COVID-19 GUIDELINES & FAQS
We’re open!
Your safety is our top priority. We are adhering to New York State and CDC guidelines while providing the same level of service and home-away-from-home comfort you’ve known in the past.
Please take a moment to review our guidelines. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have. If you have concerns not addressed below, please email us at [email protected] or ask at the Front Desk. Our standard FAQs can be found here.
Menla is a COVID-19 free community. We ask that all of our guests get tested before they arrive, so we can continue to offer services in a healthy and safe environment for everybody.
WELLNESS SCREENING
Guests and program participants will be asked to answer three questions 48 hours prior to arrival:
- In the last 14 days, have you experienced symptoms similar to COVID-19?
This includes fever, cough, stomach upset, loss of taste/smell, or muscle pain. - Have you or someone you’ve been in close contact with tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
- Has a close friend or family member exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19 (listed in question one) in the last 14 days?
- Have you been vaccinated for COVID-19?
If you feel unwell or can answer ‘YES’ to any of these questions, please contact us and cancel your reservation as soon as possible.
Please know moving forward we have implemented a new standard as the world is shifting around Covid-19. To attend an event or stay at Menla, guests must submit a negative COVID test taken within 96 hours (4 days) prior to arrival. All test types are accepted at this time. Including and not limited to PCR, proctored Rapid Antigen tests and take home tests. All guests are required to test prior to arrival regardless of vaccination status.
Kindly submit all test results to [email protected] . Attendees must submit a negative test result regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required for all people in public spaces.
* If this information is not provided prior to your arrival, you will be unable to check in upon arrival and participate in your program or Create-Your-Own Getaway.*
Even though we are taking every precaution to combat the spread of COVID-19, traveling (even in pre-COVID times) always involves some risk. For this reason, all guests will be required to digitally sign an assumption of risk acknowledgement during the registration process.
When you arrive, please leave your bags in the car until you have completed the check-in process. All visitors must pass a no-contact thermometer screening upon arrival. If your temperature is above 100°F you will be asked to leave. If there is a queue, please stand six feet away from other visitors.
Staff members will undergo the same screening process.
Far from crowds and congested streets, Menla’s unique surroundings inherently provide a safe escape. There’s plenty of space to distance physically while feeling the healing touch of nature, finding peace and gaining strength from our community spirit.
Through the implementation of our new sanitization protocols and limiting person-to-person contact whenever possible, we’re confident our mountain oasis will remain COVID-free.
CLEANING PROCEDURES
We’re stepping up our daily maintenance routines by cleaning high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces multiple times throughout the day. This includes door handles, banisters, light switches, elevator buttons, and any surface in common areas, like the front desk and reception.
We use non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaners proven to kill COVID-19 along with other germs and viruses. Primarily BRIOTECH, a HOCI (Hypochlorous Acid) based sterilizer. It’s an electrolyzed, antimicrobial biocide that works by inactivating pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and spores. All-natural, it’s free of common additives like alcohol, sulfates, and parabens,
Each guest room is complete with a private bath and will be deep cleaned and sealed at least 24-hours before the next guest arrives. Transient items like pens and notepads previously found in the room have been removed. Keys will also be sanitized before being handed out again.
MASKS
All guests are required to wear masks in communal public indoor spaces on property. Including but not limited to, reception/front desk, dining halls (unless seated), Menla’s Vintage Barn, Dewa Spa and meeting spaces, lobbies/bathrooms. Six foot distancing will now be upheld in group meeting spaces to ensure the safety of all participants. We highly recommend masks be worn at all times. If guests are unmasked, six foot distancing standards must be followed. We encourage program leaders to adjust policy based on the comfort level of all guests present. Program meeting space requirements are to be determined by the group leader holding the event.
Menla’s staff are required to wear masks in indoor public areas and during food preparation.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule? Whether it is a getaway or group retreat, we offer a flexible cancellation and rebooking policy. You can easily change dates and have your deposit applied to a future stay or refunded depending on the situation.
If you cancel 24 hours before your reservation, scheduled program, workshop, or retreat you will receive a refund minus a 10% service fee. You will not receive a refund if you arrive late or cannot give us 24 hours notice.
Any program may be cancelled by Menla due to low registration. If this happens, you will receive a full refund.
