Tips for Bed & Breakfast Owners: Barclays share their love for New England

Peter and Laura Barclay always traveled in New England when they wanted a getaway, so when they decided to pursue their passions in life, they chose to become innkeepers in New England and purchased the Newcastle Inn.

Peter had been a licensed irrigation contractor, and he and Laura had run a New Jersey business together for 18 years. Newcastle, Maine, was a perfect place for them. Says Laura, "We always wanted to live in a small town, and we love our new life here. There is much natural beauty in Maine, and many ways to enjoy it. We’re outdoor enthusiasts and have particularly enjoyed the hiking and kayaking in the area."

Yet how does one explain the extreme shift in their businesses, from irrigation to innkeeping? Peter quips, "We were always entertaining at home, so I figured we might as well get paid for it!" Laura adds, ‘Seriously, we enjoy meeting people from all over the country and the world, and I’ve always loved cooking and having happy people in our home."

Now with four years of experience, the Barclays look forward to a long future in innkeeping. Advice from veteran DINE innkeepers has been useful. Explains Laura, "It was a big help to hear the voices of experience when we were starting out, and we continue to enjoy getting together with fellow innkeepers and learning from each other."

The Barclays encourage DINE Innsiders to visit all of the DINE inns. "You are certain to have a wonderful time at any of the inns. The DINE innkeepers truly care about their guests."

Romantic Getaways Just In Time for Valentine's Day- Pair Champagne, Chocolates, Fireplaces, and Whirlpools with Newport, Rhode Island's Top Luxury Inn

From quick one-night romantic getaways to grand, over-the-top weekend romance packages, Newport, Rhode Island's premier collection of luxury bed and breakfast inns, the Legendary Inns of Newport, which includes Distinctive Inns founding member Cliffside Inn, has assembled a sensuous and enticing group of romantic getaway packages for this Valentine's season.

"Romantic getaways are a year-round specialty for us but around Valentine's Day, we like to add a little more spark to the fire," said Winthrop Baker, Group President, Legendary Inns of Newport. "This year, we've added one-night romantic interludes with Champagne and decadent chocolate cake for two, for couples tight on time or money. On the other end of the romantic indulgence spectrum, we've taken our Grand Romance Package over-the-top, especially when you pair it with one of our ultra luxury suites with double whirlpools, fireplaces, and grand beds."

The One-Night Romantic Interlude is a midweek package that includes the best available fireplace suite or room (many with whirlpools), a bottle of top-rated Duval-Leroy Brut French Champagne and a decadent, handcrafted chocolate cake for two. Offered Valentine's Day week, Sunday through Thursday, February 11-15. The One-Night Romantic Interlude Package price at Cliffside Inn is $210, at Adele Turner Inn $185.

The Legendary Inns of Newport Grand Romance Package is grand in every sense. It includes Veuve Clicquot French Champagne, artisan crafted chocolates, a dozen roses, and a sensuous bath bar collection of Farmaesthetics organic spa products, including orange and rose soaps and bath salts, rose water mister, and lavender milk body lotion.

The Grand Romance Package can be added to any suite or room at all three Legendary Inns of Newport for $165. With the exotic bathing component, the Grand Romance Package is most fully enjoyed in one of the 24 guest quarters with whirlpool tubs.

"We're seeing all our romance packages both for Valentine's week and the weekend before go quickly," said Baker, who expects the three Legendary Inns to be completely booked for the Valentine's Weekend, February 9th-11th.

In addition to being the first AAA Four Diamond luxury bed and breakfast inns in Rhode Island, the trio of well known Newport B&Bs is also AAA's top-rated Rhode Island lodging group. Along with the special rates and package extras, all Romantic Getaways also include the luxury amenities and services the Legendary Inns is well known for: warm hospitality and personal service; acclaimed afternoon tea (named one of America's Top 20); multi-course breakfast; finely appointed guest chambers with whirlpools, steam baths, grand beds, fireplaces, antiques and artwork; pillow menu; signature in-room spa service; and elegant locations near the beach and in-town.

