B&B’s Offer Ease in Love & Romance

June 12, 2009

A romantic getaway is one of the best ways to celebrate the special days of love in your life. From honeymoons to anniversaries, “celebration vacations” remain widespread, even as travelers undertake recessionary belt-tightening.

Celebration vacations and honeymoons require romantic surroundings.

WESTERN UNITED STATES

Gables Inn, Sausalito, CA: Guest rooms offer views of San Francisco Bay, wood-burning fireplaces, patios or balconies, and whirlpool tubs. Walk to nearly 200 shops, galleries, restaurants in the heart of Sausalito, then return to enjoy complimentary wine and cheese evening receptions. Rates: $175-$645.

Arch Cape House, Arch Cape, OR: This French-style chateau offers beautiful ocean views of the Oregon coast, and is decorated with European antiques and original works of art. Hike to mountain overlooks and beaches, then return for romantic four-course wine paired dinners or a casual Saturday night crab feed. Deep soaking tubs, double showers, ocean views are just the beginning of the room features. Rates: $159-$289.

Carson Ridge Private Luxury Cabins, Carson, WA: Located on the Hood River, these rustic but elegant cabins offer all the exhilaration of the Columbia River Gorge. Couples will cozy up in cabins for two, with a massive log beds, luxurious linens, Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces., and special amenities Private covered patios with log swings, Satellite TV, slate floors, and DVD players are standard fare in all cabins. Rates: $225-$255 nightly.

Bentwood Inn, Jackson Hole, WY: Built entirely from huge pine logs, this 6000-square-foot inn offers commanding views of the Grand Tetons in an elegant wilderness setting. Located just down the road from Jackson Hole Resort and Grand Teton National Park and just “a cast away” from the Snake River, this inn is an outdoor recreation-lover’s dream. Rooms feature all you need for romance – private balconies, king beds, fireplaces and Jacuzzis.

One of our favorites in Jackson Hole is Love Ridge Lodges Grand View. Just blocks from the Jackson Town Square, these luxury condominiums offer great accommodations.

SOUTHWEST & MIDWEST UNITED STATES

Adobe Village Graham Inn in Sedona is awesome. Winning the four diamond AAA award for a decade, this luxury desert resort includes beautiful casitas.

Adobe Grand Villas, Sedona, AZ: This Mission-style inn provides unparalleled views of Sedona’s famous red rocks and 15 unique villas with king size feather bedding, jetted tubs and kitchenettes.

Castle in the Country, Allegan, MI: This gem set on 65 pastoral acres features everything from an on-site spa for a relaxing couples massage to wooded trails for quiet walks. Guest rooms have lavish amenities to make the most of a romantic getaway; gourmet breakfasts served at tables for two make this inn a perfect celebration destination in the Saugatuck area. Rates: $135-$245.

Inn on Lake Granbury, Granbury, TX: Just 35 miles from Fort Worth, this lakeside inn offers romantic rooms including stone fireplaces and private balconies or patios. Stroll hand in hand along the lake to Granbury’s historic town square for great shopping and restaurants. Rates: $225-395. For another great option in Texas, ideal for those seeking a modern fusion of art and architecture, try the Kimber Modern in Austin’s hip SoCo District. Rates: $250-$320.

St. Croix River Inn, Osceola, WI: Set high on a bluff overlooking the St. Croix River, just an hour from Minneapolis, this century-old home blends history and luxury. Soak fireside in a hydro-massage tub, enjoy a glass of wine from the honor bar, or a tête-à-tête on your private patio or deck. The next morning, a full gourmet breakfast is served in the privacy of your room. Rates: $135-$250.

SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

Zeigler House, Savannah, GA: Set on a cobblestoned street in historic Savannah, Zeigler House suites feature king-size beds with luxury linens, generously stocked refrigerators, and kitchenettes; some have a whirlpool tub, private entrance, and an outdoor patio with fountain. Enjoy fresh, home-baked pastries in the privacy of your suite each morning. Rates: $189-249. Another great Savannah choice is the Spanish Moss Inn, a recently opened B&B offering five elegant guest rooms and intimate common areas. Rates: $159-$199. The President’s Quarters has spacious rooms with balconies, lofts, and private entrances; rates include continental breakfast, afternoon hors d’oeuvres and wine, nightly turndown service and cordials. Rates: $150-$329.

