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Posts Tagged ‘bed and breakfast’

Take A Romantic Interlude At A NC Mountain Country Inn

May 24th, 2010 1 comment

Romance is in the air at Chateau on the Mountain. Boasting mountain views and surrounded by acres of peaceful countryside, this North Carolina bed and breakfast is the perfect spot to bring the one you love.

Each of the guest rooms has been designed with a different theme in mind. For example, the posh Biltmore Suite evokes the ambiance and glamour of the nearby Biltmore Estate. It includes a king canopy bed, fireplace and a balcony with mountain views.

The other five rooms and suites are equally impressive, all offering luxurious linens, spa tubs and a myriad of amenities. Some rooms offer a fireplace or a private garden.

In addition to the romantic rooms, guests are treated to a full breakfast each morning as well as an evening turndown service. Beverages are always available, and in the evenings there is an innkeeper-hosted reception. Other amenities include wireless internet, clock radios, hair dryers and much more.

If you feel the need to add even more romance to your visit, consider one of the innkeepers’ many romantic add-on packages. You can opt for a simple touch such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and wine to be placed in your room or consider the Touch of Romance package, which includes champagne, flowers, chocolate, strawberries and other snacks.

If the sky is the limit, consider the Vive La Romance package. This two-day package includes lodging in one of the inn’s suites, breakfast in bed and a couples’ massage. You can add on a variety of other spa treatments and even arrange for a private, gourmet dinner in your room.

Although secluded, this Fletcher bed and breakfast is within easy driving distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Biltmore Estate and all the fun of Asheville. Hiking, biking and skiing all are nearby, as well.

Jane Leisteiner enjoys traveling and blogging. For info about these romantic packages, planning NC mountain weddings, or more details about Asheville bed and breakfast inns, go to the Chateau on the Mountain or iLoveInns sites now.

5 Fantastic Things To Do In The Mountains

May 23rd, 2010 No comments

Contemplating heading to the mountains and curious about what you can get into? There are plenty of fantastic activities out in the wild and depending on how much time you might have depends on how ambitious you may be.

1. Fishing – If you are in the mountains, angling in a cold mountain stream for trout is a must. Fly fishing has been a popular fishing method since man commenced fishing with hooks. Fishing for trout seems be getting hot by May and continue throughout the summer. Salmon fishing is good between September and December in most areas. Be sure to study up on the area you are going and find out what is biting when you are going to be there. There are also some big bass in mountain lakes as well as crappie and other species.

2 Biking – Finding a cool biking trail can be tough to find and really depends on where you are. In Alabama, we are lucky enough to have a number of genuinely amazing trails. Our state parks have done a nice job of developing awesome mountain bike trails. Bike riding is enjoyable to do in groups or on your own. Always study your trail before you set out and make sure you have the proper tools. I usually carry an Allen wrench for my brakes and a container of air with a patching kit! Always wear a helmet while your riding! A helmet can save your life if you hit a tree or a rock!

3. Camping – If you intend to really get near to nature and brave the climate, camping is a wonderful way! There is nothing like waking up beside a stream sensing the fresh mountain air. Cooking fish right out of river and experiencing a fire is a fantastic way to savor a vacation. Always keep in mind wild critters like bear, wolfs, snakes, spiders and

4. Hunting – Depending on what time of the year you vacation determines what you can hunt. You can find hunting clubs or guides for day hunts or for full retreats! Many areas have prime deer hunting, Turkey, elk, moose, quail, chukar, duck and many others. Also many ranches and guides offer hunting and vacation packages. Enjoy fine dining and fine hospitality on a vacation hunt! Have the hospitality of a bed and breakfast with the adventure of a wild game hunt.

5.Snow Skiing – High Mountain areas host ski lodges and resorts that wait for winter guest to hit the slopes every year. Some resorts have advanced snowmaking systems that allow more snow and in some cases extends the season.

Whether you’re hiking, fishing, biking, hunting, camping, skiing be sure to take many pictures. Just remember don’t become too comfortable around wild animals, many are territorial and don’t take kind to anyone invading their space.

Find a great Vacation Rental or a secluded Mountain Bed & Breakfast today!

The Perfect Getaway For History Buffs

April 30th, 2010 No comments

Take a step back in time and enjoy a historic vacation in the pristine city of Asheville, North Carolina. Tour the nation’s largest historic mansion or perhaps visit a Civil War memorial or take a trolley ride on a unique historic tour. All of these options and many more are waiting for you in this popular Blue Ridge Mountain getaway spot.

The spectacular Biltmore Estate is a highlight of any historic tour of the Asheville area. Boasting more than 250 rooms, this massive manor home was built by tycoon George Vanderbilt. There are several options for history lovers, from tours of the mansion and grounds to historic exhibits at the estate’s Antler Hill Village.

In addition to the Biltmore Estate, there are dozens of unique historic sites to visit. A tour on the Gray Line Trolley not only takes guests past many of Asheville’s most famous historic venues, but also includes admission to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, boyhood home of the famed writer and the setting for his masterpiece, “Look Homeward, Angel.” Another fun option is to tour the city’s oldest home, the pre-Civil War era Smith-McDowell House Museum.

When visiting Asheville, the Montford Historic District is the perfect locale for history lovers to stay. The Asheville Seasons, a stunning restored home, is right in the middle of all the fun, within walking distance to a myriad of historic homes and downtown Asheville.

