Getaway Cabin Review: 5 Tips for the Coolest New Way to Connect

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“I need a getaway.” That’s what I said aloud, plopping on my bed like a dead log after a 56-hour workweek. And just like that, my facebook page refreshed to pop up a brand new ad that I had never seen before. Thanks CIA spies. Getaway House. Just from the pictures, I was hooked, but looking online, I couldn’t really find anything about it, save for a few youtube videos. So, after a weekend experiencing it for myself, I’m here to share with you my Getaway Cabin Review!

Now, before we get started, I just want to clarify that this post is NOT sponsored. I paid for this cabin and experience with my own money and no one with the Getaway House team was aware they were hosting a world-renown award-winning best selling author and travel blogger. 

That said, I DO have a discount code at the end!

What is Getaway?

Getaway is basically….exactly what it sounds like. It is a mini-cabin a few hours outside of a city, surrounded by nature. Truly, a getaway from your ordinary, routine, and probably hectic everyday life. Getaway House is a fairly new company and is committed to bringing people out into nature.

It is a chance to disconnect, refocus, and ultimately – relax. If that just made you sigh in relief, then we’re already off to a good start. 

Where can you Getaway?

As of right now, Getaway Cabins are only in the United States. Each of the locations are about 2 hours outside of the closest major city. So if you’re living near these following US cities, you are in luck! 

Northeast: New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh/Cleveland, Washington D.C.

Southeast: Atlanta, Charlotte/Raleigh, Greenville, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando

Midwest: Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis

Southwest: Austin/San Antonio, Dallas, Houston

West: Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland

FINALLY. SOMETHING COOL COMES TO PORTLAND. 

I went with the Portland outpost, and it is nestled in the forest surrounding Mt Adams in Washington. I reserved my dates for the following weekend and I was set! 

Booking

Speaking of making reservations, I want to touch real briefly on their booking system and website in this Getaway cabin review. 

First, the website. It’s beautiful. And, not only is it visually appealing, but it is also useful! There are tons of articles and guides on the site like an FAQ, easy campfire recipes, a suggested packing list, nearby hikes and trails for each outpost, and even yoga tips! 

The booking aspect was completely smooth sailing. Plus, I loved the added touch of being able to have special add-ons, like a kid’s adventure pack with activities for young children. 

I decided to Getaway with a dog, and included in the pet fee were some doggie treats! 

Cost

I mean, this is probably the first thing you want to know from a Getaway cabin review, right? From what I saw on the website, the Portland outpost prices ranged from $89-145 USD a night in the summer. It drops down to the lower end come winter and the rainy season in the Pacific Northwest.

Getting There

I mentioned this earlier, but all the outposts are about 2 hours from their major city. Far enough to disconnect and remove yourself, but close enough that it isn’t some long trek just to get some me-time.

The drive itself is pretty straightforward. I lost service about 30 minutes from the cabin. Even when we drove through the small town nearby (10 minutes away), I still didn’t have a signal.

Advice: download an offline map of the area before you head out to the Getaway cabin so you are able to navigate once you get there!

Drive slow once you get really close. The outpost area will be marked by a little “Getaway” sign. We passed it the first time and had to turn around, and then the car behind us did the exact same thing. Then, once you drive along the outpost road, each cabin is designated by a name, so just look for the sign to your cabin! Each cabin is named after one of the Getaway staff members’ family or close friends. So that’s pretty rad.

We stayed at the cabin Annie.

Alone in the wilderness?

I do want to emphasize that you are not all alone in the middle of nowhere, secluded in isolation. The entire outpost is actually pretty large, maybe like 30 or so cabins? You have “neighbors” relatively close to your cabin, although I didn’t hear a peep from them or even see them. I saw a family walking with their toddler once, and a couple of folks packing up on my checkout date, but that was about it. There is also a staff member stationed nearby in case of emergencies or to help with anything you may need.

