First of all, pix on website are deceiving. Accommodations are in shabby, row motel units. Ours was in the section labeled "pondside." The pond was a slough up behind the building well on its way to becoming a swamp. No one was in the office when we arrived (20 minutes after check-in time). We had to call someone and wait. The room was super dated with what-era-I-don't-even know wall paper and bed linens. You could not access cold water from the bathroom tap. Mold in the tiled grout. No coffee maker in the room. Screen door in need of repair and stuck hard. Front "porch" was an ill-defined slab of concrete featuring plastic chairs. Ugly and shabby. Not inviting. The best I can say? The room didn't stink and, no surprise, it was not expensive. I hadn't done my usual research before making a reservation or I NEVER WOULD HAVE SELECTED THIS PLACE. I can't believe they're still in business. read more

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Buyer beware! You can't cancel reservations with this property. You will loose your entire stay if you try. They advertise many amenities that aren't available such as the restaurant ( not open for breakfast,lunch, and minimal days for dinner). Free parking is on a gravel, potholed parking lot. There is no body on staff. It's self check in and check out. This is a one star property at best. It's rustic and outdated. I've been trying to get 3 reservations refunded for myself and my family to no avail. These reservations were made with the property and they use Booking.com. They also are falsely advertising this property and are not willing to rectify the situation. read more

We checked in during the late afternoon, near dinnertime. Since we had two large dogs with us, we assumed our room would be across the street from the main building at Pondisde. After looking at the room, we noticed the mini-refrigerator was not only unplugged, but the three-pronged (grounded) plug was incompatible with the socket nearest the refrigerator. Additionally, the TV plug didn't reach the socket. I went to the front desk to ask for assistance. The clerk said he would find a manager and have it taken care of. I told him we were eating dinner outside at the restaurant (with our dogs) and could be reached if they needed us for anything. After dinner, we returned to our room, but nothing had been addressed. I stopped by the office, but they had closed early. I called the front desk, and no one answered; I left a message explaining the problem. Later, we went to the restaurant bar, and the clerk who had "helped" us was there having drinks. At the bar, I asked the bartender for help, and the night manager stepped in and found an extension cord for me. We got the refrigerator to work, but the TV still didn't work. The room was dirty. There were two small green Solo cup shot glasses in the bathroom; we thought they were meant to be drinking glasses for the sink. But they had ashes in them and were clearly left behind (see picture). I called again the next day and stopped by the office, but once again, it was closed, and no one returned our call. On the day we checked out, I wanted to speak with someone about our experience, just to let them know about the problems we encountered. No one ever returned our calls. I tried to speak with them three times, but they never bothered to respond. For the price of the rooms, the service we received, and the cleanliness of the property, this inn is simply not worth the money. This was not our first time at the inn, but it will definitely be our last. read more

1896 House - Plastic sink cups in bathroom. - Hotels Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

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Name it! When we arrived, the reception area locked up. No one was there. We were lucky to get enough momentary cell phone service to call the number posted on a note taped to the door. The man who answered told us look through the pile of mail to find our room keys. We found our room but the room was dark and there was no light switch by the door. My companion couldn't get her door unlocked and required another call to the number to get someone to come and open it for her. The root and bathroom were clean but there were no glasses in the room and toiletries in the bathroom. A bar of soap was provided. Was this place worth what we were charged? read more

Pictures on site are fantastic, not sure where they were taken. Make sure to ask for them. Booked online and was placed at another location called Pondview just down the road. The room was TINY TINY with a TINY tub in a TINY bathroom and VERY uncomfortable CHEAP beds. The room is poorly maintained and aged. Not historically aged, but rather inattentively aged. Motel 6 has nicer rooms...nice folks but room was a fail. 1896 restaurant was great!! Overall opinion- not worth the expense, pictures on site do not reflect accommodations. read more

1896 House - Hotels Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

We stayed here Saturday night and paid almost 300 with taxes etc for our room. Next time we'll spend two nights and book Downstreet or the porches in North Adams instead. The beds were comfy but the bathroom was awful. Mold, cracked shower stall, water stains on the ceiling tiles... Avoid if you can. read more

