A Great Christmas Trip

OK...so this isn't exactly a Bed & Breakfast, but it is so beautiful I just had to write about it. If you have never been to The Biltmore Estate before, you need to make plans to visit. One of the best times of the year to go there is at Christmas. There are candlelight tours from Nov. 4 - Dec. 31 which will take your breath away!

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Biltmore Estate is an amazing work of art. Built by George Vanderbilt over 100 years ago, it has acres of gardens, and managed forests.

There is much to do as you visit the vineyards, winery, farm village; or spend some time rafting, horse back riding, shopping or just enjoying the amazing architectural wonders. You can hike or bike as you enjoy the 8,000-acres that is The Biltmore Estate. Did I mention shopping? And don't worry, if you work up an appetite there are plenty of dining
choices also; from a simple fresh-baked pastry or gormet ice cream to a full meal. There is even an Inn on the grounds.

If you can't make it in time for the Christmas tour...that's ok. No matter what time of year you visit The Biltmore Estate you are in for a special
treat. There are rose gardens, and azaleas, shrub gardens and much more. Visit The Biltmore Estate Website for a calendar of events.

Breathtaking beauty is the best way to describe the 250 rooms and 65 fireplaces that make up the Biltmore Estate. An indoor pool and bowling alley are all part of the wonderful estate. There are pricless works of arts and antiques everywhere you look. America's largest home should be a must see as you plan your next vacation.

Visit the Biltmore Estate website.

Charming Bed & Breakfasts make for a unique and enjoyable vacation experience. So forget about that same old hotel/motel, make your next vacation a Bed & Breakfast Experience.

If you are planning a trip to The Biltmore Estate or the Asheville, NC area; be sure to check out the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association. They have a list of more than 100 B&Bs in the Asheville area. All the inns are fully inspected, licensed and insured, and
feature resident innkeepers.

Call 877-262-6867 or visit their website.

State House Inn B&B - Providence, RI

A convenient downtown location and a quiet neighborhood setting make this the ideal alternative to the hotel/motel for the tourist or business traveler when visiting Providence, Rhode Island. (photo credit: Steak House Inns)

The Steak House Inn B&B has a cozy feeling, simple charm and elegance. All Guest rooms are decorated with Shaker and American Folk Art furnishings and private bathrooms.

The Steak House Inn B&B also has two Sister Inns: Mowry-Nicholson House Bed and Breakfast and Christopher Dodge House Bed and Breakfast , be sure to check those out also.

Bed & Breakfast Tours

Check out the Bed & Breakfast Tours page at BnBFinder.com, what a wonderful idea for a vacation. Here are the tours they have listed right now on their website.

Wind Down the Pacific Coast Highway Bed & Breakfast Tour( California )

Escape to New England - A Bed & Breakfast Tour( Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont )

Tour Canada: The Rideau Canal Waterway B&B Getaway( Ontario )

200 Years of History Along the Historic National Road:Wake Up Someplace Special B&B Tour( Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia )

More Tips to Remember

Here are a few other tips to remember when booking a stay at a bed and breakfast:

• Mention Dietary Needs: Since breakfast is a highlight of most B&B stays, mention any special dietary preference when booking an inn. Innkeepers are usually happy to accommodate.
• Inquire About Handicapped Accessibility-Check In /Check Out Times: Ask about check in and check out times and try and arrive within them. Innkeepers can usually be flexible if you need special arrangements.
• Make Your Self At Home: Innkeepers are hospitality experts so relax and enjoy your stay!

--Posted by BnBFinder.com

Fall Foliage

Mid September to late October is fall foliage season. This is a great time to find a bed & breakfast and enjoy some breathtaking views.

The problem is most inns are booked months ahead of time for the foliage season but you may luck out and find one that has had a last minute cancellation. I would recommend going mid-week to avoid the weekend crowds and traffic jams.

Timing is everything as the peak only lasts for a few days and will vary depending on weather conditions. Stormfax Guide to Fall Foliage (http://www.stormfax.com./foliage.htm) has a great list of phone numbers and websites for fall foliage information.