Not sure if that brings you comfort or takes away from the illusion, but just being real for this Getaway cabin review. In my opinion, it was nice. I still felt very “in my own bubble,” if that makes sense. Once you’re actually in your cabin and on your site, you don’t see anyone else if you don’t want to. I didn’t even hear anyone else from the other sites! And there’s nearby help, which is reassuring for my clumsy self.

The Amenities

So let’s jump into all the fun things included with your Getaway Cabin! I’ll start with the outside!

Outside

First – there’s a fire pit! Unfortunately, I visited in the summer so the area was currently in a burn ban, meaning no outdoor fires due to the high wildfire risk. But, the fire pit was a good size and came with two chairs! I think the larger 4 person cabins might come with more. You can also buy a fire starter pack (campfire wood and matches and whatnot) from the cabin provisions, but I’ll talk more about that later. The Getaway team also wrote up a handy dandy “how to start a fire” guide for all of us city folk that don’t know how.

Thanks Getaway team. You have no idea how needed that is in my life.

Also outside, there is a nice picnic table and a cleared out area behind the cabin. It could be good for any large outdoor activities you may have (like horseshoes or corn hole). Or even just a nice space to lay out a blanket for stargazing.

Inside

ALRIGHTTTYY the bread and butter!

The lock system is a keypad, which I love because you don’t have to worry about a physical key. Getaway will text you your cabin’s code on the day of your check-in.

Kitchen

Immediately, you will either be greeted with the breeze of refreshing AC or the warm hug of the heater. Every cabin is equipped with both, so temperature-wise, you will always be comfortable. The kitchen is fully stocked with bowls, cups, mugs, utensils, knives, a can opener, bottle cap opener, and a cutting board. There is also a kettle, a pot, and a pan. Even a complimentary s’mores kit! No apple slicer though *cry emoji*

The kitchen also has some basic spices like salt, pepper, and sugar.

There is a small mini fridge, but no freezer, so keep that in mind when you’re packing food. Oo and on that note, I’ll talk more about the cabin’s provisions stash.

Your Own Personal Vending Machine!

If for some reason you forget your coffee or oatmeal or pasta, there is a basket in the kitchen with all those essentials for purchase! It works essentially the same as a hotel snack station or mini bar. You take whatever you want, and then your card will be charged at check out. And just like all hotel snacks, they are priced higher than market value. About a dollar or two more expensive than going to the grocery store. So not OUTRAGEOUS, but I’d recommend just bringing your own food. But if you REALLY don’t want to do any prep work, rest assured that you could certainly whip up a bowl of spaghetti just from the Getaway provisions basket.

Bathroom

Honestly, I was the most nervous about the bathroom. I ain’t no outhouse girl. Thankfully though, the cabin was FULLY plumbed. Is that a word? Anyways, completely functional flushing toilet and running shower. Since the Portland outpost is linked up to a nearby well, you also don’t have to worry about your cabin’s water supply running out. I’m not sure if that’s a concern for other sites, but you’re all gravy at this one!

The cabin had enough towels for my 3 day/2 night stay, and the bathroom was surprisingly very aesthetically pleasing. Oneee thing I noticed though, since this IS a Getaway Cabin Review, was that if someone is washing dishes in the kitchen, the hot water will run out for the shower. Also if someone showers first, I’d recommend the next person wait for about half an hour so they will have hot water as well.

Enviro-friendly!

A quick note of appreciation for the Getaway team – there is included dish soap, shampoo, and body wash available in the Getaway cabin. AND IT’S ALL BIODEGRADABLE!! How rad is that! They even included some biodegradable tampons in the bathroom, bless their kind hearts. They smell amazing and worked well for me, but if you’d rather bring your own, try make sure they are also biodegradable 🙂

Dining Room

There literally isn’t much to it. It’s a small table with one stand-alone chair and one bench that is part of the bed frame. It does it’s job pretty well.

Bedroom

THIS is probably what you booked the cabin for. The bed itself is comfortable, and I really liked the pillows. The bed’s comforter, however, was my absolute favorite. It’s like melting into a cloud. There is also a light blanket if needed. The bed is a bit elevated, and under the bed is a small area for storage – THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THIS.

