Best Local Bed and Breakfast

How to Get a US Passport

2011-02-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

A daunting task for any family before thinking of an international trip is the thought of applying for a passport. Not only is this an added expense, but the steps to getting a passport can seem downright confusing. Here are some easy to follow directions to help you get a passport for yourself or how to get a passport for your minor child.

Before you begin the process, remember DO NOT sign your passport application until you are in front of the passport acceptance officer. If you are a first time applicant, you MUST apply in person for your passport.

What you will need

Two (2) Passport Photos – These can be taken at a USPS Office for around $15, but photo processing centers such as Walgreens or CVS offer passport photos for around $7. The photos must adhere to the US State Department’s passport photo policy. Keep in mind that this photo is worse than your driver’s license photo – you’ll have to use this one for 10 years, so make it good.

Form DS-11 – This form is available online or in hard copy format from your nearby passport acceptance office. Fill out the application before you apply, but DO NOT sign the application.

US Citizenship Evidence – Passport applicants must show proof of being a US Citizen. This means you’ll have to submit a certified copy with your application. If you do not have a copy of your birth certificate handy, contact your state’s vital records and request a certified copy with a raised seal.

Current ID – When applying for your passport, you’ll have to present a current photo ID to the passport acceptance officer.

Copy of Current ID – Your passport application needs to be submitted with a photocopy of your current ID, showing the front and back of the ID. It must be on white paper sized 8 1/2 x 11 inches. NO OTHER SIZE. The copy must be on only one side of the paper.

Passport Fee – The full, current fee must be paid at the time of application. If applying at a Passport Acceptance Facility, you can pay by credit card, check, or money order. Checks and money orders must be made payable to “Department of State”.

This is a basic list of things you’ll need to apply for a passport. The official rules and information are available at the US Department of State’s website. There are special rules for different circumstances. If you are applying for a passport for a minor under the age of 16, here are some extra steps in addition to the regular process:

The minor and BOTH parents or guardians must be present in person when applying for a passport.
Parents or guardians must provide proof of guardianship, either in the form of a birth certificate or legal documents.
Copies of identification of both parents or guardians, along with ID shown during application process.

For special rules regarding the application process for minors ages 16-17 years old read the special requirements.

Regarding passports and cruise travel, this information is from the State Department’s website:
“U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.”

We hope this information helps lead you in the right direction when applying for a US passport for the first time. The initial registration fee may seem steep, but keep in mind this international travel identification is valid for ten years.

Additional rules to keep in mind:

You must have at least six months left on your passport to travel internationally.

Before visiting other countries, check into Visa requirements.

5 Tips For Better Vacation Photographs

2011-02-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

Tripod

Using “available light” or natural lighting is a great way to get emotion in your image, deep colors and softer light is beautiful but many times the picture will come out blurry. To combat this try using a tripod for a more steady shot and to let the camera have more time to collect light. If you are using a small camera or a traveling light try using a “table top” tripod they are inexpensive and can fit in your pocket.

Fill Flash

Having back lit photographs can ruin a great family portrait. This usually happens when people are standing in front of a window with the sun shinning through or in front of the sun outside. The best way to get the proper exposure is to use the “ Fill Flash”. Almost all cameras have this feature (usually marked with a lightning bolt and a +/- icon) and will clean up almost any small lighting issue.

Rule of Thirds

This is a very important rule for setting up composition here is a idea on what it is:

“The rule of thirds just means rule of thumb. Common in art, photography and design. Rule of thirds is as the image is imagined and then divided into nine equal parts by two equals spaced horizontal lines, two equal spaced vertical lines, and the important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or intersections. The idea is that the technique should align a subject and create more tension, energy.”

Cropping

This can be one of the most under looked practices in all of photography and is an art form in its own right. Adding focus to the most dramatic parts of the photograph can really make an average picture a stunning in just a few minutes.

Size

Remember you can own the biggest and greatest camera in the world but it will not do you any good if you don’t take with you on your trips. When selecting a camera find something that will suit you and is comfortable in your hands. If you don’t mind the size of a larger DSRL camera then try one of them. They are fast, fun, and can take stunning photos, even on the fully automatic modes. If lugging around a bigger camera doesn’t sound like much fun there is nothing wrong with the little point and shoots.

BnB in the Spotlight! Smoke Tree Resort

2011-01-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

The SmokeTree Resort & Bungalows is a true desert oasis. Five lush acres are home to 26 recently remodeled suites and bungalows. These individual private retreats offer luxury accommodations with all the modern amenities.

Enjoy a workout or relax poolside in the manicured gardens. Our expert staff arranges everything from golf and tennis to hiking or massage. World-class shopping is just steps away.

Resort

The SmokeTree Resort & Bungalows is a true desert oasis. Five lush acres are home to 26 recently remodeled cottages and bungalows. These individual private retreats offer luxury accommodations with all the modern amenities.

Enjoy a workout or relax poolside in the manicured gardens. Our expert staff arranges everything from golf and tennis to hiking or massage. Located in Paradise Valley on the edge of Scottsdale, world class shopping is just steps away.

Experience authentic Arizona hospitality.

Experience The SmokeTree Resort & Bungalows.

Accommodations

Bungalow Queen-

Single Queen Bed deluxe accommodations with garden view.
32 inch flat screen cable television
Private bath with tub / shower.
Dining area and private wet bar
Private patio and al fresco dining area

One Bedroom Bungalow-

King Bed (or Double Queen Bed) deluxe accommodations with garden view
Separate Living Room with 32 inch flat screen cable television
Private bath with tub/shower
Dining area and private wet bar
Private patio and al fresco dining area

Suites-

One and Two Bedroom Premium accommodations with king or queen beds and garden or pool views
Separate living and dining areas with full kitchens
32 inch flat screen cable televisions
Private bath with tub / shower
Private patio and al fresco dining area

Meetings and Events-

Boardroom Seating for 12 persons
Private Dining Room Seating for 40 persons
Restaurant Capacity of 140 persons
Garden Cocktail or Dinner Function Space for 180 persons
Expert Catering and Events Staff

Accommodations include:

Daily Maid Service
Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet Connection
Local Daily Newspaper
All Accommodations are Non-Smoking
Complementary Access to Fitness Room
Premium Bath Amenities
Complementary Bicycle Rentals

Take a video tour of the Smoke Tree

7101 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253
Toll Free 877-948-7660
Local 480-948-7660
Fax 480-948-7661

21 Tips to Help You Pack for a Trip

2011-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

We have compiled a great deal of packing tips after years of travelling and together with some members suggestions, we thought we should share them with other travellers setting out.