Here's a link for bed & breakfast gift certificates, what a great gift idea. B&B Gift Certificates never expire. You choose the amount, let the recipient pick their Bed & Breakfast and dates.

Attention all Blog Explosion Members. I am looking for submissions for this blog. If you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast, please send me an e-mail telling me all about it. If I use your submission in this blog I will transfer 25 credits to your Blog Explosion account.

Please share your Bed & Breakfast experiences with us. To qualify for 25 credits you must be a Blog Explosion member and submit your article to me via e-mail. cmmdtp@gmail.com

If you are not a member of Blog Explosion and would like to join, click on the logo below. It's FREE to join and it's a GREAT blogging community with lots of wonderful features!

THE C CHANNEL TRAVEL NETWORK

The C Channel is building a multi-interest website that brings together 3 distinct sites - Travel, Shopping and Weddings. Each one features articles, destination profiles, vendor profiles and a whole load of new tools to attract a global audience. This includes the still young Travel Forum, and the Wedding Agenda, a promising tool that will be completely free and is due out in late 2006.

The C Channel network has also recently introduced The C Directories, 5 user-friendly directories of websites, blogs, online retailers and other sites categorized under thousands of differnet subjects. Only a month old, it attracts new registrations every day of eBusinesses eager to become part of The C Channel Network. For example, in the Travel category, you can find Travel Street, a comprehensive guide to travel in Asia, as well as references to some of the best boutique hotels, B&B’s and other Boutique Hotels. For example, Worlwide Holiday Homes with over 1,000 holiday homes in 51 countries including Spain, USA, Australia and Malaysia, plus Villa Tuscane and Tuscany Villas, the best place for holiday rentals in Tuscany.

We’ve also written recently an article about Boutique Hotels.
There's plenty to see, so pay us a visit.

Bed & Breakfast Tips

Selecting a Bed & Breakfast to stay at is a little different than choosing a Hotel or Motel. Unlike the Hotel and Motel chains where every one is the same wherever you may go; each Bed & Breakfast is unique. A little pre-planning is necessary before heading off on vacation. Here are a few tips to help you with your Bed & Breakfast experience.

Bed & Breakfasts offer personalized services and home-like atmosphere but the amenities offered will vary from Inn to Inn. It is important to make a list of what is important to you and when you call for reservations be sure to ask questions.

• Call ahead for reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and they fill up quickly.
• Be sure to ask if there is a private bath or if you will have to share a bathroom with other guests.
• Ask about smoking policies.
• Are the rooms airconditioned?
• Are children and/or pets allowed?
• Is breakfast included? What does the breakfast menu consist of?
• How far is it from local attractions?
• What is their policies on cancelations?
• Is dining available at the Bed & Breakfast for meals other than breakfast?

These are just a few of the questions you should keep in mind when planning your stay. Once you stay at a Bed & Breakfast, you will never want to go back to a Hotel or Motel again!

If you have other tips or would like to recommend a GREAT Bed & Breakfast please leave a comment.

Santa Ynez Inn

Located in Southern California, in the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country, the Santa Ynez Inn is a great place to stay. The Santa Ynez Inn offers lavish suites with fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs and many amenities. Enjoy wine, hors d'oeuvres, evening desserts, and a full gourmet breakfast in the morning. The Vineyard House Restaurant, adjacent to the inn, serves lunch and dinner.

This elegant country inn offers gracious hospitality and a 24-hour concierge staff! Voted one of the most romantic inns for 2006 by I Love Inns, this Queen Anne Victorian style Bed & Breakfast is a great place to stay when you are in Southern California.

Visit their website for more information: Santa Ynez Inn

The Old Marshall House

http://www.oldmarshallhouse.com/

Here's a GREAT Bed & Breakfast sent in to me by another blogger, Jill from "The Write Way Home". Thanks Jill. Make sure you visit her blog when you get a chance.


It's called The Old Marshall House in Franklin, TN (20 miles south of Nashville). My husband and I have stayed there twice (in the Victorian Room) and both visits were absolutely wonderful. Even though the B and B is located just minutes from highway 96, you feel like you’re miles away from everything when you stay at The Old Marshall Home. It’s impeccably clean, beautifully furnished, and the breakfast is WONDERFUL. In nice weather, you can have your breakfast on the back porch. Truly a lovely get-away (and only 15 minutes from our home!).

