Charming yet Recession Proof - Deals at Florida Bed & Breakfasts
December 10th, 2008 by Jane Leisteiner, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Special packages, seasonal discounts and free amenities are just a few of the reasons to spend your vacation at one of the cozy inns listed in the book, “Bed and Breakfasts and Country Inns,” published by American Historic Inns, Inc. Incredibly, these inns are participants in the Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free program, which makes your vacation even more enticing. Here are a few examples from Florida of the savings that can be had. (For more details on participating inns, visit the iLoveInns.com site).
Ride a complimentary bicycle down the historic streets of Saint Augustine when you stay at the St. Francis Inn. The beach and other local attractions are a short ride away. Amenities include a full complimentary breakfast, fireplaces and pools. In addition, many of the rooms have kitchenettes for home-cooked meals. The Cottage suite is perfect for sharing the cost of a room with friends. Free admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is included in your stay. The rates range from $109-$229 per night.
If you are traveling with a group, the cottages at Center Court-Tropical Inn & Cottages in Key West sleep up to ten people. Some also have barbecue grills, hammocks and a private pool perfect for parties. Complimentary weekend happy hours keep the party going seven days a week. Innkeepers keep guests stocked with beach towels and a bag for day trips to the ocean. The rates vary from $130-$265 per night.
Step through the columned doors of the Coombs House Inn in Appalachicola. Here, a day at the beach is a no-brainer with beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes and even a tandem bicycle ready for use. The rooms are stocked with massage whirlpools, mini refrigerators and access to the veranda. Guests are well fed with full breakfasts in the morning and wine, cheese and snacks on weekend nights. The rates at this Florida bed and breakfast start low at $89 and cap at $229 per night.
The affordable Allison House Inn in Quincy is a not-so-guilty pleasure. Rest up on lavender-misted pillows for a day of treasure hunting at the local antique shops. The English-style bed and breakfast resides in historic “Coca-Cola Town” not far from Tallahassee. Give into the temptation of fresh muffins and bread in the morning and homemade Biscotti and sherry all day. At $95-$140 per night, if you can’t spare the carbohydrates, you probably can spare the money.
Surrounded by magnificent Magnolia trees, the Magnolia Plantation Cottages and Gardens in Gainesville, Florida is a charming facility with year round rates running from $115-$330 per night. Every room in the restored French Second Empire Victorian Inn contains a fireplace and claw foot tub. The cottages, of Craftsman, Country and Colonial design, include hot tubs and fireplaces, with kitchens for cozy evenings in. The Charleston-style courtyards are perfect for an evening stroll as are the tropical gardens. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktail hour as well.
There are over 19,000 B&Bs and country inns listed at iLoveInns that you can find information on if you are still undecided about where to stay. A great resource is the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook, “Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns.” Included in the book is a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate which comes in handy. And for celebrating any special occasion, an iLoveInns gift certificate is the perfect solution.
Book a Stay at Germany’s Top Inns, Hotels
December 4th, 2008 by Tess Kirkpatrick, under Vacations. No Comments
With its crisp, clean air and snow-capped mountains, Germany is a vision for the soul. You’ll find any number of interesting villages from one end of the country to the other, each with its own special charm.
Most visitors to Germany spend at least a few days in Bavaria and its main city of Munich and with good reason. Bavaria, with its fairy tale castle of Neuschwanstein, picturesque villages and beer gardens, museums and fine shopping, offers plenty to do and see, and the scenery is enchanting. Other fun excursions include a trip through the Rhone and Mosel wine regions, which include famous cities such as Frankfurt, as well as castles and wineries. Another choice might be to explore eastern and central Germany, with a stop in Berlin.
If you cannot make up your mind as to where to travel, let prolific travel writer Karen Brown do the work for you. On her popular website, Karen Brown’s World of Travel, she has created several different itineraries for travelers to Germany. Her suggestions include places of interest, maps, regional tips and excellent places to stay. The following hotels and inns were chosen by her readers as the top lodging choices in Germany.
Situated across the Elbe River from the city center of Dresden, the Hotel Bulow Residenz offers romantic accommodations in a quiet neighborhood filled with historic homes. From the impressive Baroque exterior to the elegant interior with its mix of traditional and modern dcor, this is truly one of Dresden’s best hotels. Breakfast and afternoon refreshments are served in the charming courtyard. The hotel’s formal restaurant, The Caroussel, is Michelin-rated and ideal for a romantic, intimate dinner. Cocktails, wine and beer are served in the hotel’s piano bar. The hotel has been chosen by Karen Brown readers as Germany’s “Most Romantic” hotel.