The Swag, Asheville, NC: This hidden gem shares an old split rail fence boundary that stretches more than a mile along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the rails are just the beginning of the four R’s found here – remote, rustic, refined and romantic. Private balconies and stone decks with hot tubs, steam showers and private outdoor showers, command grand Smoky Mountain views and more. Rates, including all meals: $430-$785.

Our favorite in Asheville is the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. One of the oldest and famous grand resorts built in 1913 offers an ambience and charm you’ll fall in love with.

L’Auberge Provencale, White Post, VA: Located just 60 miles west of DC on eight acres in Virginia’s Hunt Country, this culinary gem is dedicated to the appreciation of fine food, wine and service. Styled after the finest French country inns, the faux-painted walls, Provençale fabrics and antiques create an atmosphere of a true auberge with spacious rooms and romantic amenities, perfect for a celebration vacation. Rates: $155-$325.

NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Hartstone Inn, Camden ME: This Midcoast Maine inn enhances romantic rooms with its culinary flair. Luxurious amenities include soft robes, fluffy featherbeds, fine linens, gas fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, CD players, TV and WiFi, plus a fine dining restaurant that has dazzled couples for years. Biking, hiking, kayaking, shopping and windjammers are all within an easy stroll. Rates: $140-$275. Heading to Maine’s South Coast? Two choices for those seeking beautifully decorated seaside or wooded cottages in Kennebunkport are Hidden Pond and Cabot Cove Cottages.

Brampton Inn, Chesterfield, MD: This 19th century antebellum plantation offers 21st century amenities including double whirlpool tubs, jetted and steam showers, heated towel bars and Japanese-style ofuro soaking tubs. A full à la carte gourmet breakfast can be delivered to your cottage or served in the formal dining room. By day, explore all that Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers; at night, relish time with one another in a luxurious setting. Rates: $149-$399.

Inn at Cape Cod, Yarmouthport, MA: Just steps from the shops, restaurants and fresh water beach in Yarmouthport plus all that Cape Cod offers, couples are wowed from the moment they spy the grand staircase that leads to guest rooms with pillow-top beds and fresh flowers. The four-course fusion breakfast is sure to fuel couples for a day of enjoying the Cape together. Rates: $160-$315.

Francis Malbone, Newport, RI: An easy stroll to all of Newport’s fine restaurants and shops in the downtown harborfront area, this boutique inn features 20 guest rooms and suites. Most of the elegantly decorated guest rooms have fireplaces, plasma TVs, and whirlpool tubs. Breakfasts have been heralded by Bon Appetit, and afternoon tea adds to the complimentary fare. Rates: $265-$495.

OUTSIDE UNITED STATES

Humboldt House, BC, Canada: Complimentary champagne and truffles await in beautifully decorated rooms featuring fireside Jacuzzis, and it just gets better from there. Explore Victoria’s exciting restaurants, shops and attractions easily by foot. Gourmet breakfasts fuel romantic adventures for the day. Rates: CDN $165-$295.

Agriturismo Marciano, Siena, Italy: Offering a country setting with easy access to the historic city of Sienna and the magnificent Piazza del Campo, this inn offers comfortably decorated guest rooms, some with distant views of Sienna’s famous Duomo. Dine at the inn, offering exceptionally delicious local fare and enjoy wines created right on the premises. Rates: €70-€130.

Antigua Capilla B&B, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: Offering fantastic views of the city center from the rooftop terrace, this B&B is an easy walk to the popular local Mexican artisans’ market and San Miguel’s historic town square, and is a perfect place to explore Mexico’s colorful history together. Spanish Colonial architecture is complemented by a host of modern amenities including gas fireplaces, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, MP3 players and free wi-fi access. Rates: US$105-150

For more saving on romantic getaways, check out the nearly 300 romantic packages from B&Bs in Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States.

Background: In a June 2008 survey conducted by Peter Yesawich’s Y Partnership, 70% of respondents celebrated a special occasion with a vacation, while 75% vacationed in celebration of their honeymoon or a significant anniversary. Similarly, a May 2009 survey conducted by hotels.com found that honeymooners are not cutting back on their dream trips, despite the recession; its survey of 500 brides-to-be found that 98% are still planning to honeymoon after their wedding.