Blessings,

Jill

Wake Up Someplace Special with Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificates

2 UniqueTexas Bed & Breakfasts

Here is information on 2 Texas Bed and Breakfasts They are unique because they are located on historical properties and run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Thanks to Eileen aka CyberCelt for sending me this information. Be sure to visit her web site: CoolAdz all about highly-responsive premium advertising and web site design.

The Victorian Era

Rosemont Cottage Bed and Breakfast is located on the grounds of Starr Family Home State Historical Site in Marshall, Texas. Starr Family Home State Historic Site preserves the 150-year-old history of the Starr family in Texas. Rosemont Cottage is a four-room cabin that includes a kitchenette, a queen size bed and a sofa that converts into a bed. The front porch, complete with a pair of rocking chairs, leads to the living room, furnished with period antiques. Beveled windows and wood paneled walls adorn the dining room, where breakfast is served.


Journey to Alsace

The white stucco Landmark Inn sits on a five-acre state historic site on the banks of the Medina River in Castroville, Texas. With 10 guests rooms, varying from suite to bedroom with 2 single beds, you will find the place of your dreams. The Alsatian (French-German) cuisine of the area is unique, and you will enjoy fresh Alsatian pastries each morning for breakfast in the riverfront parlor. Walk along pathways shaded by Pecan and Cottonwood trees. View the native plant gardens, sit on the banks of the Medina River, or rock on the porch. Borrow a bike at the inn and enjoy the town of Castroville, a great place for food and antiques. Various packages are available. Call the inn directly at 830-931-2133.

If you know about some great Bed and Breakfasts please send me the info and let's share it with the rest of the blogging world.

Beckmann Inn & Carriage House

Since my blog renter this week is from Texas, I thought it would be a good time to post about a Bed & Breakfast from that great state. A Beckmann Inn & Carraige House is only minutes by trolley from The Alamo and just across the street from the beautiful Riverwalk.

Located in the San Antonio's beautiful King William historic district, this lovely bed & breakfast offers Victorian charm and warm and gracious hospitality. They serve a two course gourmet breakfast with a breakfast dessert. This is the place to stay if you are in the San Antonio area.

Wake Up Someplace Special with Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificates

Don't forget to check out this week's renter: Texas RV Travel: USAer Blog. Click on the screenshot in right hand margin to visit this blog.

Father's Day Gift Idea

Here's a GREAT GIFT IDEA for Dad on Father's Day! Forget about the usual necktie or dinner; this year give him a real treat. It's not too late to check out the Bed & Breakfasts in your area and book a weekend for Dad. Many B&Bs offer special Father's Day packages.

Click Here to locate a Bed & Breakfast in your area.

If you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast, leave a comment and send the link here so I can feature it on this blog.

Call for Submissions

Attention all Blog Explosion Members. I am looking for submissions for this blog. If you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast, please send me an e-mail telling me all about it. If I use your submission in this blog I will transfer 25 credits to your Blog Explosion account.

Please share your Bed & Breakfast experiences with us. To qualify for 25 credits you must be a Blog Explosion member and submit your article to me via e-mail. cmmdtp@gmail.com

If you are not a member of Blog Explosion and would like to join, click on the logo below. It's FREE to join and it's a GREAT blogging community with lots of wonderful features!

A Bed of Roses

If you are planning a trip to the famous Biltmore House in Ashville, NC and would like a great nearby Bed & Breakfast to stay in check out A Bed of Roses. It is only 8 minutes away from The Biltmore House.

A Bed of Roses sits on a quiet, tree-lined street and offers Victorian charm as well as modern day conveniences such as wireless Internet connections in every room. You will enjoy its shaded porch and beautiful gardens as well as a gourmet breakfast.

Visit their website, A Bed of Roses, or contact them via email: stay@abedofroses.com . You can also call toll free: 888-290-2770.