GROUP RETREATS
- If you cancel 2 weeks before the retreat is scheduled to begin, you will receive a refund minus a 10% processing fee.
- You can still cancel up to 24 hours before the retreat begins however, you will not be given a refund. Instead, you’ll receive credit minus the 10% processing fee. You can apply this to a future retreat, personal getaway, or Tibet House sponsored program. Credit is only valid for 365 days after issuance.
- We cannot issue a refund or credit if you give us less than 24 hours notice.
Need to adjust previously made arrangements? Call us at (845) 688-6897 ext 101 or 0 from 9AM to 5PM any day of the week. Alternatively, you can email [email protected].
We endeavor to keep as many services and amenities available as possible. This might change depending on current government guidelines and circumstances.
DEWA SPA
See what experiences are currently available on our spa menu. From massages to hands-free sessions, we will continue to update our selections, so check back often.
POOL
Our outdoor pool will be open and available for use. Everyone should be respectful of other guests and practice physical distancing both in and out of the water. Chairs are set at least 6 feet apart and guests will be responsible for cleaning their chair before and after use. High-touch surfaces like ladders and handrails will be disinfected regularly by staff.
THE GYM, YOGA, AND OTHER WELLNESS ACTIVITIES
Private yoga, qi gong, fitness, meditation, and mindfulness programs are still available. In some instances, classes might be held outdoors to increase the amount of space between participants and embrace the health benefits of fresh air.
The Gym is open with a limited occupancy rule. No more than 50% of the space will be occupied at any time. Use the sign-up sheet to request access, then receive a key from staff that will let you into the gym.
HIKING AND NATURE IMMERSION
You’re free to explore Menla’s hiking trails, book guided hikes, discover forest bathing, and experience the magic of bonfires and stargazing at night. Learn about the healing power of medicinal herbs on one of our garden tours.
SHARED SPACES
We require masks for all guests inside of public spaces within Dewa including but not limited to the lobby, kitchens, locker rooms, and relaxation lounge. Guests are permitted to remove their masks while drinking water or tea while safely distanced from other guests. Masks are not required while in private bath treatments.
PRIVATE SPACES
While in treatment, we request that all guests wear their masks whenever they are facing up on the table. Guests are permitted to take the mask off while facing down unless the practitioner instructs otherwise; guests are expected to comply with their practitioner’s preferences.
COMPLIANCE
If a guest chooses not to participate in our collaborative effort to keep Dewa guests healthy while on the premises, they will be required to limit their visit to the outdoor pool, or to leave the spa altogether, and any confirmed treatments will not be eligible for a refund of any kind. We kindly ask that you direct any questions or concerns with Dewa’s COVID policy to management, and not to our practitioners.
Fresh is best. Nothing tastes better than vegetables grown organically (without pesticides) in the clean mountain air and warm sun, harvested and prepared by our world-class culinary team the same day.
Our vegetarian farm-to-table menu provides most of the food you will enjoy during your stay. Directly from our gardens, only a few people handle the food before it reaches your plate, virtually eliminating exposure to the germs that come with transportation and cultivation in large greenhouses.
Lunch and dinner are complimentary with accommodation for CYO guests. Breakfast is available for purchase at our front desk from our à la carte menu. If group events are in progress optional hot buffet breakfast is available for purchase upon arrival. Please inquire with our front desk staff.
Group retreats and rental programs will include Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner unless otherwise noted.
Meals are served by our kitchen staff in a takeout buffet style to ensure compliance with all CDC specifications. Our delicious meals can be enjoyed in our dining halls or on our deck.
Tables on the deck (overlooking Eva’s Pond and the beautiful Catskill Mountains) will be arranged in a physically-distant way. Staff will be nearby to ensure distancing standards are maintained and sanitation rules followed.
MARKET SERVICE (8AM – 11AM)
You can purchase pre-packaged breakfast from our Front Desk Staff. Selections include muffins, fresh fruit, granola and more.
If our Marketplace menu doesn’t interest you, take the opportunity to support the Phoenicia Diner and local favorites on Route 28 open for take-out.
If you feel unwell at any point during your stay, please inform one of our staff members immediately. They will advise you on where to seek medical care.
MENLA