The accommodations at this Asheville bed and breakfast include five guest rooms, most of which include a fireplace. All include beds topped with Kingsdown mattresses, fluffy pillows and fine linens. Antiques, eclectic furnishings and artwork enhance the history and romance of your guest room, and luxurious bath products and plush robes will leave you feeling pampered. Several of the private baths include an original clawfoot soaking tub.

The innkeepers at this Asheville inn are experts on local attractions, so be sure to ask them about restaurants, museums, shopping and historic sites. In addition, they offer several packages ideal for history buffs. One includes tickets to the Biltmore Estate and another includes tickets on the local trolley and a tour of the Thomas Wolfe home.

Jane Leisteiner likes visiting inns and blogging. To get further information about this Asheville bed and breakfast inn or more details about bed breakfast inns, visit the Asheville Seasons or iLoveInns websites now.

Enjoy Bicycle Touring In Italy

April 30th, 2009 No comments

Italy Tour for a Lesson in Italy Culture

Italy is a beautiful country to visit as well as being historical. You’ll see sites and buildings that go back for many centuries. It’s a picture of heritage and culture like no other country. Located in Southern Europe, it includes both Sardinia and Sicily. Some of the interesting neighboring countries are Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and France. If you are interested in chartering a tour to Italy, many travel agencies can help you. Most of these Italy tours will include many cities and regions of the country where you can learn a lot about the culture and history of Italy.

Travel Arrangements

Finding an airline to get you to Italy shouldn’t be a problem since most of the major airlines will fly you from the United State to Italy. Alitalia is the official Italian airline and they will fly you to Italy from other countries besides the United States. If a tour is what you’re planning, it will be your choice what airlines you use. The airline you choose will depend on the cost, quality and flight connections offered by each. Most of the airlines will be competitive with each other so you should be able to get a good price. Although you’ll need a passport to get into Italy from America or Canada, you won’t need a visa unless you are planning to stay longer than 90 days.

Things to Consider Before Booking Your Tour

Weather will probably play a factor in when you take your tour to Italy. If you enjoy the very hot days of summer, you’ll want to tour Italy in the summer months. However, if the extreme heat bothers you, the April through May and September and October are ideal months for touring Italy. Many activities you may wish to do will be inconvenient in the hot months. One example is bicycle touring. Italy is a country that you will love seeing while on a bicycle and many bicycle-touring companies will set you up on one of their group tours.

Lodging and Transportation In Italy

Another consideration for your Italy tour is where you’ll stay and how you’ll get around the city. You will not find a shortage of places to stay as there are many. They offer many establishments from bed and breakfasts and inns to five star hotels. You’ll find cheaper prices with lower rated hostels and pensions than in exclusive hotels. A lot has to do with what you are looking for and how far your budget will stretch. You’ll have no problem getting around in Italy, as there are many modes of transportation available. You have trains, boats, subways, rental cars and bicycles.

Read full articles about bike rides and century rides info available here at this web.

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B&B Guests Earn Rewards 10 Times Faster Than Leading Hotel Chain

March 26th, 2009 No comments

If you are looking to pile up free-night rewards from frequent stay programs when you travel, we’ve found that you can get more bang for your buck staying at a bed and breakfast. Here’s a little test we did:

Rewarded 10 Times Faster than at Marriott

Picking up the phone, we called Marriott Rewards with a standard request to earn a free stay. We asked about booking a $209-per-night room at the Marriott Suites, which would get us a total of 627 points per night. In order to compile enough points to get a free night at their lowest level, we would need 7,500 points. That means we would have to spend $2,500, staying about 11.9 nights in order to get that free night reward.

Now we’ll check how travelers can earn a free stay at B&Bs nationwide, in addition to a few other B&B-related values. Bed and breakfasts are hard to beat when it comes to unique lodging, hospitality and what you can get for your hard-earned dollar. If you are interested in making your money work better for you, take into consideration a couple of items:

Across the nation, more than 1,500 B&B inns will give guests a free second-night stay with the purchase of the first night. They do this for a simple reason. They want exposure for their property. The typical bed and breakfast doesn’t have the large advertising budget that a standard hotel does. So, they look to earn word-of-mouth exposure and added promotion through this popular program.

At iLoveInns.com, the site that runs this free-night program, travelers can save $140 on an average two-night stay. Think about the numbers above that we quoted from Marriott Rewards. How much more can you stretch your travel dollar than using it to spend 11.9 nights in order to get that free night?

Depending on the individual bed and breakfast or country inn, a traveler can save as much as $650. Plus, the buy-one-get-one promotion is an immediate reward.

You can save even more when you take into consideration your meal expense. The bed and breakfast, after all, comes with breakfast. But many inns also take it a step further an offer various free business services and such items as free drinks or snacks (and not with a mini-bar price).

Money and Memories Go Further with Bed and Breakfast Trips

Now that you know you can save more from a bed and breakfast, consider a typical inn and what it provides. For example, look at this California Bed and Breakfast, the Inn at Seventeen Mile drive located in the Monterey Peninsula.

Choose from rooms with views of the sea or garden in the main house of this three-building bed and breakfast. Or, enjoy the oak and redwoods in the chalet and cottage rooms. Unwind in the spa beneath the towering trees or the gardens whose guests also include the occasional deer and monarch butterfly. Maybe sip some champagne near the fountains and koi ponds. With the Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free program, guests will save anywhere from $145 to $290 at this lovely property.

Hard to beat an excellent experience and an excellent value. When you’re trying to decide how to find that next free-night perk, take a look at a property like that California bed and breakfast. The B&B free-night program is a superb travel value.

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