Meet the Pet-Loving Couple Who Bought a Short-Term Rental to Give Their Dog a Backyard

Photo: Catskill Cabin Co.

A place designed for family and friends, every detail is thoughtfully considered at this private 7-acre hideaway, better known as Catskill Cabin Co in upstate New York. After stumbling upon a cabin that seemed too good to be true, Megan and Andy were happily surprised when their offer was accepted on a property that seemed like the perfect fit for their family (including rescue dog, Paxton). We picked the brains of these Superhosts for their tips and tricks on creating a hygge design, the beauty of making countless mistakes and the importance of a top notch cleaning service. Read our conversation below: 

How did the Catskill Cabin Co. come to be? 

My husband and I had been visiting the Catskills for years and it became a tradition to ring in the New Year there every year. Each year we'd sit in cabins upstate going, "wouldn't it be neat to do something like this? Wouldn't it be fun to own our own cabin?" One year we sat down and plotted it out​​ — what it would take financially, where we'd want to live, what we were looking for in a home. And the cabin itself was something of kismet — we only put offers on two houses (10,000 blessings to our incredibly patient realtor). Despite not wanting to get our hopes up given the super competitive market, we went home that night and started planning furniture placements and how much fun it would be to stay there ourselves. The owner before us had a dog walking business, and a big motivator for buying a house upstate was having room for our dog to roam. With seven acres, a creek full of mud, and a fully fenced-in yard, I think this house was tailor-made for dog people like us. 

When did you decide to become an Airbnb host?

We traveled on Airbnb for a number of years and on couch surfing apps before Airbnb was a thing, so I think we've always seen this as a really viable way to both see and experience the world in a super unique way. The travel bug was really the driving force for us. We rented our city apartment for a few years and used that as our slush fund for travel. It allowed us to be globetrotters in a way that our meager 20-something salaries wouldn't have allowed otherwise. When we realized how much we enjoyed hosting and sharing our city with others, and we kept coming back to the Catskills ourselves — it just clicked that this was something that we could also do Upstate.

What are your favorite aspects of the property? 

The location. We're within 25 minutes of arguably the best the Hudson Valley has to offer — Hunter Ski Mountain; the villages of Catskill, Saugerties, Woodstock, and Hudson; endless hiking trails and easy river access for kayaking and swimming. There are just so many activities and towns to explore. And since we're tucked away on a dead-end street, it means you can disappear from the world and still have all these amazing amenities right at your fingertips. It doesn't hurt that we have these indescribable sunsets when the weather is right— all the colors and the sounds of nature really put on a show. Ending your day with the sun dipping behind the Catskill Mountains into this star-filled sky and sleeping to the sound of crickets and bullfrogs. It's a little slice of heaven, just 90 minutes from New York City. 

Photo: Catskill Cabin Co.

How would you describe your design style to guests? 

We traveled extensively through Scandinavia & northern Europe, so our home reflects that: lots of natural tones, minimalist settings to let nature shine, coziness and loads of textures. We're all about that hygge vibe.

Do you have any design tips for first-time Airbnb hosts?  

Live in your home before you rent it. How you experience the home, the area, what you enjoy about your home is how guests will experience it. Your home should be an extension of the place where it's located. We know most of our guests are coming to the Catskills from the city for a quiet escape, so we're trying to create a nature-forward, modern, uncluttered space reflective of the desire for that experience. And make sure you clean. It doesn't matter if you have the most high-end decorations and gorgeous space. If the space isn't clean, that's the only thing guests will come away with.

What do you do for guests that sets you apart from the rest?

One of the biggest things for me as a traveler was feeling like the space was both lived in, and cared for. So when we curated a home for our guests, it was about fostering that feeling — more home than hotel.  At the same time, guests want to get away from their every day and live aspirationally. So we add a lot of high-end touches and items that reflect a style and experience that feels like an escape.

Do you have any funny stories or silly mistakes to share from your time hosting?

We've had a LOT of time to make all the errors — locking people out, forgetting to turnover a whole bedroom, having our AC go out on a 100+ degree August day. Stock wine in your house and offer a free bottle to guests and discounts when you screw up. Despite all the crazy things that have happened, we find people can be very forgiving if you're responsive, and honest. Own your mess up and fix it quickly. Plus, it never hurts to ply them with wine.

Photo: Catskill Cabin Co.

Do you have any insider tips on the business side of running an Airbnb? Any software tools you like to use?

Your cleaning service is your lynchpin in your whole operation. They are your eyes on your property and they can make or break your business. Invest the time to find good partners. In terms of the back-of-house business of running our Airbnb, we've seen mixed success with things like pricing tools and other software, but Folio really helps to set us apart. Providing guests with a bespoke experience and giving them access prior to their arrival primes them for their stay and gets them excited. We've gotten such great feedback on the app and it gives us the opportunity to connect visitors with many great local businesses we like to support.

Describe your perfect day in the Catskills! 

There are about a million ideas, but my current favorite has to be coffee on the couch with bagels from Goodies or egg sammies from Olsen & Co watching the mist peel off the creek. Then, we’d head out on an early hike around Kaaterskill Falls, Mount Tremper, or Overlook Mountain — followed by lunch at The Dutch in Saugerties and dessert at Violet's Bakery. Two words: fruit tart. 

Spend the afternoon meandering around Kingston's Stockade District or Hudson and scooping up locally made goods. I've been eyeing pottery from Cheyenne Mallo and a tee from Hamilton & Adams. For dinner, it's gotta be Silvia's for a special occasion — I think their chocolate lavender pot de creme is the stuff of dreams. If it's dinner with friends, we're headed to Black Eyed Suzies or Miss Lucy's for farm-to-table, homemade goodness. And back to the house for star-gazing and toasting marshmallows over the fire and a nightcap. Right now I'm digging bourbon from a women-owned distillery, Cooper's Daughter.

Book your next stay at the Catskill Cabin Co. on their Airbnb page. You can read more host stories for additional inspiration on making your short-term rental the top pick for guests.