The Red Lion Inn — Hotel in Stockbridge

The area of downtown Stockbridge used to be more active as many shops are now closed. This is not a responsibility of the INN but worth noting. The INN is showing its old age and lack of attention to the basics of regular upkeep and cleaning. Management appears to be playing on the idea that regardless of the condition people will come and pay. We were given a room upgrade to a queen suite, which was nice but it was in the front of the INN so the street noise was overly loud and nonstop during the day and into the early evening. The furniture in the room and Inn overall was old, and sticky, with dirty carpets, and very uncomfortable furniture to sit in. For example, the wood was sticky and there was zero padding in the chair cushions and you sunk into a hole where the cushions used to be when you sat. The bed was nice but nothing special comfort-wise. The amenities were average for what is supposed to be a top-tier INN. The dining and bar areas were also very well-worn. We ate dinner there the first night and we were very surprised at the limited menu and excessively high prices. The dining prices are insane for a hotel restaurant even for Stockbridge at the end of the season. We asked for the lunch menu and it was gladly provided by our waiter but the head waiter did not seem pleased. The lunch menu was better priced but the selection was also very restricted. I overheard another table being told that the offerings were based on the cooking team's wishes. Interesting that the menu was not customer-driven or period-based. The tables were so close together that we could not have a quiet conversation because the tables around us were so close and loud. The dining room was not full and there was plenty of space but the INN seems to think that they will fill the place nightly, which we experienced. The actual service was very slow in that we waited 45 min for the main meal. The portions were average but the selection was below average and about 2x what a meal costs at other local venues. The best part of the inn is the expansive front porch but the chairs are also well-worn and dirty. The bar options are average but priced very high. There is no service for drinks on the porch so you have to secure a seat then get up to order your drink, whereby you risk losing your seat. The porch seems to be used by guests and visitors to the porch. The staff were there but gave the vibe that you were bothering them. when asking questions. The checkout and check-in process was very simple, but the INN added a preservation fee to the bill, which was not stated at the time of reservation and this fee is not even discussed just charged. The added fee is also then taxed by both the state and the city. I read a placard about how the INN owners are embarking on a multi-year project to renew the INN, but it seems to be a very slow process if they are collecting 20 bucks per night from guests. I hate stealth fees and this time I got caught, but not again at the Inn. I am fascinated by how owners seem to shift the true operational costs to the guests. I am not sure why they waited so long but the Red Lion Inn got the last of my money. On my next trip to Stockbridge, I will seek a nice Bed and Breakfast, of which I see there are many as they offer better accommodations, dining, value plus friendlier staff in my experience. The local shops and food venues all offered excellent choices and value. It is those places that will draw us back to Stockbridge, not the Red Lion Inn, I am...

Overall: This was one of the worst overall hotel experiences I've had in decades (especially related to the value) Overall the facilities are extremely dated and significantly overpriced for the quality. I've paid less for a room in top rated hotel in Manhattan. For more details see comments below.

While friendly, the staff was not especially helpful. They simply handed me a piece of paper saying, "Here's everything you need to know about the hotel." Even though they told me where my room was, they didn't ask if I needed help with my bags (which they don't provide) or even inform me that luggage carts and an elevator was available to avoid having to carrying several bags up two flights of stairs.

Rooms: Wow. honestly the amount charged for the quality was bordering on criminal. If it weren't for all my family staying there to attend my nephew's wedding I would have checked out after one night. I didn't make a fuss while there because I didn't want to ruin the wonderful weekend celebrating my nephew.

I paid over $2,200 dollars for two rooms. Both rooms were in horrible condition - cracked ceiling, lumpy bed, bathroom with OLD/stained fixtures (how about putting something IN the shower to keep the soap and shampoo?), a floor that creaked with EVERY step which was covered by a stained carpet. The room door didn't fully close and had an opening between the jamb starting about halfway down that let in a lot of light (I had to hang a bathrobe on the deadbolt to keep out some of the light). The noise from the ROAD was incredible, even considering it's a small town.

