Hampton Inn & Suites Berkshires-Lenox

The exterior of this Hampton Inn & Suites is brick with clapboard siding. It has a large back lawn with Adirondack lounge chairs and picnic tables set on the edge of a pond with a beautiful mountain backdrop, giving the property a secluded feel. The lobby is cheery and welcoming, with its earth-tone color palette and hardwood floors that continue into the spacious breakfast lounge with which it shares a free-standing fireplace. Coffee and tea are available by the entrance, and afternoon cookies are at the front desk. Hilton Honors members receive additional snacks. Other than its beautiful pond setting, there's little to distinguish this hotel from any other mid-range chain property, but it offers budget-friendly rates for the area.

The hotel is off Highway 20, north of Kennedy Park, and is about a 10-minute drive to downtown Lenox, which is filled with shops and restaurants. Casual restaurants and the Center at Lenox shopping mall are within walking distance. Tanglewood, which hosts Boston Symphony Orchestra summer concerts, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Edith Wharton’s home, the Mount, and Berkshire Museum can also be reached in 10 minutes by car. The drive to Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort takes 30 minutes, with ski packages available through the hotel's front desk. It’s about a 20-minute drive to Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Boston is a two-and-a-half hour drive east, as is Logan International Airport. Airports are also available in Albany and south of Springfield, MA, both of which take an hour to reach by car.

Rooms and Suites are traditionally furnished in a uniform style, with green-patterned carpeting, wood furnishings, two queen or king beds, and red-striped drapes over large windows, some of which look out on the pond. The look is modern and attractive, if generic, like most Hamptons across the country. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs in the living areas and supply bathrobes as well. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos or showers only, hairdryers, and coffeemakers on marble counters. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, portable laptop tables, desks, free Wi-Fi, and irons. Suites have sofa beds and roomy seating areas along with wet bars with microwaves and mini-fridges. Accessible rooms are also available with roll-in showers.

The hotel offers modern facilities primarily geared toward leisure travelers. A heated indoor pool includes deck seating set against floor-to-ceiling windows, a chair lift, and a shower. Open late, a small gym is equipped with free weights plus cardio, core, and weight equipment. Snacks, cold beverages, and various convenience items can be purchased in the market, and a vending machine is near in the lobby. Booths and counters offer ample seating for breakfast, which is free. The hotel also has a coin-operated laundry room, and free outdoor parking. For guests arranging conferences, one meeting room can hold up to 75 people in a theater layout. The business center is open 24 hours a day, and includes two computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout.