Bespoke Travel Experiences in the Catskills

Just a few hours drive away from the big city of New York, and conveniently located for visitors around various New England states too, the Catskills have so much to offer. It's no surprise, therefore, that the region is a popular spot for vacations and special events, with many people planning everything from weddings to corporate get-togethers in the Catskills. If you're planning a Catskills expedition, the Catskill Carriage can help.

Small-town charm in the Catskills lures city slickers

One of the fastest routes between stress and serenity is a new luxury bus service. Departing from Midtown late Friday afternoons, the Catskill Carriage ferries New Yorkers to five towns in Sullivan County for a weekend of eating, drinking, fishing and nostalgia — this, after all, was the home of Grossinger’s, the hotel that inspired “Dirty Dancing.” Not surprisingly, many of its riders call the new service the Jitney of the Catskills, says founder Gabriel Brodbar, who hands out homemade cookies and beverages on the three-to-four-hour trip ($110 per round-trip ticket) through Midtown and the mountains.

Escape to the Hudson Valley on the Catskill Carriage August 3-5

Catskill Carriage is offering a pilot program for their bus service from NYC to the Hudson Valley in early August, making stops in New Paltz, Kingston, Phoenicia, and Hunter…

Hudson Valley a luxury bus ride away with new Catskill Carriage route

Longing to escape the sweltering New York City summer for the fresh air and bucolic landscapes of the Hudson Valley? It may soon be easier to do sans car thanks to a new bus route pilot from Catskill Carriage.

On Aug. 3, Catskill Carriage will test run its aptly named Hudson Valley Escape at 3 p.m. from Haymaker Bar on West 29th Street to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz; Senate Garage in Kingston; Sportsman’s Cantina in Phoenicia and Scribner’s in Hunter. Return service will leave Scribner’s at 2 p.m. Aug. 5. Both trips are estimated to take just over four hours.

Journey From NYC to the Hudson Valley in the Catskill Carriage

The upstate trek gets a Cinderella-style upgrade.

When it comes to visiting the Hudson Valley, there are only so many ways to get here from New York City. Option one is to take the train. Yet as anyone who has ever commuted on the Metro-North line knows, sitting out the two-hour ride amid whining children, unpredictable temperatures, and unexpected stops is no walk in the park. Option two is to book a car, although that comes with heavy expenses and unavoidable traffic delays. Option three, then, is to take a bus. Yet out of these three possibilities, the mere thought of booking a bus ticket and negotiating the ins and outs of route schedules and transfers is anxiety inducing in itself.

New luxury bus service brings NY city dwellers to the Catskills

 Gabriel Brodbar bought his house in the Catskills over ten years ago. But if his family and friends didn’t have a car, it was hard to host visitors.

"The only way to get there if you don’t have a car is by bus, and it's by a not so nice bus from Port Authority," said Brodbar.

How To Go Fly Fishing In NYC

And while scant public transportation has long prevented car-less city dwellers from getting to destinations such as Livingston Manor, a new luxury bus service — which touts itself as the “Jitney of the Catskills” — is now operating between the city and Monticello, Callicoon, Livingston Manor and Roscoe . While onboard, riders can enjoy WiFi, big-screen televisions, water service and freshly baked goods.

Since the shuttle’s Memorial Day weekend launch, it’s been filled with passengers eager to try fly fishing, Gabriel Brodbar, the owner of the Catskills Carriage service, tells The Post.

Catskill Carriage shuttle bus makes it easier to escape NYC

Summer is nearly upon us, which means more New Yorkers will be flocking to the Catskills for weekend trips—it’s both an excellent place to find calm away from the city, and a somewhat cheaper (and more outdoorsy) alternative to the Hamptons. But actually getting to the region can be a hassle, whether you’re enduring the mass of traffic leaving the city or wondering if you’ll make it out of Port Authority alive.

Enter Catskill Carriage, a new shuttle bus service that wants to make the trip to the mountains seem like a breeze, rather than a slog. The bus—like the Hampton Jitney, but for upstate weekend-trippers—picks riders up at a Midtown bar and treats them to reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and spacious bathrooms to make the ride to the Catskills as smooth as possible.

Heading Upstate in Style

So, lucky you, Catskill Carriage — a Hamptons Jitney without the Hamptons — is gearing up for the summer season with free WiFi, power outlets at every seat and a bar-to-brewery drop-off. Go up on a Friday and come back on a Sunday, unless there’s a Monday holiday, in which case you get to stay a little longer. Did I mention the dessert? Seriously, they serve homemade desserts. On the bus. SMH.

Catskill Carriage is a far cry from taking the bus from the Port Authority. It's luxe, affordable and you can text your friends to boast your plans whilst you ease on down the road. It leaves from Midtown Manhattan and will take you to Monticello, Livingston Manor, Roscoe and also Callicoon.

Need a Lift? Catskill Carriage Gets You There in Style

Why Drive When You Can Ride (in Style!)

Let’s face it, short of having a car the options to get yourself to the Catskills are not plentiful or convenient.  NJ Transit only gets you as far as Port Jervis and Greyhound doesn’t exactly put the “fun” in functional.  Catskill Carriage is changing all of that by turning the drive into an enjoyable ride that is actually fun to take.  Best of all, all of the pick-ups and drop-offs are at bars so you can relax with a cocktail or beer while you wait (or soda or coffee if you’re doing the picking up).  

Catskill Carriage has thought of everything from spacious reclining seats to dedicated power outlets, passenger operated lights, air vents, and hostess call buttons, and complimentary WiFi (not to mention an extra clean lavatory!) Plus each northbound Express seat comes with hostess service featuring Jackie Q’s farm-to-tummy desserts.

Catskill Carriage’s 2018 bus schedule begins May 25th and runs every weekend through October 8th. You have two options for travel: Local and Express.  All northbound departures are on Fridays. All southbound departures are on Sundays, except Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends, when the southbound departures are on Mondays.

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Interview with Gabe Brodbar, Founder and CEO of Catskill Carriage

It was a dark winter's night at the Monticello Bus station when Gabe Brodbar, founder and CEO of Catskill Carriage stopped and asked himself, “Why?”. Why was it such a pain to get Upstate? Why was there no enjoyable way to reach the Catskills? Why did the Port Authority have to suck so much! (We’re not sure whether he asked that last one but, we sure would have..)

In Partnership with Parachute Home, the 2nd Annual Preserve & Gather Dinner in Bloomville, NY

As the temperature began to drop, guests took their final strolls and made their way back to the Catskills Carriage Bus that carried them from and back to the city. 

Party Report: Dinner in Upstate New York

Guests – and social media – were buzzing over the thoughtful touches throughout the day. Everyone received a Merino Travel Kit to stay cozy on the journey upstate. While Catskill Carriage provided a smooth ride to the country...

Catskill Carriage offers new service in area

The Hamptons have their Hampton Jitney. Starting on Friday, Sept. 1, the Catskill Region will have its very own Catskills Carriage.

The modern high-end buses, built by Volvo, provide strictly first class travel on wheels. In addition to offering soft, high-backed reclining seats with foot rests, the Catskill Carriage fleet will include Wi-Fi, power outlets at every seat, flip-down HD screens, a spacious lavatory, ample luggage compartments, and a complimentary slice of Jackie Q’s world famous, 100% natural, farm-to-tummy apple pie for northbound passengers. Hostess service will be provided, available at the push of a button. “And did I mention that you don’t have to go anywhere near the Port Authority”, added Brodbar.