I was able to fit a carry-on suitcase and a large tote bag on one side of the divider, and another large tote, a backpack, and my camera bag on the other side. On the side of the bed closest to the kitchen, there is also an extra little nook that acts as a side table for some extra storage.

The biggest showstopper for the bedroom is the giant window. It’s even better in person. I’m a city gal through and through, but I will never ever doubt the power of a scenic view ever again. Instantly, it just made me feel…better. About life.

The window looks out towards the back of your site into the woods, and I never saw anyone else cruising around out there and it felt extremely private. BUT – if you want the birds watching you undress, then there is a handy dandy shade curtain you can pull down. It isn’t quite as thick as a blackout curtain, but the sun didn’t wake me up at the crack of dawn so it does a really good job. There is also a smaller window at the foot of the bed that looks out onto the picnic table and firepit.

The whole cabin

In general, I feel like the Getaway team did a great job utilizing every space of the tiny cabin. It’s functional AND cute, which is a requirement in my opinion. I also loved the tiny touches like the coat racks and the mini radio. They also supply a few books for reading and even an activity booklet. MAD CUTE.

ALSO – I want to point something out that literally NO ONE MENTIONED in any of the youtube Getaway cabin review videos I watched. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. Yes everyone, there is electricity. I mean, there’s a mini-fridge and an electric stove, so I guess I should have guessed. BUT for some reason, I assumed there wasn’t and left all of my electronics at home. I know the point of the getaway is to disconnect, but I generally write on my laptop, so it would have been nice to bring it and really immerse myself in my writing. But alas. I had no idea. So fret not everyone, you will be able to charge your phones for the drive back.

Advice: Although there is an electrical outlet, it is not equipped for high volt usage. So you should still leave your hairdryers, bullet blenders, and karaoke machines at home.

What to Bring

Now that we’ve gone over everything that is in the cabin, let’s talk about things to bring. Aside from your usual toiletries, medications, clothing, and such, here are my recommendations to pack!

• Groceries: plan out your meals and bring those ingredients. Also remember coffee (no coffee pot, just a kettle), hot chocolate, hot cider if you want a warm beverage!
• Snacks: for, yanno. Snacking.
• Books: Even if you hate reading, you should try it out here. I promise, it will feel different. You could even try out my 5-star novel, “TW: Flatline” on Amazon!
• Headphones: Music is so freaking therapeutic. I like listening to it aloud, but if you’re with someone, be considerate of their quiet time as well.
• Journal: Whether you regularly do it or not, this is the perfect place to either catch up or try it out!
• Camera: If you’re into photography, the Getaway cabin allows you to completely refocus your craft, and maybe even try out some new styles. After all, it’s just you and your own imagination out here.
• Any other creative activity: knitting, painting, music, beading…
• Slippers: If you are someone who does not normally remove your shoes in your house, this is for you. You are not going to want to wear your outside shoes INSIDE the Getaway cabin. Bring either some house shoes or cozy socks to slip into once you’re inside!
• Activities: I’ll speak more on this later, but maybe a coloring book, suduko puzzles, etc.
• Doggie wipes: You don’t want your fur-babies tracking in mud all over the cabin

Advice – bring the minimum!

Okay, now with alllll of those mentioned, my final tip is to pack light. Like, seriously, only bring what you’re really going to use. The cabin is small, and overpacking is all too easy. Being in the cramped space will be less comfortable and, if you’re like me, distracting.

What to Do

Lock your phone away.

Literally, there’s a cell phone lock box. I encourage you to use it. And honestly, aside from a couple pics here and there, your phone isn’t going to be any use to you inside the actual cabin.

Without signal, you’re going to quickly find yourself….bored. Like, extremely.