1. Security and Keeping Details Safe

Scan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this (in an email for e.g.) in your web based email account. You can also store the details of your emergency 'lost card' telephone numbers in your web based email account so you know who to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen. This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access your all important information. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when applying for a new one.

Also consider writing your home and destination address (and mobile number if you have one) on a self-adhesive sticky label to stick INSIDE your luggage in a visible place. If your luggage is lost and the baggage label has come off, at least the airline can still figure out whose luggage it is.

2. Split up your valuables

Split up your bank cards, cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallet stolen of course!).

3. Nalgene/Small Bottles

Use nalgene/small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see through ones being preferable (easier for security purposes post August 2006). You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don't have to always carry a big bottle with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carry-on luggage, which as of early 2007 is much more restricted than before.

4. Backpack Tips

When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack.

5. Plastic Bags

It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best.

6. Pack in Plastic

Pack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably zip lock), divided into items e.g. underwear, t-shirts, shorts etc. before packing in your suitcase or backpack. One plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want. So an overnight stay somewhere just means taking 1 item out of a bag - no rummaging!! In addition, if you have to unpack at customs etc, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing etc out in front of everybody, you can calmly take maybe 5/6 bags out, the contents of which can be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy. Just be sure not to leave your plastic bags lying around if you are travelling in nature! (Tip from a member)

7. Clothes

Pack only what you know you will use and if you are travelling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road. You can cut back on the number of clothes items by packing multi-purpose clothing, for example items that can both be worn during the day and as sleepwear.

8. Split up clothes when travelling with others

When you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes between different suitcases/backpacks/bags etc. If one persons luggage doesn't arrive at the destination, they'll still have clean clothes available. Airlines generally don't compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours so this will save you money if it happens to you. (Tip from a member)

9. Separate Beach Bag

When packing to head to the beach consider pre-packing whatever you might need at the beach into a beachbag inside your backpack or suitcase. Especially if travelling with kids, this will prove a timesaver!

10. Suitcase lovers

For those using suitcases without a divider. A piece of cardboard makes an excellent divider and helps keep your clothes organized and neat as you are able to lay them out flat on the cardboard. It also makes airport inspections a lot less of a hassle as you can lift out your divider with clothes on top easily.

11. Gifts

While it is a good idea to take some small gifts with you while travelling, pre-wrapping them can be a waste of time if you are flying and your bags are opened.

12. Flashlights or Torches

When packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the batteries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the flashlight.

13. Diaper Bag

If you are travelling with babies, then the diaper bag is an excellent place to hide your valuables. This most likely will not be the first thing to be stolen. It's also a great to use as a waste bag (even when not travelling with a child!), especially at places that do not allow you to flush toilet paper. (Tip from a member)

14. Shoes

If you want to make sure everything else in your bags stays clean and odor free, place the shoes inside old socks and then inside airtight plastic bags (ziplock).

15. Carry-On

Keep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, LA or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea as bags tend to get delayed or lost on long haul, multiple stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medication, clothes or your important papers even if it is just for a few days.

16. Roll Technique

Somehow it seems that bags will hold more if the clothes are rolled rather than folded. If you roll in tissue paper, the clothes will also get less wrinkled.

17. Travelling to warm destinations?

If you appreciate cold drinks think of using a six-pack cooler as a toiletry bag. Once you arrive at your destination and unload your toiletries your 'toiletry bag' guarantees cheap cold drinks on the beach, no matter how remote.

18. Local Tourism Offices

The best source of information is usually local. Check out Tourism Offices to find unbiased feedback on the best accommodation to suit your needs. Excercise caution in countries where you feel the information might not be so unbiased!

19. Minimize on toiletries

Take only half a tube of toothpaste rolled up tight, store shampoo in small containers, only take half a roll of toilet paper (for emergencies only) and crush it so the middle is folded.

20. Take solid shampoo bars and tooth powder

Solid shampoo bars and tooth powder (instead of tooth paste) can be easily located on the internet and make carry-on travel in this age of liquid restriction possible. Places like Beijing now bar all liquids in carry-on bags, and you'll still be able to breeze through without checking.

21. Planning on carrying a lot of luggage?

While carrying a lot of luggage is not recommendable, sometimes it is necessary in the case of relocations and so on. If you have the possibility, fly via the US as airlines will allow you 64kg (two 32kg bags) instead of the 20kg in the rest of the world. Even if it is just a stopover in the US, you will be allowed to carry the extra weight. Check with your local travel agent for the details.

22. Packing List and Trip Planning

Ready to start packing? Or is there still more trip planning to be done?

EXPLORING WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON

2011-01-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

Named in about 1792 after Captain George Vancouver’s sailing master, Whidbey Island is the largest of the Puget Sound islands. Its length from top to bottom is only 60 miles and getting to it from Seattle is easy: at most a 30-minute drive north to the ferry terminal, followed by a 20-minute crossing. We’ll take you on a tour of the more interesting spots on the island as we head northward to Deception Pass, where we’ll cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca onto Fidalgo Island en route to another ferry, and the first of our stops in the San Juan Islands.