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There were four people staying in a room with 2 double beds. There were only 3 pillows, 2 sets of towels, lights were useless and shower stall didn't drain. Room was filthy with dust and cobwebs clinging to walls and floor. Called for towels which arrived as we were packing the car to leave. One person had no pillow because nobody is available to answer the phone between 8pm and 8 am. Would definitely NOT recommend this place!!! Beware. read more

Quaint takes on a whole new look of toilet running continuously (reported in our first hour, but met with a "yea, ok." after I tried to fix it); never been wiped corners, back of bath door, windowsills, etc. Nearly ripped my ankle on a nail protruding outside the shower - inch long. I slammed it with my shoe. Nice knotty pine walls. Quilts that were ... let's say, well-worn as were the pillows. All this for $200+ - rooms in the photos are somewhere else. avoid. read more

I stayed at the 1896 House motel for Thanksgiving this year; I visit this area a lot because my folks live here and I had never stayed here before. I am always just looking for a convenient budget room Nov 24-25, 2022 It was an inexpensive room, it was only $66 for the one night It was fine. Worth every penny of $66 There are two motel areas at this place. Brookside & Pondside. The Brookside area is adjacent to the reception office and alongside the restaurant. Pondside is across the street and just a row of motel rooms (with a pool, but it's almost winter here so that was closed up for the season). I stayed on Pondside in the Sweetheart room lol. I was my own sweetheart that night I guess. For some reason this room was cheaper than any of the other rooms and I just wanted cheap so I took it There were 2 doors that lead to the outside in this room. One had a window that did not have a shade. It had brackets for a shade so I draped a towel over the brackets to create a shade so I had privacy On this particular night, I was the only person staying on the Pondside area. Kinda spooky but quiet and definitely safe. This place is not in the 'hood. It's on a woodsy back road in the Berkshires Two out of the three times I tried to visit the reception area, there was a sign on the door that said they'd be right back. It was a holiday tho, probably wouldn't expect someone to be at the desk all day The bed was not comfortable. I don't have anything nice to say about the bed or the pillows. Or even the blankets. I wish I had brought my own The room was warm, and it was clean (but old and very dated). I actually really dig the tile in the bathroom. Did not use a spa tub I would totally stay here again if another good rate pops up on a day that I'm visiting. I think I'll try to stay on the Brookside next time read more

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I had the displeasure of paying $160 for one night booked in this place. The mold smell hit me as I opened the door. We arrived late and another room nearby on a Sat was not an option. I realized I would probably be going to the hospital in the middle of the night if I stayed in this room, as I have mild asthma, the mold in the air was thick, and visible in the bathroom and carpet. My lungs exploded in this room. The bathroom floor is soft, moldy, and ready to cave in. All of the windows are inoperable, except one that I repaired myself and managed to wiggle open for fresh air. Ultimately, because the office was closed, I SLEPT IN MY CAR ALL NIGHT. I wrote a polite email today asking for an adjustment to my charge, and was called by the hotel and absolutely ripped apart. Apparently they "love" the wet moldy carpet and bathroom" "it's their favorite unit". Friends. If this is the nice one, PLEASE RUN. Place should be condemned. And I am an easy custo read more

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I needed a place to stay in Williamstown for my college reunion. Since that's a very busy time, my first few choices were already booked up months out. So I booked a stay here. I arrived on Thursday evening, about 8:30, after driving in from Albany. The office was closed, but they left an envelope with my key on the door. It was for a room in the "pondside" building, although I had booked a room in the "brookside" building. No big deal. I picked up the key and then headed to the college to pick up my registration package. When I got back, I headed straight to the room. The door was ajar, the bed was unmade, and used towels were hanging in the bathroom. What to do, with the office closed?? I drove over the the associated pub, which, according to the info I got, closed at 9:30 and asked if they could help. A person there got on the phone and said someone would meet me back at the office. I drove there, and he said I was given the wrong room, so sorry, here's a key to the right room, which was brookside. OK. I get in there and the 2 queen beds do indeed seem to have fresh sheets. The room hasn't been updated, but that's OK. After about an hour in the room, I realize that there is a pile of sopping wet towels in the shower. I put them on the floor of the bathroom, assuming they will be picked up when the room is cleaned the next day. Friends, those towels were not picked up the next day, nor was my room cleaned. Saturday morning I head to the office to suggest that they pick them up so we don't get a crazy mildew situation going. No one was there. The voice mailbox is also full, so I can't let them know that way either. Late Saturday afternoon: same situation. I find a groundskeeper who takes the towels away at that point. Other issues: no box of tissues in the room, broken screens on the windows, carpet that was dirty enough for me to keep my shoes on as much as possible, no fan in the bathroom, and carpenter ants in the room. The owner operators seem to be in way over their heads. Can't recommend. I honestly should have stayed in the dorms. Can't believe I paid over $200 a night for this experience. read more

My boyfriend and I stayed here last night just to get away for an evening and it was wonderful! Check in check out was easy. Pretty property! Our fire was roaring when we opened the door. Room was clean, cozy, and comfortable. Great jacuzzi! Chef brought us breakfast in the morning and it was delicious! Close to museums and downtown Williamstown. I would give it 6 stars if I could! read more

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Slept well but place needs more care. Sink didn't drain right. Roku TV nearly impossible to use. Attendant told me had "problems." Pool it open in August (advertised as being closed). Stayed two nights but no maid service. Restaurant so poorly staffed had to walk out. Bet if had more staff would be a lot better. read more

There is a difference between cool throwback broken and moldy old. Place really stunk like moldy old musty furniture. it was so bad we moved to another suite, still stunk terribly. we came all the way from Fl as I missed the seasonal changes fall brings. Paid 400$ a night fo this place. MANY things were broken, lights, doors, locks, furniture and the smell was unbearable. wanted so get away from the sterile holiday inn type places but wanted recreation of olden times not broken smelly stuff from then. Was a big fall foliage time so no hotel rooms anywhere else . Also no maid service at all in the 4 days we stayed. Stay clear. Could be a beautiful place but falling into utter neglect. Pics wouldn't load but I took a few, no ac or heat, mold on floor, shower door wouldn't close I could go on ... read more

1896 House - Shower door didn't close - Hotels Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Absolutely beautiful amenities, rooms, and service. Will definitely return! As good as the photos suggest.

The hotel room was beautiful! We had a luxury one with the jacuzzi and fireplace!! The pictures Online do not do it justice. We were in room 206 and felt so comfortable. The Air conditioning didn't work which was terrible at fist but thank god it got cooler during the night. For no working a/c I wouldn't pay that price again but we definitely enjoyed our time. Especially the restaurant right next door, a 10% off coupon for the restaurant and just how quiet and relaxing it was. read more

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Went there with a large group. In fact we booked the entire hotel. Unfortunately they were not ready for us. My room had an open container of alcohol in the refrigerator which sat on the floor. The bathroom floor was falling in at the joist. Others had no soap no toilet paper. Signal to the TV kept going in and out. DO NOT STAY THERE. Telephone signal is non existent unless you have Verizon. This may have been a nice place one time a few decades ago but lack of maintenance over the years have taken it toll. read more

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Review for winter stay (Feb 2022). Was a decent experience, I had a double queen bed room. No fireplace (like some other reviews mentioned) but the thermostat was nice and functioning.. my room was a toasty 70° when I got in, which was lovely. Look, it's a motel, people with their low reviews need to keep that in mind. You're not getting the Holiday Inn Express here. But it was good value for money. Bed was comfy, the room was clean (I did a thorough bed check upon first arrival). Shower was nice, hot, and good pressure (I stayed in room 105, right next to the front desk). Wifi was strong and fast. What could be improved: front desk was done every day by 5 or 6pm, and didn't open the next day until 9:30 (though they answer the phone on the ext most hours). They are not doing breakfast (though the staff did say the winter rate accounts for that). With no staff around, I had one pack of reg coffee (and one decaf). I couldn't get more. The tv, while nice, didn't have ESPN. The fact that staff don't open until 9:30 means that skiers there for a powder day (why else would you come here in Feb!?) had to deal with unplowed snow at 7am if you're leaving early for first chair. I looked at the negative reviews, I'm not sure I agree. Maybe in the dead heat of summer you will get bugs and roaches. But this motel seems like a case of Your Experience May Vary, and I had a fairly pleasant one. I wouldn't break my neck to stay here again (if you find a cheap place) but I would stay here again. read more

