We Hotel-Scoop travel writers are a lucky lot, traveling the world over, discovering new destinations and staying in some of the world’s most iconic hotels, motels, resorts, and B&Bs. To Celebrate International B&B month, we offer up a second look at some of these tried and true places to stay, our favorite and best Bed and Breakfasts for your next vacation.
Why B&Bs?
Bed and Breakfasts and inns are one of the oldest types of lodging, still attracting travelers from all over the world. Why? Oh, let me count the ways!
Perhaps it’s the charm of their smallness. Each one is unique, while some are castles, renovated Victorian homes, old cabooses…or whatever inspires the new innkeeper and or architect.
Maybe it’s those special amenities from locally sourced decor or toiletries to homemade breakfasts. Location plays a key role in the choosing a B&B as many are located in out-of-the-way destinations where often a traditional hotel may not be available (or really desired, for that matter…).
But likely and, most importantly, B&Bs are favorites among travelers for their personalized service given by innkeepers who in essence invite the guests into their homes, becoming a home away from home for travelers. And the opportunity to wind down, relax, and enjoy the moments.
Choosing your favorite B&B is not unlike choosing your favorite vacation. It depends on how smooth your journey, who are your travel partners (or solo), where you’re going, your frame of mind, the weather, the experience…and a whole lot of other subjective, sometimes uncontrollable travel components.
Whatever your reason for choosing a particular bed and breakfast, take a second look at these lovely, previously Hotel-Scoop reviewed B&Bs to celebrate BedandBreakfast.com International B&B Month.
Let’s Start with My Top B&B Picks
I have stayed in so many memory-making Bed and breakfasts, and all of them equally impressive in their own right. What stands out in my mind right now are these three treasures as my stays here are so amazing that I’d like to return.
Blue Skies Inn, Manitou Springs, Colorado
I’ve lived in Colorado for decades, and I’m sad that I haven’t discovered this B&B before, especially since Manitou Springs is a short road trip from me. Enticing gardens, meandering paths, and 10 hand-painted and uniquely themed rooms inside a 2.5 acre property. Yeah, Blue Skies Inn is perfect for a romantic getaway, family reunion, or a girlfriends getaway. Great location, perhaps the top B&B breakfast ever. And Innkeeper Sally cemented the B&B experience with her artistic and welcoming “zen” personality, and my friend and I felt so at home. We’ll be back.
German Village House, Columbus, Ohio
Ohio is one of the states that surprised me. Welcoming, beautiful (yes!), and so much to do. (Hello Hocking Hills and your quirky lodging!)
When I landed in Columbus on a dark and stormy night, yes, I was exhausted, what traveler isn’t, but the short 15-minute ride from the airport to downtown on a brick-paved street perked me right up.
And the entrance through the tree-lined, spectacular fall foliage-lined streets, just wow. The German Village Guest House is located in the 233 acres of German Village, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Annadele’s Plantation & Restaurant, Louisiana Northshore
After a long week in Mississippi, my husband and I were thrilled to wind down at a cozy bed & breakfast on Louisiana’s Northshore, Annadele’s Plantation & Restaurant. Nestled among magnolia, cypress, pine and pear trees, Annadele’s is located just off the busy Highway 190 in Covington.
Yet we were pleasantly surprised at the surreal quiet surrounding this elegant and historic bed and breakfast (yet driving distance to New Orleans). Dating back nearly 200 hundred years, you literally do feel as if you’ve stepped back in time as you enter the landscaped grounds.
Annadele’s Plantation & Restaurant
Carolyn Heller B&B Picks
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Carolyn B. Heller is a full-time freelance writer specializing in travel, food, and culture. Here are her Hotel-Scoop B&B Picks:
Les Relais de Joséphine, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Ms. Heller had us at “Flying Dolphins and Fantastic Food at Les Relais de Joséphine, Rangiroa, French Polynesia.” She picks Les Relais de Joséphine for its amazing food (rates include breakfast and family-style dinners) and spinning dolphins that you can watch from the deck. This exotic B&B is a rustic-chic seven-bungalow lodging and a magnet for independent, food-loving travelers. It’s especially popular with scuba-divers and snorkelers who come to explore Rangiroa’s marine life-filled seas. Ready to book?
