Recommendations

Aman Resorts meets Alice in Wonderland.

Strengths

• Whimsical design. Fifteeen different architects created Winvian's 18 cottages, and each guest residence has its own theme. Some themes are subtle, others are outlandish -- like Helicopter and TreeHouse. All the cottages feature luxe amenities like Bose sound systems, fully-stocked bars, fireplaces, and flat-screen TVs.
• High-end service. Seven-course dinners are prepared by Chef Chris Eddy, who previously worked with Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse. There's also a 5,000 square-foot spa featuring Pilates classes, yoga, massages, and a variety of other treatments. Plus, the multinational staff of 60 is friendly and available to cater to your every need.
• Bucolic setting. The 113-acre property was established in 1773 when a local doctor built a farm on the site. Some of the original buildings are still standing, and materials from others (plank wood floors, wooden barn beams) have been utilized in the new construction. The property is also adjacent to a 4,000-acre nature preserve.
• Plentiful activities. Though many guests never make it out of the plush rooms, and others venture only as far as the spa or the main house (with its self-serve open bar and game room featuring pool, ski-ball, fooseball, darts, and board games), there's plenty to occupy the more adventurous as well. Among other activities, guests can go mountain biking, hiking, fly-fishing, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and horseback-riding.

Shortcomings

• Winvian is very pricey. That said, it's a two hour drive from NYC, which eliminates the cost of airfare. Plus, all meals, drinks, and tips are included, so once you arrive you won't have to touch your wallet (except for spa treatments).
• It's tough to decide which room to book without having seen them.

Insider tips

• Occupancy is limited, so book far in advance.
• You can reserve the entire property for corporate retreats, family reunions, weddings, etc. Fifty-five people can sleep on the property, and there are nearby hotels to house any overflow.

Anecdotes

• I’d heard about the rooms and even seen photos, but nothing prepared me for the real thing. I walked in to the Helicopter cottage, for example, and my jaw literally dropped. Inside the room is a 17,000 pound Sikorsky Coast Guard rescue helicopter. It’s massive! The interior of the helicopter serves as a plush lounge where guests can have drinks and watch movies.
• The Charter Oak cottage features a gigantic Oak tree bursting through the middle of the bedroom. Plus, there's an oversized soaking tub and a steam shower of colossal proportions inside the attached old barn silo. And the Treehouse cottage is perched 35 feet in the air!

Credentials

• Winvian made the Conde Nast Traveler 2007 Hotel Hot List. They call it the “perfect retreat for the jaded captain of industry wanting to reconnect with his playful inner child.”