By John C. O'Connell
Families, from grandma to great-grandchildren and all the ages in between, will find common ground in the fun of planned and spontaneous activities geared to each age group. Parents can feel free to enjoy get-togethers in pool-side chairs knowing their kids, whatever their ages, have plenty to keep them safely entertained not too far away, enjoying the many supervised age-designed programs right on the property. There's even a daytime baby-sitting service and a night care children's service to look after the kids while mom and dad enjoy the shows and other grown-up activities. The sports complex provides facilities for most popular athletic activities. Golfing spouses can hook their way around the championship 18-hole course without guilt, knowing their other half is happily basking in the mountain sun, swimming in one of the indoor or outdoor pools, or luxuriating in the state-of-the-art spa or fitness center. The golf course was designed by the famous golf-architect Dave Postlewait and supervised by PGA pro Matt Kleiner. Golf Digest gave Villa Roma's course three and a half stars in its "Places to Stay" guide and called it a "little slice of heaven." Tennis-playing couples can make busy use of their racquets all day long at Villa Roma's courts nestled near the pool. And with a sumptuous, varied breakfast and dinner menu to select from - the two meals included in the resort rate - there's plenty of finely prepared cuisine to fortify discriminating tastes. Add in fine places to shop, a busy and supervised game room, terrific bands in the nightclub, and there's something to keep guests happy night and day. This very weekend, the long Labor Day weekend from Sept. 3 through 6, there's a "Special Summer Family Value Package," with supervised children's programs, eight gourmet meals from Friday dinner to Monday brunch, as well as use of all the fun facilities: six pools, golf, tennis, bowling, go-carts, bumper boats, spa services, horseback riding, fitness center and basketball. And all this is included in the very reasonable rate, an excellent family value.In fact, along with "fun" and "feast," "value" is an apt term to use when considering a weekend or longer stay at Villa Roma. Considering all the exciting activities and facilities available within a couple of hundred yards of the door of your spacious and comfortable guest room, it's hard to imagine another holiday or vacation venue that's got more in one place, that appeals to so many varied leisure interests and that's closer to our South Shore communities than the friendly Villa Roma. Experts agree that the rate of repeat business is an extremely positive sign about a travel destination. An informal survey around the pool one hot day this summer and in the classy main dining room at night, revealed many dozens of guests who have been returning to Villa Roma year after year, some for decades. At check-out time it's common to see teens hugging teens and adults hugging adults, saying "See you next year!" Families hold annual reunions because they know everyone will have the fun they came for. Some enjoy it so much they've bought time-share apartments.If you can't make it this weekend, the resort is open all year round (including special winter activities). There are theme weekends such as Eddie's Polka Weekend on Oct. 29-31; Murder Mystery, Nov. 12-14; Irish Weekend Nov. 19-21; and Festa Italiana March 11-13, 2005.Accommodations range from standard, deluxe and super deluxe rooms to two-room suites.If you can't find a good time at Villa Roma, no matter what your age or interests, you must have missed a turn onto Rt. 17B, because you can't really be there.
Photos by John C O'Connell
Villa Roma
356 Villa Roma Road, Callicoon, NY 12723. (845) 887-4880. For more information, call the Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center at (800) 727-8455 or visit the website at www.villaroma.com.