From Seattle, take I-5 North to 525 North/Mukilteo. Keep left on the Mukilteo Speedway, passing signs that say 99 South/Lynwood, and continue to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, where you’ll queue for the Whidbey Island Ferry.

Once on Whidbey, you’ll first pass through the small town of Clinton, once a steamboat refueling spot, and today home to the busiest of Whidbey’s two ferry docks. A strong Norwegian heritage influences many of the activities in Clinton and on the island generally. Drive north on 525 for 2 to 3 miles and turn right on Langley Road. Our first stop is the Whidbey Island Vineyard and Winery on the right in a little less than 2 miles. Begun in 1986, the winery is owned and operated by Gregory and Elizabeth Osenbach, who proudly handcraft small lots of wine using traditional European methods. Let them introduce you to their award-winning wines: crisp, fragrant whites; an unusual and lighthearted rhubarb wine; plus serious reds and whites from classic varieties grown in eastern Washington. The Osenbachs specialize in grape varieties from the cooler parts of Europe: France’s Loire Valley and Alsace, Germany, and Eastern Europe.

Leaving the winery, turn right onto Langley Road and head in the direction of the town of Langley. Langley Road becomes Sixth. Turn right on Anthes Avenue and drive to First. Park anywhere you like and take to this charming village on foot. Perched on a low bluff overlooking Saratoga Pass, Mount Baker, and the Cascades, Langley’s lovely waterfront, historic buildings, walkways, and parks await you.

This is a thriving arts community; home to many regional, national, and international artists. Browse among bookstores, bakeries, art galleries, shops, jewelers, and restaurants to your heart’s content. Excellent places to stay in Langley are the Inn at Langley, Saratoga Inn and Eagles Nest Inn.

When you’re ready to move on, drive back up Anthes and turn right on Third, heading west. Third becomes Brooks Hill Road, and from here it’s a short and lovely drive out to Double Bluff Beach, not one of the prettiest, but certainly one of the better, beaches for collecting shells, digging up clams, and spotting bald eagles—especially during low tide. To get to Double Bluff, take Brooks Hill (which becomes Bayview Road) to 525 North and turn right. Drive 2 miles and turn left on Double Bluff Road. The road ends at the beach. See if you can spot an eagle in search of its next meal out over the water.

Retrace your steps back to 525 North and turn left through Freeland. Turn left again on Bush Point Road (the idyllic waterfront Cliff House and Cottage are located off Bush Point Road) which will eventually become Smuggler’s Cove Road and drive 6 miles to South Whidbey State Park. Here you have a handful of short trails to choose from, whether through old-growth forest or out to the beach. All are easy, ranging from almost standing in place to a gentle loop of almost 2 miles—a very tranquil spot.

Leaving the park, turn left on Smuggler’s Cove and head initially in the direction of Coupeville. When you get to 525, however, make a right turn and head south. We’re going to backtrack for a moment to Greenbank where Guest House Log Cottages is a delightful place to stay and Greenbank Farm is an island landmark. In the early 1900s, the Philips family wondered what the land on Whidbey Island would grow. After much in the way of experimentation, they switched in the 1930s from dairy to berry farming, and by 1972 the Greenbank Berry Farm was known as the largest loganberry farm in the United States. When that way of life was threatened in recent years by possible development of the farm’s 522 acres, an intense local effort resulted in the acquisition of the farm by the citizens of the island in 1997.
Browse through the gift shop, buy some loganberry jam, taste one of the many fine wines of the Puget Sound Appellation, or enjoy a light lunch or snack (with a delicious slice of pie, of course!) in the Whidbey Pies Café. The locals who run the place are incredibly friendly. Many activities are scheduled year round at the farm, including a Sunday Market, each Sunday from mid-May to October, when you can buy island-grown produce, flowers, and crafts from 11 am to 2 pm. In July, the farm celebrates its agricultural heritage with the annual Loganberry Festival. August brings the skirl of bagpipes and the swirl of kilts at the Highland Games, while in December, Winter on Whidbey means hayrides, bonfires, hot cider, and caroling.

Return to 525 and continue south to Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens only 3 miles down the road. Turn left on Resort Road, then left again onto Meerkerk Lane, following signs to the gardens. For a small admission fee, spend an hour or more strolling through these beautiful grounds, home to more than 2,000 rhododendrons, but also to 43 acres of gorgeous forests. Take the Harborside Trail to the parkside cliffs and watch for whales and bald eagles. Special events are scheduled year round in the gardens, including the Whidbey Island Folk Music Festival on the first weekend in August and a Mother’s Day Concert on the second Sunday in May.

Make your way back again to 525 and this time head north. Take 20 west in the direction of the Port Townsend Ferry. You can make a day trip to Port Townsend or follow the frontage road past the ferry terminal to Fort Casey State Park. Here at Admiralty Head, Fort Casey was built in the 19^th century as part of a larger defense system designed to protect the entrance to Admiralty Inlet. No guns were actually fired from this spot, but the fort was used as a training location during both World Wars. The Admiralty Head Lighthouse has been transformed into an interpretive center on the fort’s history.

Leaving Fort Casey, follow the signs to Engle Road and Coupeville. The oldest of Whidbey Island’s towns, Coupeville was first established in 1853. Brochures for self-guided walking tours through this 19^th-century seaport town are available at the Island County Historical Museum, a good place to begin. A brief video in the museum will introduce you to the area’s history. You’ll also learn about Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, 17,400 acres of remarkable prairie land, thoughtfully preserved so that future generations might appreciate the cultural and geographic heritage of this once-bustling farming and seafaring community. Ask in the museum for directions to the 1-mile trail from the beach at Ebey’s Landing (at the foot of Ebey Road) to Sunnyside Cemetery at Cook and Sherman Roads. The cemetery contains the headstones of some of the region’s pioneer families. From it, you’ll have marvelous views of the prairie and the water. Meanwhile, stroll the streets of town and try to imagine what it might have been like over 150 years ago when the first European settlers arrived at this home of the Coast Salish Indians.

