Here at Escape Brooklyn, we get a lot of emails asking for personal recommendations–whether it be hotels, questions about relocating, and very often, what our “insider” scoop is on the coolest rental properties out there. Though I promise you, we don’t have any secret spots (okay, maybe one or two or five really special places), the truth is we love sharing our experiences and knowledge of the Catskills with our readers. We’d recently been getting a lot of inquiries about cabins Upstate, and although it felt like we’d stayed in a lot of them, we really hadn’t. So we decided to change that.

For the month of January, Denny and I had the daunting task (wink) of trying out four of the best cabins we could find. They’re all totally different; in location, price range, and aesthetic. So no matter your budget, or what you’re looking for in a cabin–seclusion, or being near a hotspot–modern or rustic–hopefully we’ve got it. Without further ado, here are those four amazing cabins with highlights for each.

Best Place to Completely Hole Up for a Weekend: Wildcat Mountain Cabin

This Red Cottage Inc. property is just one of their 30-something boutique rental properties, and it’s our favorite. There’s no dining or tourism hot spots nearby; instead, reconnect with the outdoors stargazing from the hot tub, or watching the sunrise by the huge wood stove. Located in Sullivan County in the western Catskills, there’s a couple fantastic hikes nearby, along with a swimming hole and waterfall. Did we mention the outdoor shower? Book it on Red Cottage.

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The living room at Wildcat Mountain Cabin.

The Coolest Location: Silent G Farms

Located in western Sullivan County, this cabin is just a couple hours from the heart of NYC. It has a guest house, farm house, party barn, recording studio, zen garden, pond, wood-fired sauna, and a hot tub–and that’s just the property itself, which is 20 spacious acres. Just down the road, North Branch Inn is a fantastic new restaurant with hand-set bowling; the nearby towns of Livingston Manor and Narrowsburg are less-discovered gems of the Catskills. Book it on Airbnb.

Inside of Silent G Farms’ guest house.

Most Splurge-Worthy: Thaddeus House

This double A-frame home was built in the mid-70’s, and is the very definition of retro-chic. The freestanding fireplace, unique structure and perfect aesthetic create an atmosphere that can’t be matched in your typical, more traditional cabin. It’s location is also great–just minutes away from  Route 28, just down the road from the heart of Woodstock, with fantastic shopping, dining, and hiking. Rentable via Airbnb, it will run you $425 a night, making it totally splurge-worthy for you and your sweetheart–or, split the cost with friends, and fill up the three bedrooms!

The master bedroom at Thaddeus House.

Most Bang for Your Buck: On Walden Pond

This $100/night tiny log cabin on a pond is hotel-room sized, and comes with a wood stove, a bed, table, and a few chairs… Not much else. But that’s the beauty of it! Inspired by Henry David Thoreau, this little cabin is all about reconnecting with the outdoors. Take the kayaks for a lap around the lake, make all your meals on the grill, and hike around the Neversink River. Book through Airbnb.

The tiny cabin sits on the shore of a small lake, with kayaks and trails to explore the area.