It’s a weird feeling, having NOTHING TO DO. Or at least, it will feel like you have nothing. For a split second, I want you to sit down, close your eyes, and sink yourself into that feeling. In our normal lives, or at least mine, it’s not something I am regularly familiar with. It’s almost…stressful for me. But hold onto it. Let yourself be bored for a good hour or so.

Alright, once you reacclimated yourself to boredom, NOW you can do something.

Go Outside

You don’t have to go on some long trek (although you could!), but just sit out on the picnic table. Listen to the birds. Stroll around the outpost. Feel the sun on your skin (but yanno, wear sunscreen plz).

There weren’t any trails or hikes connected to the Portland/Washington outpost, but there were a couple within driving distance. The closest to this outpost though was about 30 minutes away. The Getaway team DOES give you all the info on the hikes, but they were too far for me that weekend. Normally I’d be up for it, but this time I had hurt my back the day before. I wanted a nice walk without all the driving, but alas.

I DID find a little mini trail about 15 minutes away though! It’s called Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. There is a parking lot, and the trail is very flat. If you are walking with a dog who loves water, they will try to jump in the stagnant pond every 2 seconds, give or take. I also stumbled upon an open area to throw the ball closer to the town of Trout Lake.

Keep an eye out though!

I did offer feedback because they send a little follow-up email after you check out, and someone did assure me that they were looking into the possibility of adding trails closer to the outpost, so yay! So it looks like Getaway Cabin reviews do get noticed and feedback is appreciated! And also someone told me that the outpost in Atlanta had really close trails, so maybe it’s just because Portland is a newer site!

Build Bonds

JAMES Bond. Kidding. What I mean is actually work on your relationships with people. If you travel with your significant other, I feel like the Getaway cabin is a perfect place to really have those deep and uncomfortable talks. You’re completely separated from the normal things that prevent you from The TALK. There’s literally…nothing to distract you from it, so stop putting it off. Just do it.

Talk about your insecurities, ask ways you can improve or show up better in the relationship, and then have them do the same. Talk about the next steps, talk about careers and dreams and kids and debts and where y’all picture themselves in ten years.

If you’re traveling with friends, do the same thing. Get to know each other. And it doesn’t have to be ALL deep. I don’t fully believe that “socializing face to face is DEAD” because of technology, but it can require more effort from some people. Use this time to restrengthen those connections. Play games around the campfire, or see who can make the most photogenic s’more!

Be Productive

‘but Kaayyyyy, I thought this experience was to get AWAYYYY’

Yes yes yes, it IS. But also, it can be a chance to catch up. What I struggle with the most is falling behind on projects. I have so many novel drafts and blog posts and unedited pictures…that just keep getting pushed back because of distractions. If had known there were electrical outlets, I would have brought my laptop so I could have uninterrupted writing time!

Use it to hone your craft, or maybe finish putting together your anniversary scrapbook. Let your surroundings inspire you and reinvigorate your motivation and drive for your passions. Being productive doesn’t have to mean answering emails or drafting work reports.

Getaway Cabin Review with DOGS

I did this experience with a dog. And not just any dog. A 70-lbs (31 kg) dog. She takes up a sizable amount of space. So let’s just talk about this for a quick second.

First of all, if you visit with a dog, the dog is required to be on a leash while outside. That’s not abnormal and it makes sense (especially because you’re not ACTUALLY alone at the outposts), but worth mentioning.

When you specify that you’re bringing a dog, it’s a $40 pet fee, but they also throw in some treats and a water bowl for your pup! For some reason, I was under the impression that the pet fee also includes a BarkBox, I think I saw it in an older review video, but IT DOES NOT as of June 2019. Because of this, I didn’t bring her any toys or a bone – my mistake. So she was super bored and antsy. Don’t be like me, pack your dog’s favorite toys!

The actual space inside the cabin was a bit tight for my dog. She basically had enough room to take a few steps and turn around. She might have been calmer if, yanno, she had a toy, but alas, she was just cramped and uncomfortable. The doggo didn’t mind too much, because she likes cuddling, BUT I MINDED. Especially since she had nothing else to do but sit on my feet and paw my arms if I didn’t give her attention.