Don’t return from Coupeville to Hwy 20 just yet. Instead, take Madrona Way (west of Broadway) from town. It’s a scenic 4-mile frontage road that guides you along Penn Cove and connects to Hwy 20 a bit farther north. Once back on 20, drive straight through Oak Harbor, home to the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and on to Deception Pass.

The beautiful Deception Pass State Park includes not only this northernmost tip of Whidbey Island, but also the area of Fidalgo Island just across the dramatic Deception Pass Bridge.

It represents a total of over 4,000 acres of protected shoreline, land, and trails. Rocky, driftwood-strewn beaches here are popular for day-trippers who come to revel in the sunsets seen across Rosario Strait from Bowman Bay (on the north side of the bridge). You might want to enjoy one of the hiking trails in the park, some of which guide you into groves of tall trees, while others take you along lakes or coastline. Find a park map and see what calls to you. On the north side of the bridge, for example, is a short 4/5-mile loop around Rosario Head. Follow the Rosario Beach signs once you’ve crossed the bridge, leave your car in the parking lot, and look for signage to the Rosario Head Trail. From the vista point midway along the trail, you’ll gaze in awe across the water and back over to Whidbey.

Bed and Breakfast Blogs as a method for promoting your B&B - www.bestlocalbnb.com

2011-01-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Recently a lot of Bed and Breakfast marketing companies have been selling innkeepers on the idea of creating a "Blog" as a way to promote their inns. Blog is short for "Web log" The marketing company makes a bit of money by setting up the blog for the innkeeper, and then the innkeeper is supposed to use the blog to attract more visitors. The problem is that once the blog is installed, many marketing companies leave the innkeepers with no solid advice on what makes good blog content, and this is where many innkeepers end up doing more harm than good. The remainder of this article offers tips for effective B&B blogging, including do's and don'ts.

B&B Blog?

In its basic form, a blog is nothing more than a collection of articles, thoughts, journal entries or tidbits of information posted to a web page or a collection of web pages. It is really the content of the blog that makes a blog valuable. Content is what separates a Financial Analyst's blog from Skippy's blog, the teenager down the street. However, what makes a blog different from other websites is that it can be written by someone who knows little to nothing about making web pages. The blog software takes care of putting the writing on a page and allowing the author to classify what kind of information it is. Blog software turns anyone who can write some words using a keyboard into a publisher and author. Ahhh... the innkeeper with a head full of all kinds of great travel information as publisher and author, that's the great idea and great power of a blog.

Bed and Breakfast Blogging - Innkeeper as local guide

B&B guests have long known that the local area knowledge that an innkeeper possesses is one of the things that make the innkeeper so valuable to a B&B stay. Consider how many times you have sent guests to some cute little restaurant, waterfall, winery, antique store or other valuable experience that they never would have found if not for your suggestion. Imagine each of those and many more tidbits of information in your head, now provided to potential and incoming guests by way of your blog. If it is in your area, make a blog posting (an article or story) about it. It doesn't take long, one posting a week or more and pretty soon you have a huge collection of postings about your area, all attracting search engines and people leading them to you and your B&B.

B&B Blogging - Positive Effects

Search engines favor fresh content and a blog is an easy way to continually provide fresh content.
Search engines favor one topic per page, and this is how blog content is often arranged.
Human visitors favor information they can trust.
Potential guests favor B&Bs run by knowledgeable innkeepers.
Guests like information about the area they are visiting or contemplating visiting.
Promoting your area not only brings more guests to your door, it brings more guests to your area.
Promoting your area businesses means they are more likely to promote you. (Tit-for-tat, karma, pay it forward...)
In many cases, links from blogs are seen as a link from an external site which carries more weight with search engines than a link from within your site.
People read blogs, but skim websites. It is true that many people don't read websites, they sort of skim them. This is especially true of sites that look like advertisements. We glance at them the same way we glance at advertisements in a magazine. Articles, on the other hand, are read, because there is value in the words. Blog postings that read like articles are more often read.

B&B Blogging - Do's and Don'ts

Here are a list of Do's and Don'ts when it comes to Bed and Breakfast Blogging. In case you want to see an example of effective vs ineffective B&B blogging, visit both the and the The Lost Inn makes many common mistakes

