Blantyre

Massachusetts
United States

The Experience

The epitome of the grand country-house hotel, ivy-covered Blantyre, set on 100 acres of prime Lenox territory, transports you to the glory days of the Gilded Age. Like many of its neighboring manses in the verdant Berkshires, the New England resort began life in the early 1900s as a private summer home for a wealthy Englishman, Robert Paterson. And though the attitude may not be stuffy, you still feel all the formality that befits a Tudor castle, complete with turrets, leaded-glass windows and manicured croquet lawns. You may even sense the gargoyles frowning if you put your feet up on the furniture.

The Rooms

The 24 rooms and suites are richly appointed in period flair. The overstuffed chairs, wooden four-poster beds, damask prints, wall sconces, fireplaces and chintz galore can add to the royal feeling, unless you're not a fan of flowery wallpaper and formal portraits. The smallest rooms are in the Carriage House; go for those on the second floor, which have curving staircases leading up to loft beds. The five rooms in the Main House are of a good size—but with sitting rooms (formal though they are) and beds in bay windows, the three suites are worth the upgrade. Cottages (formed from the old bathhouse and icehouse) add touches like decks, kitchenettes, wood stoves and Berkshire folk art, though they work best for more than two people.

The Service

From the moment they greet you at the oversize wooden front door, the discreet team effortlessly handles every guest's whim, from providing a decadent breakfast in bed to arranging prime tee times at neighboring golf courses. The feeling of being abroad is driven home thanks to the fact that part of the staff is European.

The Highlights

In the Main House dining room, chef Christopher Brooks plates his interpretation of traditional French cuisine (roasted rack of lamb with an apricot and spinach brick strudel) on fine china (jackets and tie, while required, seem fitting given the formal-yet-unstuffy environs). Wander past the trees and down to the small but impressive wood-filled spa (once the potting shed) with its sauna, Jacuzzi and three treatment rooms. After a shiatsu massage, take stroll the mile-long trail that snakes around the property, past the 110-foot-tall oak tree; from the blooming flowers of spring to the crunchy leaves of fall, and even the quiet snows of winter, it makes for a rejuvenating experience.

 

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»