Travel Planner: Monticello, NY

Completely rebuilt following a tragic fire and flood, this cornerstone resort now hosts more families, tours, and corporate groups than ever. The casual, friendly atmosphere and extraordinary range of activities also attracts bus-tour groups, weddings, and family reunions. In-house luxury boutiques provide shopping opportunities, and the resort has the only in-house Starbucks in the Catskills. Extensive pool facilities—including a waterslide and a bar—are a major draw, as is the indoor sports complex and fitness center. Rooms have wall-to-wall carpeting and classic furnishings; some have balconies. Dining options are numerous, and there are organized bus trips to nearby gaming and shopping meccas. Pros:

family friendly; live entertainment; activities for every taste and interest.

far from other major attractions. www.villaroma.com. 139 rooms, 18 suites. In-room: Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bar, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, children's programs. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.

The rambling Victorian-era hotel—a jumble of towers, chimneys, porches, and turrets—sits at the edge of a mountaintop lake. The resort's 2,200 acres encompass private woodland and elaborate gardens and overflow with options for recreation, including 85 mi of hiking trails. Antiques fill the guest rooms, which are luxurious and spacious. Choice accommodations in the towers have original Victorian woodwork, wood-burning fireplaces, and balconies. Your room rate includes three meals daily, plus afternoon tea and cookies. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style; dinner is a formal affair (men may want to wear jackets). Four self-catering cottages, which sleep four to six people, are also available and include full kitchens. Pros:

all-inclusive plan; tons of activities; great for kids.

grounds can be packed with day-trippers; not for those looking for quiet getaway. www.mohonk.com. 265 rooms, 7 suites, 4 cottages. In-room: safe, no TV (some), Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bar, golf course, pool, tennis courts, gym, spa, water sports, children's programs, laundry facilities, business center. Credit cards accepted. Cottages closed mid-Oct.-mid-May.

A simple picket fence borders the grounds of this single-story motel. The rooms have two queen or twin beds; a large cottage has a full kitchen, a sleeping alcove, a living room, and two bedrooms. Pros:

cute picnic area; golf within walking distance; pets welcome.

not much to do in the area; not a vacation destination. www.buenavistamotel.com. 33 rooms, 1 cottage. In-room: kitchen (some). In-hotel: some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.

The centerpiece of this 260-acre golf resort is a white Greek Revival inn that's been taking in travelers since its opening in 1805. The rooms, although updated, retain the flavor of the past, with antiques, Victorian-inspired wallpaper, and wide-plank floors; some have fireplaces. Several attractive motel-style buildings surround the inn. If you tire of golf, you can fish in Batavia Kill or wander the grounds. Meals are served in the main building, where the excellent Messina's La Griglia ($$-$$$; no lunch) has three comfortable dining rooms with a mostly white-on-white decor; the fare is northern Italian. You can savor mussels, capellini with shrimp and scallops in white-wine sauce, or roast duck in fig-and-honey sauce while eyeing the golf course's 9th hole through the large windows. Pros:

great golf packages; central location; nice restaurant.

a bit pricey. www.windhamhouse.com. 50 rooms. In-hotel: restaurant, bars, golf course, pool, tennis court, laundry facilities. Credit cards accepted. Closed mid-Oct.-Christmas and late Mar.-Apr.