Travel Tips

The weather is getting nice and many people are planning vacations. Here are a few travel tips to help you. Check out the travelocity link for help planning your vacation.

If you are driving...check out the road conditions first. There are websites for all 50 states Department of Transportation where you will find current road conditions. This can be very helpful and save you from being stuck in frustrating delays.

If you are leaving the country, make sure your passport is up to date and check to see if you need any visas to enter the country you are going to. Also check with the U.S. State Department to find out about any tourist safety warnings. Here is link for U.S. Department of State which is a very helpful website.

Don't forget...try a Bed & Breakfast instead of the same old Hotel/Motel. There are many helpful links in the right hand margin of this page to help you find a Bed & Breakfast wherever you may be heading.

Have a GREAT VACATION.

Bicentennial of the Historic National Road

America's first Interstate celebrates its 200-year anniversary this year. There is a 824 mile long yard sale planned for this historic event and bnbfinder.com has a great tour of Bed & Breakfasts along the route. Visit their website for all the details.

Just where is this road are we talking about? The road spans six states and was the brain-child of George Washington. It runs from Maryland to Illinois and there are many historic landmarks along the way. In 1806 it became a reality during Thomas Jefferson's administration and Congress approved our first federally funded highway.

You may ask, what does all this have to do with Bed & Breakfasts? You will find the answer at bnbfinder.com . There are also special offers there where you can save money when making reservations by mentioning the Historic National Road Tour.

Mother's Day at a Bed & Breakfast

Still haven't figured out what to do for that special someone on Mother's Day? How about a weekend at a cozy Bed & Breakfast?

Check this link for a Bed & Breakfast in your area.

Many Bed & Breakfasts will offer a Mother's Day Special. If you really want to surprise her this year, find a baby sitter for the kids and spend a romantic weekend together at a Bed & Breakfast. It will be a weekend to remember.

If you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast, please leave a comment and share it with us. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Bed & Breakfast Cookbooks

One of the great things about staying at a Bed & Breakfast is always the home-cooked meals! Many Bed & Breakfasts are well known for their delicious culinary skills, some even have cookbooks to offer. Here is a link where you can check out some of the wonderful Bed & Breakfast recipes. B&B Online Recipes. Check it out, there is some really good stuff here.

Forget about your hotels and motels...try a Bed & Breakfast next time you are traveling -- you'll be glad you did! The scrumptous looking meal above is from the Wakpamni Bed & Breakfast website. They are located on the Bar-O-Bar Farm on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Please leave a comment if you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast that you would like to tell us about.

Haunted Bed & Breakfasts

If you spend some time talking to the Inn Keepers at various Bed & Breakfasts you will hear many interesting stories. One B&B that we stayed at in Blowing Rock, NC was said to be haunted. The Inn Keeper told us some amazing tales...I can't remember the name of the Inn but it will come to me someday and I will write about it.

Until then, here is a list of several Bed & Breakfasts across the United States that are said to be haunted.

• Ancestors Inn at the Bassett House - Liverpool, New York
• Brass Lantern Inn - Stowe, Vermont
• Brookside Manor - Wakefield, Rhode Island
• Casa de la Paz Bed & Breakfast - St. Augustine, Florida
• Homespun Farm - Griswold, Connecticut
• Inn on Main Street - Weaverville, North Carolina
• Lizzie Bordon Bed & Breakfast - Fall River, Massachusetts
• Thayer's Historic Bed & Breakfast - Annandale, Minnesota
  
• Thornewood Castle - Lakewood, Washington
• The Groveland Hotel - Groveland, California
• The Inn at Merridun - Union, South Carolina
• The Notchland Inn - Hart's Location, New Hampshire
  
• The Texas White House - Ft. Worth, Texas
• The White House of Wilmington - Wilmington, Vermont

We have stayed at only one of the above Bed & Breakfasts and did not experience anything unusual or run into any spirits during our visit. The list is much longer than the fourteen here, I will try to find more and post them as I find them.

If you know of a Bed & Breakfast that is haunted please share the info in a comment.

Bed & Breakfast Experiences is Moving

I have several different blogs and it has become too difficult for me to manage all of them. Therefore I will be moving them all into one big blog. I hope that all my faithful readers will follow me to my new home. Please click on button to visit my new blog.

