Rodeway Inn
Free WiFi, free continental breakfast, free parking, an in-room microwave and refrigerator, spacious, clean rooms, walking distance to downtown Lee restaurants and shops, and some of the cheapest rates in town...what's not to like? The staff is friendly and efficient, too. You probably wouldn't want to spend your honeymoon here but it is a value-packed option, and a good base to explore the Berkshires region. Rooms are around $70.
Rodeway Inn
200 Laurel Street
Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0813
Inn at Laurel Lake
You have to be the bed-and-breakfast style traveler to enjoy this casual, homey inn. A stay in this large, more than 200-year-old house is more like visiting friends than checking into a hotel. First the good things: the location can't be beat. The inn sits right on the shores of Laurel Lake. Guests grab a seat on the dock or in the gazebo for great sunset views or take out one of the inn's rowboats or canoes for a paddle around the lake or to go fishing. There is a fire pit on the beach (ideal for making S'mores) and a tennis court, too. The Inn is a family affair and the owners (and their family) are on-site, and happy to chat or assist you in any way. There are some quirks: the rooms are small and basic and the old house is a bit cluttered. If you can overlook that, you'll have a great stay. There are private and shared bath rooms. In-season rates for rooms with private baths are $145 (midweek) to $225 (weekend). Shared bath rooms are $95 to $140. There is a family suite for $195 to $285.
Inn at Laurel Lake
615 Laurel St.
Lee, MA 01238-9180
(413) 243-9749
America's Best Value Inn
If you don't need fancy but are just looking for a very basic place to lay your head for a night or two, check out this plain Jane property. The price can't be beat. The hotel is close to all major attractions in the Berkshires, including Tanglewood, Norman Rockwell Museum, area forests and ski areas. Cookie-cutter rooms have simple furnishings, but include a mini refrigerator and a microwave, which helps save on snacks and beverage costs. Some of the rooms are a little worn around the edges, but are clean and sufficient. Average room rate is $70 or so.
America's Best Value Inn
980 Pleasant Street, RT.102
Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0501
Merrill Inn
If you're looking for a more upscale place to stay in Lee, consider this three-story, historic inn. Rooms at the former stagecoach inn are individually decorated with period antiques and fine reproductions. There are eight, plush, elegantly furnished rooms; four have wood-burning fireplaces. Guests curl up next to the fireplace in the tavern room with a good book and glass of wine, a perfect way to end a day after skiing the slopes or hiking in the mountains. Room rates include a hot, gourmet breakfast. In-season, weekend rates are $180 to $210; midweek rates are $115 to $165.
Merrill Inn
1565 Pleasant Street
South Lee, MA 01260
(413) 243-1794
Article Written By Pamela Wright
Pamela Wright is a freelance writer, author of more than two dozen guidebooks, and hundreds of articles. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including "National Geographic Traveler," "Family Circle," "Family Fun," "Backpacker," "Hemispheres," "Cooking Light," "Yankee" and more. An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she holds a Bachelor's from Michigan State University