We had a lovely time here! We booked a spontaneous midweek, one night getaway and when we arrived a few hours later we were given a free upgrade to one of their beautiful suites! The ornate decor was charming with pretty oil paintings and historic furniture. The gas fire was toasty warm and the bed was comfy. We enjoyed having a table and chairs to dine in with takeout from the delicious restaurant on site. Our only issue was that the heat seemed to go off (maybe when we turned off that gas fireplace before bed?). It was a very chilly 59 in the room when we woke up. It was a great stay nonetheless and we look forward to returning. read more

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I stayed at the motel in April, I realize it's the off season but. The motel offered little service (no ice machine). It has not been maintained well. Lots of small things were broken. I almost feel out of the chair when it broke as I was getting up. The storm door uses a large rock to hold it open. However the food and service at the adjacent restaurant was excellent. One star for the motel and four stars for the restaurant. read more

We had a great experience here- Nice fall weather. Absolutely loved the suite Barnside, which is very close to the '6 (1896) restaurant. Apparently in the warmer weather there is a pool! We loved the low key pub vibe of the restaurant which as of this writing is open at 5 every night. Hearty food is their style and of the two meals we had we enjoyed. A huge plus was that we could walk to and from. Mezza, a completely different dining experience (a fixed price three course dinner, great wine menu) is also a very short walk- I highly recommend Mezze. At the 1896 Inn, covid, breakfast has been suspended, which is too bad but completely understandable. The helpful hospitality of the staff and the antique charm of the Barnside suites make it memorable. Each suite has a gas fireplace, sitting area, tv, refrigerator, jacuzzi and one of the suites has a kitchenette. The decor is period with antique furnishings, high ceilings and very quiet. We both wanted to stay much longer and will be back read more

The 1896 House failed to provide or alert customers that their hot water service was not working. Perhaps they were providing the services of a hotel from 1896 . read more

Really old, really overpriced, falling apart, smelly, A/C didn't work in several family members room and barely worked in our "suite". Water didn't work in our suite upon arrival. For almost $600 for 2 nights, this was a disgusting ripoff. Avoid at all costs even if it costs a little more to stay at a real hotel. read more

Such a cute place! More like cabins than a hotel. They smell musty and old. The beds were comfy and showers were great. Great location...right next to the pub. The price also includes free hot breakfast at the pub. The owners had dogs that werent leashed, there was a lot of dog poop outside of the rooms. Not a friendly way to start the day... read more

1896 House - outside our room at night - Hotels Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Service here is trash! They do not communicate with residents! They do not accommodate residents! They're very rude and pushy.

STAY AWAY. This place does not care about it's customers AT ALL or THEIR ROOMS they rent. We used to come here every year before Covid. Then we got a terrible room in 2020 and they refused to even return our call about our issues. It has only become worse!!! We decided to give them one more try because the restaurant that's attached to the INN is wonderful. We were given a room with screw sticking out of the walls which is a MAJOR safety hazard to begin with but we let it go because we had already unpacked and the room SEEMED warm and comfortable. We were settling in for the night when a rodent appeared in our room. We called and they said well we have to move you to another room. Fine, but it was 12 degrees at 8:30 pm and the woman was more concerned with us getting the new key from her before she left at 9:00. So now we have to pack up EVERYTHING and change out of our comfortable clothes to move because they have rodents. To add insult to injury, they moved us to a very uncomfortable and cold room with a bed as hard as a rock, dead bugs in the bathroom and an dirty tub!!!! We ended up leaving within the hour because they clearly didn't care about their customers. We e-mailed them multiple times about these issues, we called them multiple times saying they did not hold up their end of the deal for a comfortable and enjoyable stay and we wanted a refund. We STILL have not received a call back and its been two weeks! STILL NO REFUND!!! $166.00 to play games and change rooms because they have mice? Not one single e-mail to say how they sorry they are for taking our money for a terrible night stay. We gave them PLENTY of chances to rectify this issue. STAY FAR AWAY!!!! read more