Inns and Bed and Breakfasts – Are They For Everybody?

Here is a the answer to a question that I am often asked. Please welcome my guest author Cliff Calderwood.

Inns and Bed and Breakfasts – Are They For Everybody?
By: Cliff Calderwood

Inns are a delightful alternative to hotels and resorts. They can be just the right ticket for your vacation, providing you understand how they work and function.

Are they for everybody?

No, they're not. But here’s the answers to some basic questions to determine if it’s the type of accommodation that’ll work for you…

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INNS AND BED AND BREAKFASTS?

Let's start by clearing up any confusion on the differences between inns and bed and breakfasts. And it's not so much in the name as how they advertise themselves.

Firstly, there's no difference in accommodation. The charm of a bed and breakfast can be every bit as good as the personality of an inn. The difference is the prepared meals. A bed and breakfast is just that… expect a bed and a breakfast, but you're on your own for dinner. But at inns, they're set-up to provide dinner as well, although it's usually an option, and not included in the quoted price. The listing will be very clear if dinner is offered. But assume its just bed and breakfast if nothing is mentioned.

In many areas of the world inns and bed and breakfasts are also called guesthouses.

ARE THEY RIGHT FOR MY KIDS?

When an inn says kids are welcome, then you'd better believe they really mean they're kid friendly. Now there's nothing wrong with that (I have three myself), but don't expect too much piece and quiet and solitude.

You'll find a number of listings that put age restriction on children. For example they'll say something like: 12 or older, or above 6-years old. They're not being mean. It's just these places are also catering to a single or couple looking for a chance to unwind and free of noise and high activity. If you've got high-action kids then bed and breakfasts may not be ideal for your family.

WHAT SERVICE CAN I EXPECT?

Staying in inns is very different than staying at a hotel. You shouldn't expect a country inn to be like a Sheraton, with hordes of staff at your beck and call, and soundproof walls. Also, having a party and playing loud music after 11:00pm won't win you any brownie points with your host or the other guests.

Remember... the innkeeper or host is there to provide you, and other guests, with a unique experience in unique surroundings, but to do that they'll need your understanding.

WHAT’S THE USUAL CHECK-IN TIME?

Your host will go out of their way to greet you when you check-in. Usually when you reserve you’ll be told when their normal check-in period is. But most can accommodate you arrivals outside those hours.

But you need to let them know if you’ll be late so they can arrange for you to get into the house (yes, the doors are locked after a certain hour), and to your room. It’s one thing to show up at midnight at your hotel – they’re staffed round the clock - but it’s entirely another matter to roll-in after 11:00pm at an inn, and expect your host to get out of bed and greet you smiling.

CAN YOU NEGOTIATE PRICE?

You bet you can!

Just like hotels the room rate for inns is negotiable. The main difference is unlike a hotel, the person on the other end of a phone is usually the owner of the bed and breakfast, and they can make the decision on the spot. All you have to do is ask in a nice way.

Just remember the innkeeper may only have a few rooms to begin with anyway, and if your haggling over the last room then don't be offended if it’s no dice on a price reduction. But on the other hand one room of a four-room inn without a paying guest reduces a host's profit by 25%. So it's always worth asking for a reduction!

HOW MUCH CAN YOU REALLY SAVE?

Off-peak travel will save you a bundle.

Most inns can book their weekend's months in advance. But filling the rooms during the week, particularly off-season, is much more difficult. You'll get the best deals for bed and breakfasts traveling mid-week and out of season. Now contrast this with hotels that have the opposite problem, because they cater to the mid-week business traveler, but can't get people in rooms at the weekends.

I love staying in inns. They have a lot going for them. Inns are usually very affordable, offer tons more variety than a bland hotel roomArticle Search, and are a great way to meet fellow travelers or vacationers. You’ll find web sites devoted to inn and bed and breakfast listings now – so crank up Yahoo or Google and get searching… and saving!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of New-England-Vacations-Guide.com. This is adapted from a longer article on inns, and you can read the full article and get a free downloadable copy of his complete travel guide at http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com

Parkview Bed & Breakfast

This week I have a new renter on my blog. You can visit "Life My Way" by clicking on screenshot in right hand column. Bozette has a great blog, so stop by and visit her at "Life My Way". Since my renter is from Wisconsin, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about a Bed & Breakfast in that neck of the woods.