A trip to Rothenberg is a bit like waking up in the middle of a fairy tale — you almost expect to see Hansel or Gretel skipping down the streets of this medieval village. A stay at the Romantik Hotel Markusturm is all part of the enjoyment of a visit to this magical town. The guest rooms, decorated by host Lilo Berger, are welcoming, comfortable and eclectic. Lilo’s husband, Stephan, creates the wonderful dinners; his wine soup and homemade beer are among the highlights. Karen Brown readers have chosen this delightful hotel as the winner of the “Warmest Welcome” award for Germany.
At Gasthaus Die Krone, visitors enjoy comfortable accommodations, excellent food and warm hospitality-all at a reasonable price. The hotel, located in the Black Forest village of Staufen, was named by Karen Brown readers as Germany’s “Greatest Value.” Guest rooms are simply decorated with light pine furnishings and beds topped with soft pillows and crisp, white comforters. The hotel’s restaurant is housed in two rooms and features wainscoting and country curtains, infusing it with plenty of German charm. The guest house is located in Staufen’s pedestrian-only area, so you’ll enjoy the quiet and avoid the noises from cars and buses.
To enjoy what Karen Brown readers have chosen as Germany’s top “Splendid Splurge,” book a stay at the Hotel Benen-Diken-Hof. Located on the sand-dune island of Sylt at the northern tip of Germany, the hotel’s friendly hosts offer a little bit of everything. Spa services, a sauna and swimming pool are available for guests to enjoy. For families, there is a children’s program, many acres in which to run about in and play, and even babysitting for parents who want to enjoy a nice dinner for two. Golfing and fishing are among the possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts. The hotel’s restaurant serves breakfast until the early afternoon, so guests can sleep in and just relax.
Tie the Knot at a Bed and Breakfast in Virginia
November 26th, 2008 by Josh Prizer, under Vacations. No Comments
Let’s face it, planning a wedding isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It’s a lot of work to make your special day memorable. But there is a way to enjoy the romance and wonder of the event without dealing with all the stress. Let an innkeeper plan and prepare your wedding.
Innkeepers are especially suited to planning weddings. Their natural flair for hospitality, planning meals and helping guests, as well as their knowledge of the surrounding community and businesses make them a perfect resource for planning a wedding. A seasoned innkeeper can find a florist, photographer, caterer, minister and anything else you need to make your day perfect. In addition, what better place to get married than a romantic, historic bed and breakfast?
The Holladay House Bed & Breakfast is one excellent example of how an inn and innkeeper can help create your perfect intimate wedding event. The historic inn, which was built in the 1830s, is located in the charming country town of Orange, Virginia. Innkeepers Sam and Sharon Elswick host many events throughout the year, from weddings for up to 30 guests to receptions to bridal showers to rehearsal dinners. They can help you plan every detail. Your bridal party can even book rooms at the inn to make the whole event even more convenient.
If you love old-fashioned charm and appreciate historic ambiance, the Holladay House is a perfect spot for your wedding. The Federal-style, Virginia inn has been restored with great attention to detail. Antiques and original features, such as the beautiful fireplaces, adorn the common rooms. Your guests will no doubt reminisce about this setting for years to come. Family members and the bridal party can even book rooms at the inn to make the day even more convenient.
There are six guest rooms, each with individual decor, fine linens and several house beautiful antique beds. Some rooms include double whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, so you can pick a favorite for your honeymoon night. Specialty hypoallergenic bath products, CD players, alarm clocks and televisions with DVD players are among the other amenities. There’s plenty of room for your bridal party, and inn guests enjoy not only the comfortable accommodations, but a full, homemade breakfast in the morning. So you and your friends and family can just relax and enjoy the whole event.
So don’t sweat the details. Your innkeeper is a wedding expert, and will create a special day of happy memories that is sure to get your marriage off to a wonderful start.
Experience the Best of Italy at These Top Hotels
November 18th, 2008 by Josh Prizer, under Vacations. No Comments
Whether you long to tour the historic sites of Rome or sip wine from the terrace of a Tuscan villa, a trip to Italy is sure to rank as one of your top travel experiences.
Italy offers so many unique and interesting experiences; it can be difficult to narrow them all done for one vacation. Perhaps the best way to approach Italy is to plan to follow several different itineraries and focus on a few unique places. You might decide to combine a visit to Sicily with a driving trip that takes you from Rome to Milan. Another option is explore southern Italy and hit Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the remote area around Apulia. A unique option would be to head inland and explore the mountain towns and lake regions of Italy.