1896 House - Hotels Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Aesthetically, first look is fine. We came here for three days to attend a wedding; suits, formal wear, you get what I mean. As we entered the room, there was no functioning air conditioning in 90 degree heat. No overhead light in the bathroom, no sheets on the pullout couch. We did call to let them know, they said they would send someone out. No one ever came. It appears to need a great deal of maintenance to make this place a comfortable place to stay. Lots of promises to fix the things that were needed, but nothing came to it. It's a shame, it is in a good location, beautiful area, but the place is falling apart. We weren't looking for anything extraordinary, but for the price, working AC and decent lighting are necessary. Stay far away! read more

1896 house review Let me start by saying that the Pub was great! But the room itself was barely adequate - plus, there was zero human interaction. When we checked in shortly after 3, our keys were in an envelope taped on the office door (along with those of 2 other guests who were also checking in that day). The note on the envelope included our room number and Wi-Fi password. In the room, we discovered the TV was not getting a signal - we attempted to trouble shoot but no luck. We tried to call the office from the house phone in the room - which also did not work. So I called the main number and left a message - no one ever called back. No staff checked in at anytime to see how we were enjoying our stay. Not only that - we found a previous guest's socks at the foot of the bed! There was a little electric fireplace - but that didn't work either because there was no place to plug it in. So why even have it in the room? There was no Kleenex, no extra roll of toilet paper, no extra blanket -and no one available to ask, if you needed anything. No daily housekeeping either. There were tourist brochures in the room - all for attractions that were not even open during our stay! Outside at the end of the building, there was a large pile of junk - broken furniture etc. Really doesn't make a good impression at all. In the driveway, there was a cute little bridge over a pretty brook - but the pavement on each side was severely crumbling away. There was also a little footbridge leading to the pub which was only partially lit - dangerous at night - we had to use the flashlight on our phone to see our way. The location is nice but attention to detail in the room decor and customer service overall is sorely lacking. read more

We never even made it, we got in a fender bender on the way and decided to go home, the staff refused to give me a refund and STILL charged my card. I called them immediately to explain what happened, but they didn't care and still charged me. This was weeks ago, I called several times since, and was told, too bad you should have canceled sooner. Hello, I got in a car accident on the way so how was I supposed to predict that would happen. I'd never even consider staying here after what they pulled. The manager/owner never even called me back, seems like they care about money and not their customers. read more

I was really looking forward to staying here, but unfortunately the experience was subpar. We arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday. No one was in the office and the key was taped to the outside office door, which included the bill that had my information on it. Not a huge deal, but not great either. The room we got was not the room I requested. I had specifically chosen the room with the largest two-person whirlpool bathtub. No one was available to talk to, so I decided to ask them to fix it in the morning. When I tried to use the bath, the water was luke warm even after running it for 15 minutes. The water in the sink was hot, but bathtub didn't heat up. The tub was the main reason I chose this inn over other b&bs in the area. I went to the office in the morning and the woman I spoke to tried to tell me that I was upgraded to the king. I explained that I wanted the other room for the tub and I don't care about the bed. I also noted that no one ever called me to inform of the room change and since the website let's you choose the specific room you want, I should have gotten a call. She said maintenance would check on the water and the manager would be there in the afternoon to sort out the room switch. I went out for the day and got back around dinner time. Nothing had been done and no one was in the office. I called the number for after hours. It took four tries to get through to someone that could contact a manager (I guess I was talking to restaurant employees and I left a messages when they didn't answer). The woman I spoke with said she'd have someone call me back to find out what was going on. We had takeout and were in the room for the rest of the evening. No call back to the room phone. There is no cell service in the room. I went outside with my cell phone at about 9pm and there was a message saying that the room switch was an upgrade and no other information. Water was still barely warm. The next morning, I went into the office to complain about the situation. I just paid for two nights in a room I didn't want with luke warm water. The woman in the office now was not very understanding. She said the maintenance person checked the other rooms and they all had hot water, so mine must also. When I asked why the manager didn't contact me, her reason was that it was a weekend. I reminded her that this was a hotel and all my problems happened on the weekend. It turned out, the room move wasn't an upgrade. They had two previous guests complain about a knocking noise in the other room, so moved us without asking us and without giving ya the option to cancel (which I would have done). I asked for the manager to call me the next day so we could discuss it because it was supposed to be a nice birthday weekend for my partner, but I wound up annoyed over all this. When I asked if the manager would call, the response from the desk clerk was "well I hope so!". Needless to say, the manager didn't call. I gave them the week to get back to me, called and left a message and gave another week. Since they don't want to call me back and didn't want to help me when I was there, I opted for this review instead. I'm a pretty understanding person and I know that covid is causing a lot of issues, but the customer service at this place was upsetting. The room itself was comfortable and clean, but furniture and decor were dated and repairs were needed throughout. read more