The Parkview Bed & Breakfast is located in Reedsburg, WI in the heart of the historic Park Street district. This Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1895 and features four guest rooms. The rates range from $75 - $98 per night according to their web site: Parkview Bed & Breakfast. There are activities near by such as biking trails, canoeing, state parks and of course a visit to one of the two cheese factories not far away.

If you know of other great Wisconin Bed & Breakfasts please leave a comment.

More Bed & Breakfast Tips

Here's a few more tips to make your Bed & Breakfast experience more enjoyable.

No Front Desk
Remember, unlike a hotel or motel, most Bed & Breakfasts do not have a front desk. In fact, there may be times when there isn't even anybody on-site to help you. So it's a good idea to let the inn-keeper know when you plan to arrive so they can be there to greet you and make you welcome.

Handicap Accessibility and Dietary Needs
Keep in mind that many Bed & Breakfasts are not handicap-accessible. Be sure to ask the inn-keeper about this if it is a concern. It's also a good idea to let them know about any special dietary needs you may have.

Not Very Many Rooms
Some Bed & Breakfasts may only have 3 or 4 rooms and often there is a shared bath. Don't forget to inquire about private baths if this is an issue for you. On the other hand, because there are just a few rooms that be to your advantage. Just think if an inn-keeper only has 4 rooms and there are three rooms empty when you call for a reservation, he may be in a negotiating mood; after all, 1 room equals 25% of their profit!

Get To Know Your Inn-Keeper
In my experience, all of the inn-keepers I have come across have been very friendly and helpful. They usually have a love of the area that they are located in and can be a wealth of information to you. Be sure to stay for 2 or 3 nights and you will have a chance to get to know your hosts and meet the other guests.

Please leave a comment and be sure to share your Bed & Breakfast stories with us. You can also send me an e-mail about your favorite Bed & Breakfast.

Valentine's Day is Almost Here

Do you need a fresh, new idea for a gift for Valentine's Day? Need to put some romance back in your relationship?

I posted about this before, but I'm sure some of you still haven't figured out what to do for Valentine's Day; so here it is again.

Instead of the usual dinner or box of chocalates try booking a romantic get-away at a Bed & Breakfast. No matter where you live, chances are you can find a quaint little Bed & Breakfast not far away. Use the directories in the right hand margin of this page to search in your area. Many of these Bed & Breakfasts will feature special Valentine's Day packages.

It works better if you keep this a secret and just wisk your partner away on Valentine's Day for a surprise. Of course you have to remember that this year the holiday falls in the middle of the week, so you may have to skip work for a day, but it shouldn't be too hard to convince you of that!

Most Bed & Breakfast owners are very friendly and willing to go the extra mile for you. When you are making the reservations, ask them about area restaurants or romantic things to do close by. They may even put flowers, champange or chocolate in the room for you too.

Most important of all is this. Remeber, Valentine's Day is all about the romance. Be sure to leave your laptop, pager, and cell phone at home!

Let me know if you try this and leave a comment here telling us all about it.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

#1 Two Years in a Row

So where is the best Bed & Breakfast? That's a matter of opinion and everyone has different tastes and expectations when it comes to Bed & Breakfasts, so it would be pretty hard to pick just one. However, The Woolverton Inn has been selected #1 overall Bed & Breakfast for two years in a row by BedandBreakfast.com.

Located in Stockton, New Jersey, The Woolverton Inn has 13-rooms and sits on 300 acres of secluded farmland and beautiful forests. It is just above the Delaware River and is only minutes from New Hope, Pennsylvania.

All of their rooms feature full country breakfast, afternoon refreshments and sweets, fresh flowers, featherbeds, central air-conditioning and much more!

Visit the Woolverton Inn website and check out what they have to offer.