The Legendary Inns of Newport is a distinguished group of three boutique luxury Inns. All set in historic, Victorian homes, they have been meticulously restored and seamlessly blended with the finest modern amenities to produce unique, luxury bed and breakfast inns known for their refined elegance, grand style, and warm hospitality. The group includes Cliffside Inn, Abigail Stoneman Inn, and Adele Turner Inn. For more information visit our media website

Great Hospitality Comes from Doing What You Love

For Win Baker, innkeeper at the Cliffside Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, afternoon tea is an epicurean delight. Named one of the 20 best in American, his inn's teas are intimate, unique, and unforgettable. You feel the Victorian tea room and this Guilded Age mansion are your own home.

Win's father opened the Cliffside Inn as an upscale, lavishly outfitted luxury inn. Win carries on the Baker flavor of hospitality built around Victorian architecture, unique antiques, and the artwork of Beatrice Turner, who once lived in the mansion. Her paintings adorn the walls of every room, and Win enjoys telling guests about her enigmatic and tragic story.

"I love people and good stories, and innkeeping is a great way to get a lot of both," Win explains. Formerly a Silicon Valley entrepreneur involved in starting three technology companies, he sees similarities between that experience and his current one. "Both types of businesses are very focused on the customer," he adds, "and both require having a unique vision and style, seeing it through, and growing it."

While the Cliffside Inn remains Win's "main baby," he has expanded his innkeeping, now serving as Group President of the Legendary Inns of Newport, which also include Adele Turner Inn and Abigail Stoneman Inn. He sees Cliffside's membership in DINE as an asset to his endeavors.

"Colleagues with similar, high-end properties that offer guests a luxurious experience make for a great group. Whether coming up with new hospitality ideas or better ways to run the business, my DINE colleagues are a true source of information and inspiration."

Windham Hill's Innkeepers find fulfillment by pleasing guests in Vermont

Joe and Marina Coneeny, innkeepers at the Windham Hill Inn in southern Vermont, recently celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary. They met in Vermont while students at Middlebury College and married exactly seven years to the day from their first date. That's 30 years together!

Innkeeping is their dream job. Explains Joe, "We became innkeepers to make people happy by providing an experience that slows life's pace, rekindles spirit, and recognizes nature as the primary force in life. In the process, our family benefits from living in this environment and working together for our goals."

Joe, from Massachusetts, and Marina, from Paris, France, have traveled extensively in Europe and know what traveling couples appreciate. "We create hospitality," Joe says, "by providing luxury and peaceful time combined with sensory indulgence."

Marina has years of practice as a provider of comfort and well being, knowing instinctively what makes a great room and an elegant bath and which cheeses are ripe to the point of "being in a state of grace."

Joe provides the exclamation point based on his customer service and sales background in investment banking. He pushes the envelope of service to make each guest's experience at the Windham Hill Inn unique and unforgettable.

"As a member of DINE," Joe says, "we are in a group of kindred spirits whose main aim is to provide a memorable experience based on quality, service, and warmth that renews people and thereby energizes us all."

Best of Newport September Getaway Combines Newport Rhode Island's Top Luxury Inns, Gilded Age Mansions and Vineyards, With Dining and Shopping Deals

Combining the best of Newport, Rhode Island, the Legendary Inns of Newport, has launched a September Getaway Package that features Newport's famed Gilded Age mansions, vineyards, dining and shopping deals, with the luxurious accommodations and service that have made Distinctive Inns founding member Cliffside Inn --and the other Legendary Inns--Newport's leading luxury destinations.

"September is my favorite month in Newport. The summer crowds have thinned out. The ocean is still warm. Autumn's chilly days are still a ways off. All the famous attractions, shops and restaurants are open. It's just delightful," said Winthrop Baker, Group President, Legendary Inns of Newport. "Our Best of Newport September Getaway is a great way to experience this special time, while enjoying some equally delightful getaway package values."

For one inclusive price, guests enjoy 2-nights in the best available luxury suite or guest room at the Abigail Stoneman Inn or Adele Turner Inn, plus the Best of Newport RI Getaway Package. Named by Fodor's and The Boston Globe as Newport's top 2006 luxury getaway package value, the Best of Newport mini-vacation package includes tickets to the Gilded Age mansions, vineyard tour and wine tasting, and a booklet with $500 in savings at Newport restaurants and shops.

The 2-night September Getaway package at the Adele Turner Inn is $650, available Mondays through Wednesdays in September. The ultra luxury Abigail Stoneman Inn 2-night package is $790, Mondays through Thursdays. Savings up to $200. For more details, click here.