My friends and I visit this quiet, historical and unique country inn each year around Labor Day, and are never disappointed. With two series of rooms and suites - on either side of Cold Spring Road, they are among streams, weeping trees, strategically-placed Adirondack chairs and remarkably fresh air. 1896 House and Country Lodgings also has a heated outdoor pool, that was comfortably steamy on our brisk September evenings. On the east side of the street is, what I feel, a five-star restaurant, with the most tasty, well-presented meals - including roast duck, steaks, pineapple blackened salmon, prime ribs (on Saturdays - and get there early), and great salads. Outside is a roaring fire with seats around it - where a lot of valuable social time can be spent. The innkeepers, Carrie and Michael, work very hard to make sure everything is in place, and their guests are happy. If something's not perfect, they jump on correcting it, swiftly. My room was clean, with period furniture, very comfortable bedding, newly-renovated bathroom, and the shower has very good water pressure. Rooms and suites on the east sides have heat stoves that add extra warmth to the rooms. I was also pleased that WiFi Internet access was strong and consistent throughout the property. Starting at 8 AM, the restaurant serves a hot, bountiful breakfast buffet (included at no additional cost to guests), that includes choices for everyone. Eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, breads, fruit, yoghurt, oatmeal, coffee and more. What a great way to start a day of hiking, riding, visiting local museums or just reading by the fire in the "reading" area. I highly recommend this comfortable, friendly haven for any traveler. read more

As someone stated "STAY AWAY" The only thing that this motel needs is a bulldozer, demolish then rebuild. Bathroom door does not close, light by door works but hangs down (broken) dingy, the lowest wattage bulb in every fixture, cobwebs on walls, window A/C unit, sides cracked, bugs waltz right in, the TV, good luck using it, screen door does not close at all, toilet seat was loose. Just a disaster. DO NOT STAY HERE. read more

Black mold..broken toilet seat..bugs galore..rodents in the walls ..dirty dirty..be warned...

Attitude! Sadly, I have to agree with the other one star reviews. This place perversely seems set on putting themselves, rather than their guests, first. Read and heed the other one star reviews. Our experience was so unimaginably hostile that I am reluctant to go into detail. Please note, our experience was WELL before the virus became an issue. read more

I stayed at this hotel for one night while visiting the Clark. 1896??? more like 1956 with no updates since. It's a motel on the side of a busy road and 1896 is way in the rearview mirror. The only thing antique is the electrical wiring... all outlets were two prong only and I didn't have an adaptor so I couldn't charge my phone and laptop. The place is tired, rundown and in disrepair. Two of the three roller blinds on the windows fell off when I pulled them down due to the mangled hardware that is supposed to hold them up. There was lots of pieces of cut grass on the rug and in the bathroom...obviously someone had tracked it in on their shoes but hadn't swept it up before renting the room to me. When I used the sink it backed up and water leake onto the floor from somewhere internally. Ugh Waaaaaay overpriced. Go elsewhere read more