Do write about good things to do, see, taste, and explore in your area.	Don't write negative posts about something people should avoid. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't put it in writing.
Do start with restaurant recommendations (one restaurant per post). They are a great topic to start with because every guest who stays with you needs to eat.	Don't start with small items that fewer people would be interested in. You can always write those later when you've done some of the more popular topics.
Do commit to something sustainable, like 1 or 2 posts a week.	Don't get so excited that you make several posts a day, but soon burn out.
Do categorize your entries so if you are writing articles about antiquing, dining, and wineries a person can easily find all articles on a given topic.	Don't put all your posts on one page that scrolls down forever.
Do include a link back to your main website with every post - keep it subtle.	Don't put links to your own B&B within the article itself.
Do use the "soft sell" approach by letting people know you have a B&B or are an innkeeper.	Don't cram it down readers' throats by mentioning it in every post.
Do use positive descriptive language when it is warranted.	Don't exaggerate the language on every post to be so positive that it is not believable or reliable. Providing good usable information does not equate to being syrupy.
Do write about anything remotely related to travel in your area.	Don't go crazy writing about the events in your life that only close family or friends would be interested in.
Do create a category that relates to your side business if your side business could potentially bring you guests. (If you are an innkeeper that also restores Harley Davidsons, trains dogs, makes jam, builds fine furniture, restores antiques, runs a gift shop...) These ties can be important for boosting both your B&B and your other business.	Don't create a side business category if your side job is more likely to scare guests away (Mortician, Septic Pumping, Cattle Castration...).
Do put some care into spelling and grammar.	Don't go crazy editing your work. Blogs are supposed to be a bit free flowing and people will overlook minor stuff.
Do stay on topic within a given post.	Don't ramble all over the place.
Do link to the restaurant, museum, antique store, etc. that you are reviewing in your post if they have a website.	Don't put the link first thing on the page, let them read your article first by provide the link near the end of it.
Do create categories around your interests if they are at all compatible with B&B's (baking, crafting, woodworking, wine tasting...) Blogs can be a great method of posting new recipes or other tips.	Don't create categories around interests that most potential guests would find creepy (road-kill taxidermy, water torture...)
Do use meaningful titles for each posting. Example: "Shan-grilla, a nice relaxed grill"	Don't get so clever that the title becomes meaningless. Example: "Chow Down"
Do put a bit of your own personality into your posts.	Don't turn your blog into your own personal whine fest. Remind yourself, it is not about YOU. That's what personal blogs are for. This is a B&B blog to promote your area by providing a service to potential guests.
Do write about things that have some longevity to them (restaurants, museums, special shops, annual events and festivals...).	Don't write about some one-time event (going out of business sale, 50th anniversary celebration...).
Do keep posts about annual events generic in terms of dates, otherwise the post becomes out of date each year and needs to be updated. Do link to the event website to provide the updated dates.	Don't let posts that have become outdated remain on your blog (restaurant reviews for restaurants that have closed, descriptions of events that don't happen anymore...).
Do call it something else related to what it is. (Visitors Guide, Innkeeper Recommendations, Regional Tour, ...)	Don't call it a BLOG, the term has too many negative connotations to some and is meaningless to others.
Do think about adding / refining categories as your blog grows. When you have only 3 restaurants listed, the broad category of "dining" is sufficient. When you have reviewed 30+ restaurants, then you may want to make sub-categories to group them by style or price.
Do include photos of the place you are reviewing in your article whenever possible. They do not have to be as high quality as the photos you should be using on your main site. You can snap them yourself with a digital camera.
Do be very cautious about writing about specific guests. There are privacy issues and you don't want to give the impression you are a gossip who will reveal info about guests as soon as they leave. You can write about what "Guests have enjoyed" (keeping it generic), but don't write about what "Peggy and Walt Smith from Muncie Indiana did." Peggy and Walt may have given you permission to write that, but other potential guests may not know that.

Setting up a Blog

When it comes to blogging set-ups, there are a lot of choices, but they generally fall into two categories.

Hosted - Meaning it is set up on someone else's web server and they take care of the software for you. Hosted solutions are the easiest to get started with, because somebody else takes care of all the set-up. Some are free while others have monthly fees. Free is nice, but you don't have control over the advertising that shows up on the pages. The free sites also have fewer options with less control (like this one and this will likely change) Examples: blogger.com, typepad.com, wordpress.com
Self-Hosted - Meaning it is on your web server so you own it and don't have to show any advertising. Blogging has become so popular now that many hosting companies will include a blog as a free item they will install for you. Others may charge a small setup fee. Customization of the look and feel, category creation and other options they leave for you to work out. The software is generally free as it is created with an open-source license.

Happy Guests Mean Happy Holidays: Tips in Guest Comfort

2010-11-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Turn your guest room into a B&B this holiday season.

The holidays are coming and your challenge is to create a comfortable home away from home for your guests. Even though (or perhaps because) they are family and old friends, you want to make a good impression. You want the house to look great, the meals to be faultless; it’s easy to forget that if your guest room isn’t comfortable, nothing else matters. If your guests include parents or grandparents, just remember, “if Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” A few thoughtful touches can make all the difference in everyone's comfort levels.

Make your guests’ sleeping quarters as comfortable and inviting as possible. When you’re setting up the room, create some space in the closet (including empty hangers of decent quality) for them to hang their clothes, as well as a few empty drawers or shelves for folded clothes. The more you can distance them from their suitcases the better. Make sure their sleeping quarters offer a place to get away when needed.
“Comfortable bedding is always a top priority because over-tired guests are not happy campers. For many people, adjusting to a different bed or pillow is difficult, so ask ahead of time whether your guests are allergic to feathers, sleep with one or two pillows, and so on. If your pillows are flat or your mattress is sagging, invest in new pillows and ideally a new mattress, or at least a bed board.
“If needed, add a bedside table by simply using a TV tray table next to the bed with a clock radio and reading lamp. Special touches like extra blankets for sleeping, handy throws for reading or naps are equally thoughtful touches.
“If your guests are sharing a bathroom with other members of the household, provide fresh towels and make hooks or a rack exclusively available for them to hang wet towels If possible, providing robes is a thoughtful touch. Be sure to provide a place for guests to put their toiletries. If guests are flying in (or tend to be forgetful), fill a basket with toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioners, and lotions, so they won’t have to worry about airport security.
“Remove personal items that have piled up in your guest room, then add a bud vase with fresh flowers and a dish of candies to create the welcoming feel of a B&B.”

SPOTLIGHT River Inn at Harbor Town in Memphis, Tennessee

2010-11-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

River Inn of Harbor Town and Bed & Breakfast - A Small Luxury Boutique and Upscale Hotel near Downtown and Beale Street

The charm of the Old South meets the intimate style of Europe and the rich history of Mud Island at River Inn of Harbor Town. Overlooking the Mississippi River near downtown Memphis, Tennessee, the River Inn has impressive architecture, accented by gas-lit lanterns, decorative wrought iron, blooming window boxes and colorful umbrellas dotting the rooftop terrace.

The traditional warm and inviting lobby features a sparkling crystal chandelier, a wood-burning fireplace set off by an 1850's-era New Orleans mantel, wood flooring from an old Virginia textile mill, along with Oriental rugs, original oil paintings, fresh flowers, and the soft glow of candles. In addition to 28 luxury boutique and upscale lodging accommodations and suites, River Inn offers two dining options: the exquisite Currents Fine Dining restaurant, and the casual Tug's Neighborhood Grill, plus the cozy Little Bar.

