Where to Stay on Retreats

In the Pioneer Valley

The following list gives you some options to check out for lodging. I don’t have personal experience with many of these places, so please give me feedback about them.

Stay close to Northampton, the workshop location. The farther north you go, the more scenic, the farther south, the more urban. Public transportation to and from the workshop is available, (check the bus schedule). When making reservations ask how long it will take to get to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Northampton is a fun, active small city—lots of great food and things to do at night.

Lodging tax here is 9.7%.

For information on additional B&Bs call Berkshires Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service, 413-268-7244.

Autumn Inn, 259 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060; 413-584-7660; www.autumninn.com. $86–112/night plus tax. Good location near Smith College. Walking distance to downtown Northampton and workshop location.

 

Clarion, One Atwood Drive, Northampton, MA 01060; 413-586-1211; www.hampshirehospitality.com. $109–199/night plus tax, includes breakfast Monday through Thursday. Decent looking place, just off Interstate 91. Swimming pool.

 

Country Court Motel, 480 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085; 413-562-9790. $50-65/night plus tax. Not fancy. Ten miles south of Easthampton.

 

Diantha’s Garden Bed and Breakfast, 20 Wolcott Road, Southampton, MA 01073; 413-529-0093, 888-332-7797. $65–75/night includes tax and breakfast; discount may be available. Quiet. Very good reviews. Four miles south of Easthampton.

 

Hotel Northampton, 36 King Street, Northampton, MA 01060; 413-584-3100; www.hotelnorthampton.com. $155/weeknight, $190/weekend night for double bed. Very fancy. Right in downtown Northampton.

 

Knoll Bed and Breakfast, 230 N. Main Street, Florence, MA 01062; 413-584-8164; www.crocker.com/~theknoll. $75/night includes tax and breakfast. No smokers. Nice setting. Florence is part of Northampton.

 

Lupine House Bed and Breakfast, 185 North Main Street, Florence, MA 01062; 413-586-9766; www.lupinehouse.com. $70–90/night. All private baths. 3 miles to downtown Northampton.

 

Northampton Best Western, 117 Conz Street, Northampton, MA 01060; 413-586-1500; www.bestwestern.com. $79–89/weeknight, $109–129/weekend night plus tax. Looks like a better than average motel.

 

Park Street Bed and Breakfast, 238 Park Street, Easthampton, Ma 01027; 413-527-7861; www.parkstreetbb.com. View of Mt. Tom range. Good reviews.

Ramada Inn, 1533 Elm, West Springfield, MA 01089; 413-734-8278. $69–83/night plus tax. Ten miles south, off of Interstate 91.

 

Red Roof Inn, Routes 5 & 10, Deerfield, MA 01342; 413-665-7161, 800-red-roof; www.redroof.com. $51–105/night plus tax. Swimming pool. Fifteen miles north, off Interstate 91.

 

Scottish Inn, West Street, West Hatfield, MA 01088; 413-247-5601. $45–85/night plus tax. Not fancy. Eight miles north of Easthampton.

 

Sugar Maple Trailside Inn, 62 Chestnut Street, Florence, MA 01062; 413-585-8559, 866-416-2753; www.sugar-maple-inn.com. $75–95/night includes breakfast; will offer 15% discount Monday through Thursday nights. Located on the “rail-trail,” a biking/walking path connecting Florence and Northampton.

 

Super 8 Motel, Route 5, Holyoke, MA 01040; 413-536-1980; www.super8.com. Check website for rates; ask for discount when making a reservation. Not fancy. Holyoke is five miles east of Easthampton.

 

Yankee Pedlar Inn, 1866 Northampton St., Route 5, Holyoke, MA 01040; 413-532-9494, 800-413-3771; www.yankeepedlar.com. $80–125/weeknight, $90–135/weekend night plus tax. Moderately fancy place.

 

Penrose Inn Haydenville, MA

888.268.7711 or 413.268.3014

 

Best Western Northampton, 413-586-1500

Deerfield Guest House. Deerfield, MA 413-665-0922

In the Adirondacks

Rock and River, Keene NY

Perfectly comfortable — def. a lodge kind of setting, no wifi, not super gourmet, but great breakfast and easy to eat gluten-free (yogurt, fruit). weak coffee my only complaint. I shared a bathroom — not a problem. Everyone off of one central hallway. Youngest kid I saw was 14. Good walks/ hikes depart from property. Up a dirt road a ways.-Liz

Rooster Comb Inn, Keene Valley

I stayed at the Rooster Comb Inn on Market street which was just across from the Noonmark Diner. I stayed there last year too & the attached picture was my room last year (the suite with private shower & bath & was $120/night). This year I stayed in the room called “little porter” @ $60/night. It had 2 twin beds & a community bath/shower across the hall. The inn was built in 1883 so nothing fancy but was clean, plenty of towels & wash cloths etc plus access to a washer dryer & full kitchen with refrigerator, stove, oven, coffee maker, microwave & recycle bins and FREE WIFI!!. The owner also sponsors a nightly bonfire for guests to enjoy each night. It was clean, nothing fancy & I will probably stay there again if space available but would probably prefer staying somewhere where other retreat attendees were staying for interaction purposes. It is a fairly small facility. I’d give it 3.5 stars out of 5 {I’d rate the Plaza in Manhattan a 5!} 🙂 -Vicki

 Adirondack Trail Inn

11 Minutes away from Big Baxter House

Super choice if you’re just looking for a place to sleep.  

Very clean, but definitely not “modern.” More of a vintage motel feel (lots of wood paneling, game room, all one story, close to the road). Staff and owners are wonderful.

Rates 2013 $85-105- Gayle 

Darkbrook Lodge, Keene NY

It is a beautiful place. We like the option of a kitchen for a family. Very comfortable, nice, easy to get to, ADK adjacent with other walkable options for shopping/dining. It is more expensive than some of the others, so not great for a budget, although people could easily have multiples in a cabin to save (ours had a spare bed for an additional $25/night). Even has laundry on site. Definitely ARK feel, including the fact that after-hours you are mostly out of luck–the offices close at 6pm, so if you need something after hours you can try the number…if you can get cell service, but even then, we rarely got an answer. Still, we would totally stay there again. 4 stars.-Kate

 

The Bayview Inn Pub

I stayed at The Bayview Inn Pub in Willsboro. I would give it a couple of planets but it doesn’t quite merit a star. It was small and kind of cramped with a “not enough fresh air and sunshine” odor. On the up side, it was cheap. About $60 per night. I was originally disappointed that it was about 50 minutes away. I did come to appreciate that though. I found the ride back a nice peaceful time to process the day’s events and the early morning ride to the house was quite beautiful and helped to establish the mood for me. -Mitch