STAY AWAY!!! RUN!!! Sixteen years ago the '6 House Pub hosted our Friday night pre-wedding dinner --- it was Great! Last weekend, we reunited to honor the life (and passing) of my mother-in-law, booking 8 rooms for 2+ nights (20 room-night total) at the 1896 House. When the NEW owner owners included a 10% discount coupon at the '6 House Pub, we switched our Friday dinner plans to dine at the '6 House Pub, showing my coupon to my waiter when he seated me and the group. One hour later, after spending over A THOUSAND DOLLARS at the Pub on one tab, they charged all our credit cards without honoring the coupon. After questioning the $100.00+ overcharge, they asked me to wait to resolve it the next day. 3 days later, after multiple requests to multiple managers with no credit issued, the hotel manager asked me to tell me the name of my specific waiter to verify the veracity of these facts. When I then offered to alternatively just request the $100 refund from our bank card issuer, this manager accused me of "fraud." I've never posted a negative review before, but feel compelled to now, given this abhorrent disrespect of a customer, followed by their lack of integrity and accountability. If you are looking for courtesy and respect --- Stay away from the 1896 House and the '6 House Pub! PS: This has nothing to do with (A) the food itself or value, such as $28 for a lobster mac 'n cheese, or (B) multiple rooms with non-functioning televisions, mini-fridges that froze farm vegetables we bought, or the dilapidated condition of most rooms. read more

Wow- where to start? So disappointing. The 1896 Inn looks absolutely nothing like it does on its website. Clearly those pictures and "testimonials" were from days long gone by. Just driving up to the Pondside motel made my heart sink. The grounds and buildings are so rundown. Dirty on the outside, dead flowers in pots, weeds, wicker chairs and adirondacks so dirty that no one would want to sit in them. There was NO mention on their website that the pool is closed. Even during this covid19 time many other hotels still have pools open and if they do not they have updates on their websites detailing any changes so guests know what to expect. Not this place. The main building where the restaurant is looked similar- we walked on to the porch the next morning to go for our free breakfast and after seeing how badly in disrepair everything looked (more dead flowers in pots and dirty wicker porch furniture) we quickly retreated, packed up, and went elsewhere for breakfast. I will say that housekeeping seems to be trying to do what they can at least- our room was pretty clean- but very outdated and a little musty smelling. Beds not comfortable. Sadly the owners clearly do not care about this Inn/motel/property and do very little upkeep of it. Beautiful area of Massachusetts- just avoid the 1896 Inn and find another place to stay. read more

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I would NOT stay here. As a nurse I see it as an unsanitary, unhealthful place because of its inconsistent running water, raw sewage odor, unresponsive staff (including completely inaccessible manager), dishonesty about fixing the problem, and broken promise not to bill us for the stay. read more

We had a cozy wonderful stay at the 1896 house. The room was a clean and lovely suite with a fireplace. The manager was terrific and made sure we had what we needed. We had come for a visit to the Clark and Mass Mocha planning to stay over one evening. But we were so happy and comfortable that we decided to extend our stay. The wifi was strong and made it possible for both of us to work as well. The pub was large enough so that social distancing was easy. The food was tasty and our waiter was very kind. We will definitely go back! If you want a classic comfortable motel/Inn this will work for you. p.s. they also deliver a hot breakfast to your room every morning. read more

Two elderly couples, one baby under 6 months, one young kid, 4 rooms, sub freezing temperatures. NO heat or hot water for half of our stay. NO attempt to compensate us for the night we all spent in extreme discomfort. The owners, mentioned in Joseph's 5 star review were no where to be found. First they were out, then out of town, then gone for a long time. No one left at the motel is authorized to deal with business issues? Plus they double charged us for two of the rooms but were unable to give a refund so we actually paid extra for the privilege of freezing through the night. I strongly recommend you disregard Joseph's 5 star review, it simply isn't accurate. This place is truly terrible, even before the lack of heat. Firstly, I know the area well and let's be clear that I am never expecting the Ritz when I stay. Clean, friendly, decent food. Those things should be expected. The rooms are not clean. They are not quaint. The free breakfast is barely edible. The staff is rude. Stay somewhere else, there are several other hotel/motels cropping up in the area that look more promising. I will update this review if I ever hear from the manager/owner about making our bills right. We left our names and numbers but I highly doubt they will ever call us. They don't seem to care at all about bad reviews. In fact I was told "people only leave reviews when they're disgruntled." Um. Nope. I more often leave stellar reviews because I think it's important for other people to know hidden gems exist. read more