I remembered having mixed feelings about Heidi's Inn from the last time I stayed here, but this time the place seems okay. There are a few small problems but overall, the room is nice and large and the air conditioning and plumbing work fine which is not always the case in lodgings these days.

Heidi's Inn is located on Route 22 just north of Brewster, New York. It is run by Heidi and her son, and caters both to long-term guests and travelers. Heidi herself is not the most friendly of proprietors, and can seem downright standoffish. If you spend some time talking with her, she gets friendlier. The rates are a little bit high for this time of year - 80 dollars for a room. Heidi says they might go down five or ten dollars later in the year, but that's all.

The motel's publicity boasts an on-site restaurant but that does not exist. However the surroundings are pleasant, with wooded areas that are not exactly open for walking, but can be made so with some ingenuity. There are some nice paths on the property, and there is a pool, and some places to sit. The nicest thing about the motel is the large atrium which is open all the time, and available for eating, working, reading, or simply reflecting. The atrium features tables and chairs, a couch and arm chairs, a coffee machine which will provide hot water or a cup of reasonably good coffee for 25 cents, and a basic breakfast in the morning. Since the breakfast "comes with" the room, it is wrong to have guests pay for coffee or a cup of hot water. Those things should be provided at no cost.

The room is nice enough, with working lamps, a large dresser and chair, night stands, arm chairs and working air conditioner. There is no coffee maker or microwave in the room, and the refrigerator - well it is about ten grades down from the tiny fridges often found in college dorm rooms. It doesn't really close if you put more than one bottle or container inside, and the freezer doesn't work at all. The television has the most basic cable and nothing else. The most grievous problem is that the toilet makes an extraordinary large sound when it is flushed - and perhaps most heinous is that it has no lid making for an unsanitary, and in many states, actionable condition. In any case it is poor taste, and should be rectified. Toilets should always have lids. Consult any public health expert and you will learn why.

If you have business in the mid- Harlem Valley area, Heidi's is probably one of your best bets. But for little money, she could make the accomodations worth the high cost.