By Julie Sagoskin
With endless activities, oversized apartment style suites and enchanting views, there’s no better way to get away from it all than with a getaway to Villa Roma Resort, a special Catskills hideaway in Sullivan County. Currently celebrating their 50th anniversary year, the resort offers seasonal activities, themed weekends and holiday celebrations. You will almost feel like you are in camp again – a camp with decadent dining, spacious accommodations, a spa and professional golf course, that is! It’s no wonder that Villa Roma has been a favored destination for families, becoming a passed-on tradition through the generations.
Indulge in indoor and outdoor winter activities, fine fare and never-ending events at this all-inclusive spot in Callicoon, New York. Whether you’re simply looking to relax by exploring the grounds and enjoying serene spa services, or want to get your winter weather game on, Villa Roma is ready to customize a memorable vacation just for you, and it’s all just a few hours from Manhattan. The weather might be getting colder, but things are just starting to heat up at this resort which offers tons of recreational activities all-year round. The property becomes especially magical when Villa Roma transforms into a whimsical wonderland with festive décor, dining displays and a winter package including snow tubing, skiing, snowboarding, bowling, racquetball and even sledding for the kids.
In addition to daytime activities such as bingo, shuffleboard, and other indoor games led by their famed social director, Doc Holiday, their indoor sports complex features a fitness center, bowling alley, arcade, bounce houses and more boundless fun. After dinner, you can enjoy nightly entertainment, from singers to comedy nights. This relaxing resort also offers an indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna, as well as outdoor bocce and shuffleboard, hiking trail, tennis and handball courts, go-karts, bumper boats and so much more. With various dining options, including a main dining hall, plus a lounge and café serving Starbucks and Italian pastries, there is something for every person in your party. When it comes to fun, Villa Roma does it right – they are also well-known for themed stays, especially Italian Weekend and holiday packages, plus mystery dinner theater weekends and everything in between. At Villa Roma, love is not in lockdown, which can be seen from the resort’s intimate weddings set against their unique and breathtaking backdrops.
With large rooms, ranging from a one room suite with separate living room, as well as a sofa bed and fridge, plus two queen beds and accessible private bath, to a deluxe room with large private balcony, two double beds, wet bar and small seating area, these residential style accommodations are spacious enough for families – they also offer adjoining rooms. Featuring two bedrooms, as well as a large living room and kitchen, the two-bedroom efficiency can comfortably fit up to six people. The kitchen features full-size appliances and a large bathroom with separate bathtub and shower. From a romantic getaway to a family reunion, their different layouts are perfect for all types of stylish stays. They also offer timeshares for those who want to own a piece of this prized property.
This resort will definitely feel like a throwback to simpler, more wholesome days, and with acres of land with working farms nearby, Villa Roma truly serves as a much-needed respite from today’s most unusual times. With social distancing and the highest standards of cleaning procedures in places, you and your family can rest assured that every precaution is being taken to protect the health of both staff and guests.
The friendly staff will have you feeling like you’re indeed a part of the family by the time your magical stay comes to end, and that’s all part of the charm of this Catskills gem. While today they have hundreds of full-time employees, 139 hotel rooms, 24 timeshare buildings and an 18-hole PGA Championship golf course, the original property, owned by Eneresto Vindigni, was a simple, quaint boarding house with only 46 rooms and 10 cottages. After being purchased by Marty Passante, along with a few friends, Villa Roma came to life like never before – Marty eventually came to own the entire property and made his resort dreams come true with spacious rooms and enough event spaces to host thousands of yearly guests. Today, the property is known for being the most comfortable destination in the Catskills.
This expansive resort has a become a major part of the community – their hospitable staff is more like family, which is why families have been traveling to Villa Roma for years. Many now bring their own kids and grandchildren to enjoy the festivities, from the fishing pond to the fun park and so much more.
