Illustrated’s “10 Best Sporting Venues in the United States.” Experience the thrill of watching thoroughbred race horses compete every summer, then head to The Adelphi Hotel on Broadway to check into your luxurious room or suite. After undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, The Adelphi reopened in 2018 to much fanfare, offering guests a memorable experience from the moment they walk in the door. The rooms are a revelation, featuring thoughtful touches in the bathrooms, like deep soaking tubs and heated floors. A well-stocked and complimentary mini-bar, luxuriously soft robes and slippers, and an in-room Nespresso machine mean that you can relax in bed while you enjoy your first cafe creme of the morning.The hotel includes several on-site restaurants, including Salt & Char, a premier farm-to-table steakhouse, and Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro, showcasing a glass conservatory, expansive bar, iconic lounge, Broadway patios, and Pergola Patio. Continue indulging in Saratoga’s treasures with a visit to Roosevelt Baths and Spa, where treatments incorporate the naturally effervescent waters that made this spa town famous. Visit during popular events such as the Saratoga International Flavor Feast in October, Chowderfest in February, and the Jazz Festival in June, and race season, which runs mid-July through early September. Rates for activities and rooms vary.
Glamping (Various Regions)
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Experience the unique pleasure and safari-like luxury at one of New York State’s popular glamping destinations. What may look like a simple canvas tent on the outside transforms into a luxurious bedroom complete with a queen bed made with soft linens, fine furnishings, and a sitting area on the inside. Glamping, unlike traditional tent camping, doesn’t sacrifice comfort for time in nature. At Firelight Camps in Ithaca, the experience is like something out of a dream. Relax in your luxuriously appointed tent, complete with its own private balcony, ramble around on hiking trails, or book an appointment at August Moon Spa and enjoy a deep-tissue massage in your tent. Take a guided foraging hike and learn how to identify various plants, or join a sunrise Vinyasa class and greet the dawn. On Thursday evenings, Firelight Live offers live musical entertainment, as well as libations from the bar. Within a short walk of Firelight is a cafe serving pastries and coffee, a steakhouse where guests can play a special game of poker on certain weeknights, and more. For a glamping experience that offers luxury and access to wilderness, Huttopia in the Adirondacks features four different styles of wood frame and canvas tents, some of which are outfitted with kitchens and bathrooms. All accommodations have wood stoves that keep things cozy, a BBQ grill, and firepit for s'more-making under the stars. Rates vary.
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (Hudson Valley)
Discover the ultimate destination for designer fashion and shopping just over an hour from Manhattan. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets offers world-class shopping (at outlet prices) with more than 250 high-end brands, including Gucci, Ferragamo, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Prada, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and so many more. Whether you're searching for the perfect holiday gift or treating yourself to a style refresh, you'll find everything from fashion and accessories to home décor and lifestyle goods. After a day of retail therapy, book a room at the nearby Glenmere Mansion, a Forbes Five-Star retreat featuring luxurious accommodations, a serene spa, and world-class dining.
New York Wine Country (Various Regions)
Few places offer the variety and charm of New York State when it comes to wine. With over 35,000 acres of vineyards and ranking as the third-largest wine-producing state in the country, New York is a true gem for wine lovers. From bold reds to crisp whites and everything in between, you’ll find world-renowned wines across incredible natural landscapes in New York wine country.
Venture to the Finger Lakes for scenic lake views and rolling hills, home to over 130 wineries and four distinct wine trails. The Finger Lakes region specializes in aromatic white varieties including Riesling and Gewurztraminer. For a coastal wine experience, head to Long Island, boasting over 2,000 acres of vineyards and world-famous white sand beaches. The region is popular for its superb reds, Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Explore the Niagara Escarpment, one of New York’s most distinctive wine regions thanks to its unique geography and warm air currents from Lake Ontario. The region is beloved for its award-winning icewine and cool-climate varieties. Check out our all-inclusive guide for New York’s wine regions and also find out where to book wonderful wine tours and excursions.