Staff: Overall average score based combining my experience with the mostly friendly front-desk staff and the unfriendly behavior of some of the restaurant staff. In short, the restaurant always seemed unprepared for guests and ordering, especially Sunday morning. Our pancake order took about 45 minutes to get and the dining room was not full, nor were there any big parties (only one of 6 people that I could see). My niece waited over one hour for food for her two small children, one of them started to cry she was so hungry. When she said something to her waiter, he said, "We were very busy. Didn't you see the dining room was full?" (It wasn't). When my niece replied that she should have gone somewhere else, a different server (an older woman) said, "You should have!" Really!!! How about not seating people if your kitchen and wait staff are not capable of serving more than a few tables at a time. This alone would have tainted even a positive experience overall, but in light of all the other issues, suggests the Red Lion has problems it needs to address.

The bar staff was VERY professional and worked UNBELIEVABLY hard during the onslaught from the wedding group Friday evening. See my comments about the front desk staff not offering helpful info for getting our bags into our room or the existence of an elevator.

Other: I had to make changes and the (re)confirmation emails were a bit confusing and it was hard to tell I had booked the rooms that I wanted. For no apparent reason a charge for about $50 appeared on my credit card about 7 months after I made the original reservation where I paid a one-night deposit. It took a couple phone calls to the hotel to figure that out (which was no-one could...

My husband and I stayed at the Red Lion Inn over President's/Valentines Day weekend and the overall experience was just okay. I will say that the staff at the front desk and restaurant were all very respectful and nice, however, the place is run down. I fully acknowledge it is a historic property and that comes with quirks, but I believe the current condition is beyond just "old charm." One morning we woke up and had absolutely no hot water in the sink or shower. We informed the front desk, and they immediately offered 50% off of one night of our stay to accommodate. We definitely appreciated that, and the issue was fixed by the time we returned to our room later that afternoon. Secondly, the bed in the room was not comfortable and was sunken in at certain spots and just felt very uneven. This definitely added to the "run down" feel. The other frustration we had is that the pool was "out of order" for maintenance our entire 3 night stay over a long weekend. Prior to booking I emailed and called to confirm the pool availability because that was the primary reason we chose to stay here. They confirmed both via email and phone that it would indeed be open during our stay. I completely understand that unexpected issues may arise and that no one is at fault for this, however, the communication about this from the hotel was inconsistent. When I checked in (on Friday) I saw a sign at the desk that the pool was out of order and immediately inquired as I was quite disappointed. I was told the issue had been solved and they'd likely be able to reopen on Sunday. On Saturday night, I called the front desk to confirm the pool would be reopened on Sunday, and they confirmed. We were so excited and planned our Sunday to ensure we had some pool time. This ended up being a complete waste of time, because we woke up Sunday morning and saw that the pool was still closed and were now being told it likely wouldn't be open all of Sunday and Monday. We checked out on Monday. Depending on who you spoke to at the front desk responses were different and it was just an unorganized and irritating experience. When we checked out we explained our frustrations and were offered a $75 credit for the pool. This was a nice gesture, however, we didn't really feel like it addressed our disappointment. The woman who checked us out even said "I hope we see you again when the pool is working." To be honest, I'd be so hesitant to ever book here again because you just never know what issues you'll run into. I'd rather the Inn be better maintained than have to get credits for multiple issues during our stay. For me, a huge selling point of the Red Lion Inn is the year round outdoor pool, and not being able to use it makes staying there not worth it. This is by no means an affordable Inn, but the quality of our stay was absolutely not worth the price tag. I do want to add that our stay wasn't ALL bad. The food was delicious at the restaurant, and the charming decor and historical pieces they have maintained are definitely beautiful to see. Unfortunately for us, the cons far outweighed the pros and I think you'd be better off visiting for a drink or a meal vs....