The month of August always brings with it the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the new school year. If you are a parent who has a child returning to the classroom you are probably purchasing text books, ordering school supplies and buying new clothes. However, if your child is leaving for college you are faced with a number of questions as you prepare for Move-In Weekend, particularly if travel is involved. The biggest question involves where you will stay. Bed & breakfasts are a great option because they provide a comfortable environment and have innkeepers who are experienced with helping parents and kids during this sometimes nerve-wracking weekend. They are a wealth of information and can help answer questions and address concerns about the process.

Inn at Lower Farm courtesy of Inn at Lower Farm, North Stonington, CT

Once your child has been accepted by a college, it’s important to book your reservation immediately. Most inns fill up fast and you may find yourself staying far away from the college or, worse, without a place for the weekend. The White Cedar Inn located in Freeport, ME, allows students to stay at the inn with their parents at no additional charge during any weekend their parents may be in town, not only move-in weekend. Innkeeper Monica offered some words of advice for parents who have kids preparing for college. “I tell parents all the time, ‘As soon as you have the acceptance letter make reservations right away’,’’ said Monica. “If your child gets accepted you need to start finding out about accommodations and understanding the area they’re in.” For graduation weekend, the inn starts booking rooms in early January but will give parents who stay at the inn over the four years of their kid’s college life first choice on reservations.

The move-in weekend can be a very stressful time for both parents and students filled with anxiety about the new changes. The Inn at Lower Farm Bed and Breakfast in North Stonington, CT, also allows the students to stay with their parents at the inn for free and provides maps of the area including local shopping spots. According to Innkeeper Mary, the inn provides some comfort during this busy weekend. “It’s such a transitional time that it’s nice to be able to have the kids stay here with the parents,” said Mary.

The move-in weekend brings many mixed emotions for both the parents and the kids. And, while your child may be moving away, it’s good to know there’s a warm and friendly innkeeper nearby to lend a helping hand, and maybe a shoulder, too.

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Sneaking in an end of summer getaway is always tempting. However, economic uncertainty has left many of us questioning whether taking a vacation or even a short trip away is a smart decision. It is understandable, particularly when considering the cost of staying at a hotel. While many of the big chains have reduced their rates to accommodate these concerns, they have made up for the price adjustment by charging on the back end for items such as internet access, bottled water and transportation to and from the airport. These costs have become a barrier for the cost-conscious traveler.

Front of B Street House courtesy of B Street House Bed & Breakfast

Bed and breakfasts, once travel’s best kept secret, offer an attractive option for those looking for a value-conscious getaway with a number of wallet-padding amenities including the most obvious: The complimentary breakfast. Many inns also provide free Wi-Fi access and snacks, deals to local restaurants and attractions and a variety of special packages aimed at the cost-conscious traveler.

The weekends are the busiest travel times leaving most inns with available rooms during the weekday. The B Street House Bed and Breakfast in Virginia City, NV, offers guests a 15% discount off any booking from Monday through Thursday and there is no minimum on the number of days. If an extended stay is desired (or required) after a 3-night booking the Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill in Mills River, NC, will provide a fourth consecutive night for free.

For those guests who plan and pay ahead, The Inn at Ormsby Hill in Manchester Center, VT, will take 20% off the listed price of any room for a new reservation provided the inn is not already halfway booked. If a leisure or business traveler has a last-minute need for a room, the Burlington’s Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast Inn located in Burlington, KY, will take 20% off a same day, single night stay in Graves’ Suite, the William Rouse Suite, the William Rouse Retreat, or Thomas’ Room.

It’s easy to find other things to spend money on rather than a vacation, but it’s hard to replace the value of time away with family, friends, or a much needed break of your own. You don’t have to travel far or break the bank to wake up someplace special.

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Whether you are dreaming of a large scale affair or something a bit more understated, a destination wedding can be an exciting choice for the soon-to-be-married couple. Many bed and breakfasts today offer various wedding packages to help organize the most important details, from the flower arrangements and reception catering to guest accommodations and activities for the weekend. They will also help you manage one of the most important aspects to planning a wedding: the budget!

Wedding ceremony courtesy of Churchill Manor

Is there a more beautiful setting than the rolling hills and spectacular vineyards of Napa Valley in California? The Churchill Manor Bed and Breakfast, a quick stroll from the Napa Riverfront, offers a private, romantic setting for the ceremony which can be held in the rose gardens by the fountain, on the covered veranda or inside the historic 1889 mansion by the fire. The inn can accommodate up to 150 guests for a 6-hour buffet reception or 60 guests for a 4-hour sit down reception. Additionally, the couple can take advantage of the inn’s ten luxurious guest rooms, in-house wedding coordination, on-site food preparation and experienced wait staff.

Think boutique and out of the box. The ASIA Bed and Spa, located in Asheville, North Carolina, provides a peaceful setting for the couple looking for “a small, intimate experience” according to the inn’s proprietor Jon Winter. The inn can host 10 to 20 people for a long weekend with additional accommodations located within walking distance to ASIA. The interior space showcases Zen inspired touches while the grounds offer a terrace sheltered by a canopy of oaks and two gardens, the Japanese Strolling and the Zen Meditation. The spa, adjacent to the Zen Meditation Garden, will give the wedding party a chance to relax and unwind during their stay at the inn.

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