Travel expert Karen Brown describes a variety of unique itineraries on her much-visited website. These itineraries will help you get the most out of your Italian vacation. As for lodging, her readers have voted the following as Italy’s best hotels:
Locanda dell-Amorosa, chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Most Romantic” lodging, is in an ideal spot for those wishing to travel around Tuscany and Umbria. The historic hotel is part of a larger complex that once formed a small town. The stables have been transformed into a restaurant, the main house now offers more than two dozen guest rooms, and each one has been individually decorated. The rooms boast views of the vineyards and surrounding valleys, and they feature antiques and rustic wood-beamed ceilings.
Hospitality and Italy are practically synonymous, and a stay Il Falconiere Relais is further proof of that fact. This Tuscan hotel was chosen as the recipient of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for the “Warmest Welcome” in Italy. Just outside of Cortona and nestled in the Italian countryside, the hotel provides an excellent home base for day trips to Florence, Assisi and Siena. After a day exploring, return to the inn for a scrumptious dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Hotel guests can opt for special themed visits, one of which includes a mini cooking school and another includes guided tours of five different wine regions, such as Chianti and Montefalco.
Albergo Villa Belvedere is proof that you can eat your cake and have it too. This beautiful villa was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Greatest Value.” While not luxurious, the guest rooms are clean and comfortable with simple furnishings, and some have pleasant views of Lake Como. Breakfast and dinner, both filled with hearty fare, are included in the rates, adding to the value of this lakeside retreat. The Cappelletti Family and their warm hospitality are another huge plus, and you’ll be treated more as a friend than a hotel guest.
Pamper yourself at one of the world’s great resorts on the stunning Amalfi Coast at Il San Pietro di Positano. Everything about this hotel is spectacular, from the unparalleled views from the many terraces to the elegant guest rooms to the gourmet cuisine served at the hotel’s restaurant. The list of amenities is enormous - a full-service spa, fitness center, swimming pool and tennis court. Best of all is a private beach cove where you can lounge and sunbathe to your heart’s content. Il San Pietro was chosen as Italy’s best “Splendid Splurge” by Karen Brown readers.
Best Cheap Hotel Deals
November 17th, 2008 by Dane Masters, under Vacations. No Comments
We all like to get away from it all once in a while, but some of us feel like we can’t afford it. What with the price of airfare skyrocketing and gas prices getting ridiculous it is no wonder that most of us are putting off our vacations indefinitely. But what if there was a way for you to enjoy a nice vacation without breaking the bank? There is, as long as you are willing to do some research first.
I’ve met quite a few people in my years who travel for a living. Their companies don’t always provide them with lodging and it may be up to the individuals to find their own hotels. Sometimes, cheap hotel deals leave those frequent travelers sleeping in a room that they may not be comfortable closing their eyes that night. With some research and knowledge of your destination, you can find some cheap hotel deals that will better suit your needs and provide a lot more comfort.
If you’re looking to travel for pleasure, whether it be with family, friends or solo, take some time to look into what kind of cheap hotel deals you can find. If saving money isn’t an issue, than you shouldn’t even be reading this article. However, if you are a typical traveler like myself who cannot afford tons of luxury, ask yourself how educated you are on what your destination has to offer.
Let You Internet Do the Walking
The first thing you need to do is to decide where you are going, and approximately which area you plan to stay. Then make a list of hotels you like in the area. You may want to start by checking out the hotel’s website first to see if they offer any deals by booking online. If that doesn’t yield results then try calling the hotel’s reservation desk directly. With a small amount of polite inquiry, you may be able to unearth unadvertised deals, or even find a friendly reservation clerk who can find you a staff or company special.
Start your search on the Internet by checking out the hotel websites. Many will offer big savings by booking for certain lengths of time or just by booking online. Some offer savings if you have an affiliation with CAA or other memberships. If you don’t find a great deal online, then prepare to call the hotel and butter up the reservation desk. They have the inside track to deals that aren’t advertised and should be able to find something to fit your budget.
Checking out all these hotel’s websites and then calling them will probably yield the best results, but may not be the best use of your personal time. Instead you may want to check out a travel website like www.expedia.com or www.travelocity.com where you can enter a range of dates and destination. They will return a list of hotels that are available on those dates and their best rates. You can save even more money by booking your hotel along with your flight, and by being flexible with your dates.
No matter what your destination is or what your budget may be, take a little extra time to research some cheap hotel deals. You may end up with a wonderful hotel and extra cash for spending.