The good news – there is no breed restriction at the Getaway Cabin! Hurrayyyy! But that said, as of June 2019, cats are not permitted in the Getaway cabins.

Keep them clean!!

Also if you bring a dog, MAKE SURE TO BRING WIPES or at least a towel. Your dog will get dusty, dirty, muddy, and sloppy from playing outside, and you do nottt want all that mess in your tiny little cabin. Plus, it will make the lives of the cleaning crew just the tiniest bit less annoying. And on that point.

Dogs are technicallyyyy not allowed on the bedding, but since I brought my own blanket and wiped her down thoroughly each time she was brought in, hopefully that was fine.

If not, I will promptly delete this part so I am not banned from future stays hahah.

Around Town

If you happen to forget something, like deodorant or eye drops or allergy medication, don’t worry, there are some shops about 10 minutes from the outpost! Well, at least for the Portland outpost! You can also buy basic food items like crackers, spam, and…whatever else I used to make sandwiches as a kid.

There was also a restaurant that served burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders, and all the usual finds in a diner. AND IT WAS GOOD! So if you don’t feel like cooking, you won’t starve to death!

Check-out

It was suppperrr simple! In fact, it was more simple than most Airbnb checkouts! They just ask that you put all of the trash/garbage in the bin under the sink, tidy up a bit, and turn off the lights. Since it an already small space, “tidying up” is really just making sure you didn’t leave any pans under your pillow and the cups aren’t all over the floor.

Then you just lock the door on your way out and drive off. It’s truly the easiest thing in the world. If you used any provisions, they will be charged to your card after check out.

Final Thoughts – Getaway Cabin Review

If you couldn’t guess from reading this entire Getaway cabin review, I absolutely loved my experience. It was the relief I didn’t even know I needed. It’s refreshing, cute, AND EASY. The three things I look for when I need to just decompress for a bit. I have never been so excited for a new company before, and I honestly can’t wait for them to grow, expand, and really cultivate all the potential they have!

The pros of this experience are so many, and I’ve talked a lot about them so I won’t repeat myself. The cons though, at least for the Portland outpost, were minimal, but still worth mentioning.

• No walkable or close (under 10 minute) hikes or trails * at the Portland outpost
• Might feel a bit cramped for a larger dog

Getaway House is perfect for anyone that wants to experience nature, but comfortable. It’s for people who like the idea of camping, but don’t necessarily like…actual camping. You get to wake up to the birds chirping and the leaves rustling, without all the bugs crawling in your sleeping bag and the condensation from the morning dew dripping into your tent.

Getaway House is cute. It’s REAL CUTE.

If you’ve never ventured into the great outdoors, this is an amazing option to open it up to you. There’s no judgment on your abilities, or lack thereof.

Getaway House Gets 10000 THUMBS UP FROM ME!

Ultimately, this Getaway Cabin review was overall pretty gosh darn positive! Rightfully so! I truly believe in the good nature of this company and the experience as a whole! Oh what the heck – why try to downplay it – I LOVED IT AND I LOVE GETAWAY HOUSE.

Book your Getaway!

This wouldn’t be a super useful Getaway cabin review if I didn’t have some kind of discount or something right?

Although this post and my experience were NOT sponsored, I do have a discount code for you! When you use my link, you will automatically receive $25 USD off your booking! And full disclosure, I’ll also get $25 off! Yayy! It’s a win-win! Here’s the link!

Click here for Getaway Referral link with $25 off!

That said, if you’re relatively close to any of these cities (like Seattle to Portland), then the drive won’t be unreasonable for you either. And it’s one of the most romantic cabins in Washington for couples!

Need to Getaway? Save this Getaway Cabin Review for later or send it to a friend!

When’s the last time you had a Getaway? What are you waiting for?

I hope you enjoyed this Getaway cabin review! If you have any other questions about Getaway House, or my Getaway cabin review, please leave them in the comments below!

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