The Point

Southland travel buffs who opt for the ultra-extravagant when it comes to vacations will be thrilled to know that a jaunt across the country leads to an over-the-top escape that will more than fit the bill. Grand yet intimate, The Point, is all-inclusive, private Adirondack estate along Saranac Lake that offers the perfect blend of privacy and social interaction. The unparalleled elegance of the log resort consists of a Great Hall that boasts fine art and exquisite antiques and 11 private guest rooms. A resort that takes one’s breath away, The Point is majestic from its stylish furnishings indoors to the clean brisk air and pristine nature that encircle the property.

William Avery Rockefeller had the property built in the early 1930s as his family’s private home. Today, The Point is a member of Relais & Châteaux, a prestigious Paris-based hotel association, and the only Forbes Five-Star Property in New York State located outside of New York City. 

The Point is a WI-FI and cellular free zone by design. This is to encourage guests to disconnect and enjoy the liberation that being “unplugged” affords. Initially, visitors may experience the dreaded fear of missing out, but as some of the busiest CEOs who have visited attest, the discipline helps to promote a more enjoyable getaway experience and once back online, messages and texts will be waiting. Visitors are able to appreciate the stunning grounds, take advantage of the multitude of activities or just enjoy solitude without the pressure of having to reply to e-mails. Guests who absolutely must check their devices can take a short walk to the front office to connect to both WI-FI and cellular.

Another unique feature at the Point is communal dining in the Great Hall. Dining together is generally the aspect guests love most about their visit – conversations are lively and meeting new friends from around the country or other parts of the globe is always stimulating.

Northern Californian, Chris Codding, a third-time visitor, notes that dining with the other guests is a significant part of the overall experience. “The Point seems to draw the most interesting travelers and I’ve enjoyed getting acquainted with everyone we’ve met,” she says. However, if dining alone is preferred, it can be arranged in their room, the Pub or at another location on the property. 

The delectable cuisine at The Point is an outright feast for the palate prepared by Chef Loic Leperlier, the executive chef since 2013. Formerly affiliated with a number of top Michelin star restaurants and Five-Star resorts in Europe and French Polynesia, Leperlier is an epicurean genius. He and his talented team can adapt to any dietary restriction and still manage to create the most delicious and artistic fare. There are numerous courses, each prepared in the most elegant fashion; the fresh ingredients come from local farms and the exotic are flown in.

Morning coffee or tea is delivered to guests in their rooms, and they can choose to enjoy breakfast in bed, at a private breakfast table overlooking the lake, or join their new friends in the Great Hall.
Lunch is served in the Great Hall daily or it can take place at a variety of scenic sites on the property. Gourmet picnics and cook-outs can always be arranged.

Meals can also be enjoyed on a boat exploring beautiful Saranac Lake. The Point offers captained adventures on a 33’ 1933 replica Hacker-Craft, a hand-constructed mahogany speed boat, as well as the Elco (Electric Launch Company), a glass enclosed electric boat. In the summer months evening cocktail cruises take place – another opportunity for guests to enjoy each other’s company. 

The Point offers several boating options such as canoes, kayaks, Budsins, mahogany electric inboards and outboard motor boats for their individual use. Licensed boat drivers are available to captain the Ski Nautique for water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing.

Guests of The Point have access to all areas of the secluded, 75-acre property and there are a variety of activities from which guests can choose. Lake swimming, walking, hiking, croquet, fishing, tennis, badminton, horseback riding, scenic drives and golf are among the favorite. During the winter months, cross-country and downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain (nearby Lake Placid, NY), snowshoeing, ice-skating, curling, ice-fishing, bobsled, scenic drives and snow barbeques can be enjoyed.

Once indoors, guests enjoy the ultimate in luxury. Rooms range in price from $1600.00 to $3500.00 per night and accommodation details are outlined online (www.thepointresort.com ).

Getting to The Point by car is easy from major cities. The drive from New York City is approximately five hours; Boston approximately five hours; Montreal approximately two and a half hours, Albany approximately two and a half hours.

Guests can choose to fly Cape Air direct to Saranac Lake into Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) several times a day from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Cape Air, one of the largest regional airlines in the United States, provides year-round service and operates a fleet of 83 Cessna 402s, 4 Britten-Norman Islanders and 2 ATRs, with up to 525 flights per day during high season. They are recognized for outstanding customer service and convenient hourly flights. Complimentary ground transfers from Adirondack Regional Airport are included in the rates and guests will be met and driven to The Point, only 20 minutes away. 

The Point can also provide quotes from charter service companies for guests interested in flying privately and The Point can also arrange a car service from any major airport. 

However one chooses to get there, a stay at The Point provides a special and unique experience for any visitor seeking the ultimate in deluxe accommodations.

ACCOLADES:

The Point is also the recipient of a number of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious awards and is one of the few properties in the world to consistently receive the Forbes Five-Star classification for “flawless service and the finest of amenities. Staff is intuitive, engaging and passionate, and eagerly delivers service above and beyond the guests’ expectations.” 
Elite Traveler – “2017’s 100 Top Hotels in the World” 
Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 Gold List 
Condé Nast Traveler’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards – The Point ranked #3 in “Top Resorts in New York & Mid-Atlantic”. 
Condé Nast Traveler’s 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards – The Point ranked #35 in “Top 100 Hotels & Resort in the World” and #10 in “Top 25 Resorts in the U.S.” 
Five-Star Rating by Forbes Travel Guide – 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 etc.