Be swept away by the charm and warm hospitality of the staff, who offer nothing but unparalleled service. Discover tourist attractions, the Liberty Bowl and Memphis in May Blues Festival on Beale St. Come enjoy the River Inn of Harbor Town near downtown Memphis, TN, the South's Most Romantic small hotel, for an experience you will want to enjoy again and again. ~ AAA 4 Diamond / 5 Star Alliance Hotel ~ .

Check River Inn of Harbor Town and other Tennessee B&B's and Unique Inns, at this link:

www.bestlocalbnb.com

Top 3 Benefits of your stay at a Bed and Breakfast

2010-11-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Personal Attention

One factor is most common while traveling for business or holidays; search of place to stay. Most individuals choose big hotel chains which have never of options of personality more than to provide a place to sleep for their guests. Whenever business and holiday travelers prefer to stay at a Bed and Breakfast there are always options to enjoy their tour even more simply as Bed and Breakfast inns focus on each individual guest.

Experience of Feel at Home

Most Bed and Breakfasts are small and have a small number of rooms to provide as Bed and Breakfast. However, rooms have lots of personality and generally decorated around a theme and focuses to provide most the comfort of guests who stay there. The Bed and Breakfasts are family run so presence of family members doesn’t feel the guest lonely. The family environment is always happy and charming. All in all, when you stay at a Bed and Breakfast you enjoy the experience of feel at home.

Healthy and Delicious Foods.

To keep you fit your body and happy mood; you need “Healthy and Delicious Foods” as necessarily while you are on tour. The daily rate of a Bed and Breakfast stay includes the first meal of the day, while a Continental breakfast is included in chain hotel rates. The breakfast at Bed and Breakfast is all time of a significantly higher quality. This is because bed and breakfast owners feel pride in serving well balanced and tasty meals allowing guests to enjoy every aspect of their stay. Though there is difference in every Bed and Breakfast you can generally expect a full breakfast of your choice.

Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns

2010-11-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Are you fascinated by historic buildings that tell a story of days gone by? Do you enjoy sharing your love of history with others? Search www.bestlocalbnb.com to quickly find the perfect historic bed and breakfast or inn.

In the earliest days of Colonial America, lodging establishments were few and far between in the 1700s. Apart from a few "coaching inns" (an even smaller number of which survive today), travelers relied on strangers to provide a bed for the night. During the Great Depression, homes offering "tourist" rooms provided cheap lodging for the traveler and welcome income for the host.

After World War II, Americans traveling abroad experienced the European-style bed and breakfast for the first time, and many were inspired to open bed and breakfasts of their own after returning home. Increased interest in bed and breakfast lodging coincided with an increasing interest in historic preservation, spurred by the U.S. Bicentennial, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and the Tax Reform Act of 1976, which provided tax incentives for the restoration and reuse of historic structures.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, bed and breakfasts increased rapidly in numbers, evolving from homestays with shared baths and simple furnishings to meticulously renovated historic mansions with luxurious décor and amenities. Today bed and breakfasts are found in all 50 states, in major cities and remote rural areas, from modest cottages to opulent mansions, and in restored historic structures from pre-colonial carriage houses and cabooses to lighthouses and log cabins.

www.bestlocalbnb.com

Southern Towns You Will Love

2010-11-08T07:32:00.001-08:00

Have a hankering for some sweet tea and southern hospitality? You should. As September hangs on the horizon, a jaunt south is the perfect way to win some extra summer days, and these member-recommended Mayberrys are the best places to savor them.

Lawrenceville, Virginia
Just over the North Carolina border, little Lawrenceville has the surprising distinction of being the site of “some of the best diving on the east coast,” says vampirefan , who, along with her husband, headed to Lawrenceville on a tip from her local dive shop. In addition to world-class diving at Lake Rawlings Dive Park, the happy couple discovered a down-home B&B they highly recommend: the Brunswick Mineral Springs B&B, a tobacco plantation and then a health spa in previous lives. It’s now a bed-and-breakfast owned by Nan and Dave Spears, “two of the most wonderful people in the world.”

Mount Airy North Carolina
The Mayberry of Andy Griffith fame, “Mount Airy is not a hot destination, but you have to visit anyway,” says MCJ graduate, because “it is a quirky town with much to celebrate.” In addition to mad Mayberry memorabilia—and full-blown Mayberry Days this September 25-27—Mount Airy offers Pilot Mountain State Park, bluegrass jam sessions, a picturesque Main St., and, of course, what JF150 calls “that feeling of stepping back in time to those good old days.”

Madison, Georgia
Different visitors are drawn to Madison’s pillars and squares for different reasons, but they all leave wanting to return. For John Hollinger’s wife, it was historic Heritage Hall—but only because “John, being an antebellum-house buff, just had to see it.” Mrs. Hollinger ended up enjoying the town too, as well as nearby Social Circle, Georgia, and a meal at the famous all-you-can-eat Blue Willow Inn. Looking for a place to stay? Robvn Cook recommends the “gracious” and “luxurious” James Madison Inn, particularly for its breakfast. Rest assured you will not go hungry in Georgia.

Bell Buckle, Tennessee
An old railroad town, tiny Bell Buckle impressed Taylor Shelby right off the bat. She found that the words of the woman who’d sent her—“it’s just the cutest li’l town you ever saw”—rang true, as “the once-abandoned downtown is now thriving with antique shops, artists, unique stores, and one fantastic restaurant.” And Bell Buckle native Tideone adds that with so many “antique dealers and arts and crafts folks, it seems like there is always some kind of celebration taking place.”

Cullman, Alabama
Perhaps a testament to the town’s universal appeal, two IgoUgo members have opposite takes on Cullman, but both tout is as a great getaway spot. Because of its covered bridges, battle sites, and antique stores, Library Dragon says, “When travelers think of Alabama, they often envision towns such as Cullman.” NiteOWLTX, on the other hand, says that Cullman’s German heritage, grottos, and shrines make it a regional anomaly full of “some of the most obscure things you will ever see.” Cullman, it seems, is wonderful no matter what you make of it.

