Wind in the Pines II, Great Barrington, 01230

This is a timeshare with a very convenient location, and it was very clean. Bob, the property manager, was kind and helpful. The furniture could use an investment and an upgrade, though. With nicer furnishings, this could be a really nice place. A stovetop, an oven, or both would also be useful in a timeshare.

Bob was lovely to work with and had lots of good suggestions for places to visit and eat. He also arranged a first-floor room because my husband has knee surgery coming up in a few weeks and is having trouble with stairs. Our room was spotless and well supplied, with plenty of towels, plates, and glasses. Having the mini kitchen was especially handy for coffee and breakfast before heading out, and we could unwind with wine on our private patio at night. It’s a gem in the Berkshires. I can’t wait for us to return!

The basics are there, and the place was clean, but it felt pretty run down. The bed and sofa weren’t very comfortable. There was a strong mildew smell, and I suspect there may be a leak in the wall shared by the bathroom and closet. I couldn’t use the closet for clothes. The kitchen had no placemats, even though the tables are all wood, and there’s no stove. The TV kept cutting out. There was no free coffee either. At most timeshare places I’ve stayed, coffee, creamer, salt, and pepper are provided, but none of those were available here.

The bathrooms and kitchen were clean, and the dining and living areas were fine. The small flat-screen TVs in each room were a nice touch. It’s a dated motel on a pleasant property, though it needs updates for comfort. The bedrooms made for a miserable week. Old mattresses and hard pillows were wrapped in plastic, the linens were poor quality, and the beds were uncomfortably hot. I slept terribly but was stuck there for a week. The manager couldn’t turn off the outside lights, which shone into the bedroom windows all night.