BriMar B&B, Tofino, BC, Canada
Beaches of Canada? Oh yes, you can! Heller recommends BriMar B&B for its great location on one of Canada’s best beaches. : . Great location on one of Canada’s best beaches. On the west coast of Canada’s Vancouver Island, the rainforest-and-beach town of Tofino is a laid-back getaway destination. It takes some time to get here — a 90-minute ferry trip from Vancouver to Nanaimo, then a winding three-hour cross-island drive — but the leisurely journey helps get you into your vacation vibe.
Old Wailuku Inn, Maui, Hawaii
Why stay in an in-town B&B on Maui when the island has so many fantastic beach resorts? At the Old Wailuku Inn, a well-managed and centrally-located B&B, you get modern rooms decorated in traditional Hawaiian style, lots of advice about things to do from the welcoming hosts, and great breakfasts. An interesting contrast to Maui’s beachfront resorts, with lots of old Hawaii style. Welcoming professional owners and great breakfasts, too. Go ahead and book your next Maui vacation!
Buzzy Gordon B&B Picks
Reporter, editor, travel writer, and award-winning journalist Buzzy Gordon picks two of his top B&Bs.
Oliver Inn B&B, South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana, may be best known as the home of Notre Dame University and the Fighting Irish, but there is a lot more to the city than legendary college football. And when visiting, it’s good to keep in mind that the Oliver Inn B&B ranks higher in lodging polls than the green-and-gold do in coaches’ polls these days. Worth mentioning is that this Indiana bed and breakfast was the former mansion of a Midwest business tycoon.
Second Home Peru Guesthouse & Gallery
A Museum, a View, an Unforgettable Stay. Along with Machu Picchu, Peru’s capital, Lima, is enjoying a tourism boom these days, thanks to its world-class museums and growing reputation as a center of South American gastronomy. Fortunately, the hotel scene in the city is keeping pace, offering a large variety of excellent accommodations in every price range. One establishment in particular — Second Home Peru Guesthouse & Gallery — deserves to be at the top of the list in the category of B&B’s. The actual home of a leading Peruvian artist, this was a Hotel-Scoop 2013 favorite.
Second Home Peru
Best B&B Picks from Mary Jo Manzanares
Mary Jo is all about Value + Luxury, and searching for that sweet spot where experience and price intersect to create WOW. So you know her best bed and breakfast picks are going to be awesome!
Pine River Ranch, Leavenworth, Washington
Over the river, and through the woods, you ‘ll find a romantic rustic luxury getaway at Pine River Ranch in Leavenworth, Washington. The 23-acre property has access to Nason Creek, a pleasant walk when you’re checking out the grounds, and it’s also a short drive down the road to Lake Wenatchee.
Looking for a pleasant getaway weekend from Seattle? Take the beautiful 2-hour drive across Stevens pass during the summertime across the Cascade Mountain Range. Perhaps even more beautiful during the fall, and Pine River Ranch is about halfway between Stevens Pass and Bavarian-themed downtown Leavenworth.
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The Blue Mansion, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Spend the night in a museum? Why yes, you can. If the movie Night at the Museum left you wanting a cultural sleep over, The Blue Mansion in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, offers you the opportunity to have one. If you’re wondering how it got its name, once you see the photos, you’ll understand. So what are you waiting for, go ahead and read the review and SEE the photos (sneak peak below), and you’ll know why you should book this B&B.
Nancy Brown’s Bed and Breakfasts Picks
A world traveler, Nancy D. Brown combines her professional writing career with her thirst for adventure. As a hotel reviewer specializing in luxury properties, Nancy understands the importance of a great bed, fine food, and stellar views. And she’s a fan of pet-friendly hotels.
The Hideaway, Carmel California
Nancy says, “If you find yourself in Carmel, California, The Hideaway is near the white sand beaches of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and is, of course, pet-friendly.
The Clement Hotel, California
One of the most upscale B&B’s in California is The Clement Hotel, When’s the last time you stayed at a 23 room urban retreat with your very own butler and your stay included your four-legged pet as an hotel guest?
Have we missed your favorite Bed and Breakfast? Feel free to share your best B&Bs in the comments below.
