THE YANKEE INN, Lenox

The Yankee Inn is located on a busy highway, and navigating the exit can require patience, especially during peak times. The location is ideal for exploring the Berkshires: Tanglewood is a short drive away, as are the Norman Rockwell Museum (20 minutes) and Edith Wharton's The Mount (10 minutes). Downtown Lenox is five minutes by car. A grocery store and several restaurants are within walking distance. Having a car is essential for getting around; public transport is not practical.

The Main Building has a more modern feel with elevator access, private balconies or patios, and rooms including standard kings, mountain-view rooms, and accessible units. Premium rooms, called Fire Spa or Superior, feature king canopy beds, gas fireplaces, and two-person Jacuzzi tubs. Some of these rooms have patios with Adirondack chairs. The South Building is a motel-style section with smaller rooms accessed via exterior corridors; it has no elevator. Rooms here are more economical and some have hardwood floors. All rooms include a mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and private bathroom. Room quality varies: some units have been recently renovated with modern finishes, while others have older furniture, peeling wallpaper, and worn mattresses. Noise can be an issue in the South Building, particularly from the highway or footsteps on the wooden second-floor ceiling. Rooms in the Main Building are generally quieter and better insulated. If a firm bed is preferred, some may find the mattresses comfortable; others have found them overly soft or lumpy.