Special Offers on Bed & Breakfasts

Are you looking for a special money saving offer for your next Bed & Breakfast experience? Here's a great link: BnB Finder Specials . Simply type in the kind of special offer you are searching for and the state and this search tool will give you a list to select from.

How about a "Murder Mystery" weekend? There are many Bed & Breakfasts that offer these.

Maybe you would like to stay in a Haunted Bed & Breakfast ? Well there is a list of those as well.

If you have had a great Bed & Breakfast experience, please share it here. Go ahead and leave a comment.

Bed and Breakfasts Links

Just a quick post to tell you about some other Bed and Breakfast sites you may find interesting.

Here is a link to bnbonline , this is a great website and they have a list of Bed and Breakfasts that are offering specials for Valentine's Day. You can select a state and view all the special packages.

OK...I know there are a lot of readers from the UK so here is a link for you. Bed and Breakfasts - UK . This site has a clickable map that you can search.

Here's one that includes the US and Canada. Better Bed and Breakfasts.

If any of you have had a great Bed and Breakfast experience please share it with us here by leaving a comment.

Romantic Valentine's Day Get- Away

Here's a GREAT idea if you can't think of a gift for Valentine's Day. Plan a romantic get-away to a cozy Bed and Breakfast. The good news is Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year; that means there will be less traffic as you drive and you may even get a bargain on the rates because it's not a weekend.

Many Bed & Breakfasts will offer special Valentine's Day packages which may include flowers and candy in the room or dinner for two at a local restaurant. Check with the Innkeeper and ask about specials; if they don't offer flowers and candy they will probably be happy to arrange it for you. Most Innkeepers I have met were all very helpful and happy to go the extra mile for their guests.

VERY IMPORTANT

In order to have the full effect...you need to plan this on your own and keep it a complete surprise until you arrive at your destination!

Also remember, most Bed & Breakfasts require a two-night stay for the best rates, so plan on taking a day or two off from work.

Remember, this is a ROMANTIC holiday...so leave your laptop at home and turn off your pager and cell phone. It's all about romance.

Try to arrange to do something completely new on this trip. Perhaps horseback riding, or a relaxing day at the spa together. Again, the Innkeeper should be able to suggest some things like this in the area.

Here is a Worldwide Directory of Bed & Breakfasts.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day; and if use this idea, be sure to come back and comment about it here.

Kitchen Fun with Donna & Friends

This may seem a little off topic for a Bed & Breakfast blog, but not really. Food goes hand in hand with Bed & Breakfasts and many B & Bs are know for their food and have their own cook books.

Here at Blog Explosion, we have a great feature where we can rent space on our blog for a week in return for credits.

This week I have a tenant that you simply must visit; Kitchen Fun with Donna & Friends. This is absolutely the sharpest design I have seen yet for a blog and it is full of wonderful recipes. Be sure to stop by and tell them that Mike sent you from Bed & Breakfast Experiences.

While you are there check out their recipes, I'm sure you can find something that you will want to try out. I saw a Coconut Cream Pie recipe there that I am dying to sample.

Click on the screen shot of Kitchen Fun in my right hand margin to visit their site. You will be glad that you did!

Money Saving Tips

Here are some good tips for saving money on your Bed & Breakfast Experiences.

1. Travel off-season : Go to the beach in the winter or a ski area in the summer. There are still many activities that you can enjoy and there will be no crowds and lower rates.
2. Take advantage of special rates: Many Bed & Breakfasts offer special rates for midweek stays or multiple nights.
3. Stay in a neighboring town: If you are going to a tourist attraction, don't stay in that town, look around in a neighboring town and the rates will be much less. It's worth making a short drive to save 10-50% on your Bed & Breakfast.
4. Plan Ahead: Don't wait till the last minute to make reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and stay fully booked.
   
5. Do the opposite: Remember the city B&Bs will be busiest during the week with business travelers and the country B&Bs are busiest on the weekends. So to avoid the crowds, stay in the country during the week and the city on the weekend.

I hope you find these tips useful, please mention this blog to your friends and if you know of a great Bed & Breakfast that you would like to see featured here, leave a comment or send me an email.