Review of Hampton Inn and Suites Berkshires

The Hampton Inn and Suites in Lenox, Massachusetts is a clean, new, upscale chain hotel convenient to the central Berkshires, including Lenox (and Tanglewood), Lee, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, and more. The Hampton Inn is well-designed for both families and business travelers, with lots of basic (but nicely done) amenities. Business travelers will appreciate the free, relatively high-speed Internet connections, the guest laundry, the (small) fitness center, and free breakfast.

When it comes to Western Massachusetts, there are a number of high-end resorts and bed and breakfasts aimed at vacationers and couples wanting to get away. There are also a number of low-end motels, catering to travelers looking for an inexpensive place to stay the night. But what's been missing for the business traveler has been a solid, mid-range hotel that's nice. That's where the Hampton Inn and Suites in Lenox comes in.

The Hampton Inn and Suites in Lenox, Massachusetts is just south of Pittsfield, and a few minutes from downtown Lenox and Tanglewood. The hotel is new, clean, and well-designed, with thoughtful touches like extra towels, good-sized bathrooms, and nicely-lit rooms. While it's just another chain hotel, the Hampton Inn and Suites is the epitome of what chain hotels can do right—quality accommodations, reasonable prices (but not cheap—unless, perhaps its off-season), and good value.

The hotel guest rooms are standard-sized, but nicely appointment with upscale, modern furnishings. Great desk area and chair for working. My room had a large, comfortable bed with nice linens.

I was impressed with the lighting in the room. The (energy efficient) bedside lamps were bright and strong, but also adjustable away from the bed to reduce intensity. Too many hotels these days have retrofitted weaker energy efficient lights into their rooms, leaving too many travelers in the dark. Not at the Hampton Inn.

The bathroom was nice—well lit, large, and well-designed. It had extra towels, basic amenities, and lots of counter space. Overall, the room was clean, comfortable and practical (I love black out curtains).

The hotel also has one-bedroom suites that include a bar, sink, a small refrigerator, a microwave, and more.

The air conditioning worked very well and the temperature was accurate, which you might expect (but don't always get!) at a new hotel.

While this isn't the type of hotel that has a concierge desk, I did find the front desk staff very helpful. They called a number of restaurants to assist me in making reservations, which saved me time. They also helpfully went over a local map with me, pointing out areas of interest and helping me plan my day.

It's helpful to know that the hotel can be a little hard to find. It's right on the road (Route 7), but the sign is small and the hotel is set back from the road. While the surrounding business and hotel strip is relatively commercial, the back of the property does overlook trees and a green landscape. If you're looking for a nice place for dinner, try one of the upscale restaurants in nearby historic downtown Lenox.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.