Oxford, Mississippi
When Ole Miss is in session and football fans are in town, Oxford isn’t exactly tiny, but it does infuse its academic inclinations with small-town charm. Fittingly, the home of William Faulkner and John Grisham offers the famous Square Books independent booksellers. And while you have your wallet in hand, Steve S. recommends heading to Neilson’s Department Store, the oldest shop in the South. He also raves about the many fine-dining opportunities around: “You’re probably thinking, ‘fine restaurants in a town of 10,000 in Mississippi?’, but yes, Oxford has its share of excellent eateries.”

Beaufort, South Carolina
North Carolinian vanpirefan has nothing but nice things to say about her neighbor to the south: “Beaufort has a long and rich history that can be seen everywhere you look.” She reports that the Low Country town is “a breeze” to walk around, but that buggy tours are equally enjoyable if your feet tire. Her compliments continue: “While Beaufort is not as big as Savannah or Charleston, she is nonetheless equally as beautiful and impressive.” And Beaufort has a leg up on even those two cities when it comes to eating: “This is the place to enjoy delicious seafood!” says ashlorene84 of Beaufort’s laid-back restaurants.

Morgantown, West Virginia
“Waterfront bike trails with dappled sunlight, riverfront jazz in the sun, and nights of theater magic, all in designated landmark settings” create, kjlougn says, “a formula for perfect days.” Another college town—the West Virginia University Mountaineers call it home—Morgantown delights IgoUgo members like drhough with its mix of art and nature. “Quaint yet cosmopolitan, Morgantown is my favorite weekend destination for original dining and compelling theater,” the regular visitor says. On another trip, he focused on the outdoors, saying, “I thought I knew Morgantown and was surprised to discover the recreational community it has been hiding along its riverbank.”

Seaside, Florida
With its ice cream parlors, pedestrian-only lanes, and white picket fences, the planned Gulf community of Seaside (you may have seen it in The Truman Show) looks like it stepped straight out of a storybook to become a respite from the spring-break madness of nearby Panama City and Destin. Nora Katz describes the town as a tiny community that “stands out among the snow-white dunes with its pastel-colored Victorian cottages topped with tin roofs that shimmer in the midday sun.” If your ideal Sunshine State experience is more verandahs and hammocks than roller coasters and parades, you’ll love Seaside.

Creating an Effective Facebook Page For Your Bed and Breakfast Inn

2010-11-05T13:35:00.001-07:00

As an innkeeper for a quaint bed and breakfast inn, you are charged with the task of not only creating a comfortable, homey environment for your guests, but also managing an effective marketing campaign that exposes your accommodations over large chain hotels. It can be rough especially for the new B&B owner to compete with a national corporation and their seemingly endless budget, but if you are savvy enough to operate social media and use it to your advantage, you can cut a chink in their business and watch yours grow. A Facebook fan page is a great, and free, way to start.
Facebook Profiles and Fan Pages - the Difference
If you have a Facebook profile, you might be apprehensive about promoting your bed and breakfast through this network. Over the last few years, concerns about privacy have cautioned Facebook users from volunteering too much information, and you may not wish to arbitrarily add strangers to your friend network. The good news is: you don't have to. With Facebook you can set up an individual page devoted to your inn or vacation rental, and people can join that page for information. Your profile remains intact.
What can a fan page do for your lodging business? Now that Facebook URLs show up in search engine results, plenty! At the bottom left corner of your Facebook dashboard, you'll find an icon that takes you to the setup area for a page. The wizard is user-friendly and the end result looks similar to your personal profile, only you have the opportunity here to promote your bed and breakfast main website, directions, and other important information. Also, you can create photo albums for your specific rooms and amenities, and list events happening in your area and at your inn. A video tab option allows you to upload short clips advertising the finer points of your B&B, or homemade "commercials" for viewers to enjoy.
Facebook Extras
While Facebook limits how users can structure fan pages, there are widgets available to enhance the functionality. If you are familiar with HTML, then using the Static FBML function can help you create custom tabs for your page. You can set up qualified code to direct users to a reservation engine or your Twitter feed or Flickr account...anything you wish.
Facebook also has a proprietary advertising program, where you can market to specific demographics. If you seek in-state visitors, for example, you can advertise to profiles in the area - or to women only, people who like a specific football team near your home, and so on. Using the cost per click model, this social network's advertising is affordable and the analytics are easy to discern.
The notes section on the fan page is for making informative posts, much like a blog. To cut time, if you have an existing blog set up you can plug the RSS feed into the Notes application and every time you blog it will feed into your Facebook page.
Finding Friends
Once you've set up shop, next comes the job of getting people to join your fan page. Of course, word is mouth is the best method of advertising, so naturally the first thing to do is let your personal friends know the page is live! Make sure to include some kind of link on your main website leading to the page (Facebook has widgets and code available for us) to authenticate the fan page, and promote away. As other social networks have applications to interconnect with Facebook, you'll find spreading the word is as simple as typing your inn's name.
If you do not already have a fan page for your lodging, it is important to set it up as soon as possible. Add social functionality to your business solidifies your brand in social media, and helps you better promote your inn. Invest the time to promote through Facebook and see the improvement in your reservations.

Bed and Breakfast vs. Hotels

2010-09-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Amenities at the Location
One factor to consider when booking a place to stay while on vacation is what type of amenities one is looking for in an establishment. Hotels tend to offer more mainstream amenities that vacationers may want in their accommodations. Some of the most common amenities offered by hotels are room service, maid service, internet access, gym, laundry rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, and tour groups. Bed and Breakfast places may not have as many common amenities but they do often have special amenities which one may not normally find in a hotel chain, such as a wine tasting session or complete breakfast included with their stay.

