First things first: I am not a gambler. But when my husband and I were in need of a one-night getaway, Resorts World Catskills seemed like a good choice for a quick escape. Located in the Hudson Valley in Monticello, New York, it was just a little over an hour drive from northern Westchester County to the resort. I was looking for a location where, once we parked the car, we wouldn’t have to drive anywhere else. With several onsite restaurants, a pool and (of course) the casino, Resorts World Catskills checked all of the boxes.
However there are some things I wish we knew prior to our visit:
- We booked a room in The Alder at Resorts World Catskills. We were unaware that this “boutique lifestyle hotel” is a completely and totally separate building from the main hotel and casino. Staying here grants guests access to the amenities at the main hotel including the indoor pool and fitness center. However, these are located in an entirely different building.
- There is no indoor connector between The Alder and the main hotel and casino. To get from one building to the other, you must exit and walk a good 150 feet on the sidewalk outside. In three out of the four seasons, this isn’t a problem. When we visited during the winter and it was a brisk 32 degrees out it was quite uncomfortable. It does get colder than that in the Catskills too.
- If you plan to visit the indoor pool, bring a beach bag (this bag would have been perfect!) to transport your things. We had only brought our large overnight bags for the single night stay. When we realized that we would need to walk outside to be able to access the pool, we had to wear our bathing suits under our clothing. We also had to carry our books. In warmer weather, a bathing suit cover up and flip flops may be worn, depending on how comfortable you are walking through The Alder hotel lobby and past several restaurants in the main hotel. Otherwise, there is a changing room and restrooms in the pool area.
- On the few trips that we’ve made to Foxwoods (another resort casino located in Connecticut), I’ve seen every themed slot machine you can think of. Monopoly, Sex and the City, Deal or No Deal….they have them all. At Resorts World Catskills, there were no licensed slot machines. With 1,600 slot machines, there wasn’t a lack of machines. However, if you are expecting or enjoy playing a specific branded game, you will likely not find it here. For those who enjoy table games, there are plenty of Blackjack, Craps and Roulette Tables along with a variety of Poker Tables.
- There are only two sit-down, full table-service restaurants at Resorts World Catskills. If you want a special night out to celebrate you can dine at the Italian-inspired steakhouse Cellaio or the Chinese restaurant, Lotus. If there is a specific time you are looking to dine, I recommend making a reservation on OpenTable. Although it wasn’t super crowded during our visit, we made a 7 PM reservation at Lotus. When we arrived for dinner, despite all of the other tables being occupied, we were seated immediately. Be sure to check the restaurant days and hours, since these restaurants are closed on certain days of the week.
Although check-in is at 4 PM, we arrived at the hotel a little earlier. Fortunately, the check-in desk had no wait, and our room was ready to go. When we walked by the check-in desk a bit later that afternoon the line was very long! The Alder has its own amenities; Dos Gatos Restaurant, a cantina-style Mexican eatery as well as a bar. There are pool tables in the lobby and Topgolf Swing Suite is also located in this building.
The main hotel and casino has two indoor pools; one is strictly for adults 21+. There is also a small fitness center and an 8,000 square foot spa. The Awana Spa has six treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas and a relaxation lounge. I need to make sure to include a stop here on my next visit!
We only stayed one night at The Alder at Resorts World Catskills. We enjoyed twenty-four hours of quality time together, which was our main goal of the trip. For those who enjoy gambling, and want a quick getaway, Resorts World is an appealing option.
The Details:
Resorts World Casino
888 Resorts World Drive
Monticello, NY 12701
Website
Phone: 1-833-586-9358
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