This is a COVID-era review. Menla is open for "cre...

This is a COVID-era review. Menla is open for "create your own" getaways, so I signed up to have a break this past weekend. Honestly, the grounds and rooms are nice enough, but there's no draw here other than hiking without activities and lectures. The spa hours were limited, and the meals were oddly stressful. The chef is REALLY LOUD and you can hear her talking anytime you are in the main lodge, so if you're trying to have a quiet meal inside, forget about it. The meals themselves were repetitive and limited (note they charge separately for breakfast and the coffee is TERRIBLE so bring your own). One final quibble - the naming on the maps and the property guideposts (Eagle House, etc) don't match. It's a small point, but it feels really unwelcoming. In short, if you want to create a hiking adventure in the Catskills, stay elsewhere!