Vacationing as a Couple or Family
Another consideration is whether an individual is going on vacation with a significant other or the entire family. Couples often choose bed and breakfast establishments more frequently than families do. Bed and breakfast establishments are more common among couples because a bed and breakfast is often more quaint and romantic. Hotels are usually much more family-friendly than a bed and breakfast because hotels usually don't frown upon normal levels of noise caused by children. Hotels often provide family-friendly activities to keep children occupied during the stay.

Overall Atmosphere of the Establishment
If a quaint, private, unique atmosphere is desired, then perhaps the bed and breakfast might be the best option. However, if an individual is looking for more amenities, a hotel might be wise.

Cost
Cost may help to influence a decision between bed and breakfast establishments and hotels. Bed and breakfast accommodations will probably be more expensive than hotel accommodations.

Bed and Breakfast Recipes

2010-06-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

Overnight Cinnamon French Toast - that's what won me over when I stayed in my first Bed and Breakfast in Cape Cod in 1982. It was my sister and I, freshly out of college and my grandmother treated us to a "Sisters Weekend" and convinced us that a "Bed and Breakfast" would be an experience. We wondered how much fun it could be if we couldn't watch Knots Landing. We had the whole place to ourselves, as it was off-season. We explored all day and read and chatted with the Innkeepers and slept in. With our hosts help, we learned so much about the area and were quickly versed in what places we needed to visit, restaurants we would try and how to get around. We slept so well the fist night! We awoke to the wonderful smells of breakfast being prepared by our wonderful host and hostess and new friends. I'll never forget those smells and the warmth and ease of the Inn. This recipe was just part of the morning fare. This is the recipe she gave me.

Kim – We enjoyed having you and Kristen at our Inn. Hope you had a safe drive
home. Here’s the French Toast recipe.

12 slices of cinnamon or cinnamon raisin bread
1 pint (16 oz) half & half or light cream
2 large eggs
6 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 Tablespoons brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350
Lightly grease 13x 9 baking pan
Arrange the bread in two layers in baking pan
In a large bowl whisk half&half, eggs, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon
Pour over the bread slices pressing down until some liquid is absorbed and bread
doesn’t float
Cover and refrigerated (I put in fridge the night before)
Bake 45 minutes or until center reaches 160 degrees, surface is golden and
slightly crunchy
Serve hot with syrup

(For a bit larger crowd, I add another layer of bread and 1/3 more ingredients to fill the larger
foil baking pan)

Welcome home!

2010-06-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my home! As any Bed and Breakfast traveler knows, these are the words a Best Local Bed and Breakfast owner lives by. They treat you like family and make you feel like you are home, while providing you with the ultimate in service, comfort and information to make your stay, a memory.

A little background is in order:

A bed and breakfast is generally know as a private home where a guest is provided a place to stay for a night. In some cases, the bathroom provided for the guest is shared with the family or another guest. Breakfast is usually included with the price of the room.

WOW! Bed and Breakfasts have come along way! The majority of guests now expect a private bathroom included in the room. Hence the term, "en suite."

The term "Bed and Breakfast" originates from the United Kingdom, but is now used across the world for this thriving sector of the travel industry. In the Unites States and elsewhere, BnB and Inns compete with hotels, motels, vacation rentals and other lodging alternatives. The competitive advantage that a BnB has over all other accommodation options is clearly personal service. Guests who chose to stay at a Bed and Breakfast are treated as family (or better than family, as some could argue).

Bed and Breakfast innkeepers are local experts and help their guests to skip the tourist traps and truly enjoy the best of their respective area. BnB innkeepers can help you find things like the hiking trail with the sublime scenic views, the antique shop with the best selection, the family-run restaurant with unrivaled local fare, the neighborhood place to rent bicycles, the list is endless. My favorite experiences are from those innkeepers who have a personal story or two, regarding the area in which they operate.

With this advice that surpasses that of a concierge at even the priciest luxury hotel, a quality Bed and Breakfast can be found to match any traveler's budget. Deals often vary by season, and most locations have a selection of BnB inns in all price ranges.

Again, welcome to Best Local Bed and Breakfast!

Best Local Bed and Breakfast

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BnB in the Spotlight! Smoke Tree Resort

The SmokeTree Resort & Bungalows is a true desert oasis. Five lush acres are home to 26 recently remodeled suites and bungalows. These individual private retreats offer luxury accommodations with all the modern amenities.

Accommodations

21 Tips to Help You Pack for a Trip

1. Security and Keeping Details Safe

2. Split up your valuables

3. Nalgene/Small Bottles

4. Backpack Tips

5. Plastic Bags

6. Pack in Plastic

7. Clothes

8. Split up clothes when travelling with others

9. Separate Beach Bag

10. Suitcase lovers

11. Gifts

12. Flashlights or Torches

13. Diaper Bag

14. Shoes

15. Carry-On

16. Roll Technique

17. Travelling to warm destinations?

18. Local Tourism Offices

19. Minimize on toiletries

20. Take solid shampoo bars and tooth powder

21. Planning on carrying a lot of luggage?

22. Packing List and Trip Planning

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Bed and Breakfast Blogs as a method for promoting your B&B - www.bestlocalbnb.com

B&B Blog?

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Happy Guests Mean Happy Holidays: Tips in Guest Comfort

Turn your guest room into a B&B this holiday season.

**SPOTLIGHT** River Inn at Harbor Town in Memphis, Tennessee

River Inn of Harbor Town and Bed & Breakfast - A Small Luxury Boutique and Upscale Hotel near Downtown and Beale Street

Top 3 Benefits of your stay at a Bed and Breakfast

Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns

Southern Towns You Will Love

Creating an Effective Facebook Page For Your Bed and Breakfast Inn

Bed and Breakfast vs. Hotels

Bed and Breakfast Recipes

Welcome home!

SPOTLIGHT River Inn at Harbor Town in Memphis, Tennessee