At the Legendary Inns of Newport flagship property, Cliffside Inn, the September Getaway features 30% off the third night of a 3-night reservation, Sundays through Thursdays.

In addition to being the first AAA Four Diamond luxury bed and breakfast inns in Rhode Island, the trio of well known B&Bs is also AAA's top-rated Rhode Island lodging group. Along with the special rates and package extras, the September Getaways all include the luxury amenities and services the Legendary Inns is known for: warm hospitality and personal service; acclaimed afternoon tea (named one of America's Top 20); multi-course breakfast; finely appointed suites and guest rooms with whirlpools, steam baths, grand beds, fireplaces, antiques and artwork; pillow menu; signature in-room spa service; and elegant locations near the beach and in-town.

Summer Vacation Mini-Getaways in Newport -- Named Top Fodor's Pick

Targeting a growing number of summer vacation-time-constrained travelers, Newport's leading luxury inn group and DINE member, the Legendary Inns of Newport, has launched three late-summer, mini-vacation getaways.

"We're seeing a lot of two and three-night mini-vacations this summer and less of the three and four or five-night Newport summer vacations we've seen in other years," said Winthrop Baker, Group President, Legendary Inns of Newport. "Our new mini-getaways offer vacation-time-starved guests some very attractive summer getaway values in August."

The group's flagship Newport, Rhode Island B&B property and founding member of the Distinctive Inns of New England, Cliffside Inn, is offering 25% off the third-night of a three-night reservation, Sundays through Thursdays. At Adele Turner Inn, guests save 50% off on any Tuesday, when they book Monday and Tuesday together.

The ultra-luxury Abigail Stoneman Inn Mini-Getaway Vacation Package includes two-nights with the best available luxury suite or room, plus the Quintessential Newport Summer Getaway Package, just named by Fodor's as one of New England's top three summer getaway package values. It includes tickets to Newport RI's Gilded Age mansions, vineyard tours and wine tastings, and the Destination Newport coupon book worth $500 at various Newport, RI restaurants and shops. The getaway is available Mondays - Wednesdays for the all inclusive price of $700.

In addition to being the first AAA Four Diamond luxury bed and breakfast inns in Rhode Island, the trio of well known B&Bs is also AAA's top-rated Rhode Island lodging group. In addition to the special rates and package add-ons, the Mini-Getaway Vacations all include the luxury amenities and services the Legendary Inns is known for: warm hospitality and personal service; acclaimed afternoon tea (named one of America's Top 20); multi-course breakfast; finely appointed suites and guest rooms with whirlpools, steam baths, grand beds, fireplaces, antiques and artwork; pillow menu; signature in-room spa service; and elegant locations near the beach and in-town.

For complete details and other restrictions on the August Mini-Getaway Vacations, please visit our specials webpage or call 800-845-1811. The Mini-Getaways can only be booked by phone, but you can check availability or reserve other dates online for all Legendary Inns by clicking here.

Summer Getaways to Newport Rhode Island

The Distinctive Inns of New England's flagship Newport, Rhode Island luxury Inn, Cliffside Inn, has added a classic summer getaway package, and an exclusive tennis offering with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, for luxury travelers heading to Newport, RI this summer.

The Quintessential Newport Summer Getaway Package features 2-nights lodging, tickets for the legendary Gilded Age mansions (or other leading attractions), tickets for vineyard tours and tastings, and Destination Newport coupon book with savings up to $500 at Newport RI restaurants and shops. In addition to the Getaway Package, guests enjoy all the luxurious appointments that led to Cliffside being named AAA's first Rhode Island Four Diamond luxury B&B Inn, including one of the finest afternoon teas served in America, Newport's most-written about guest quarters (with 16 individually designed and decorated rooms and bathing salons), in-room spa services, refined elegance and warm hospitality. Getaway Package from $260 a night. Details . . .

The VIP Tennis Play & Stay Package pairs the Cliffside Inn with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the birthplace of tennis in America, and home to the 13 finest grass courts in the country. The best players in the world compete here and now guests can too. The Play&Stay Package is offered exclusively by Cliffside Inn and the Tennis Hall of Fame, and features an hour and a half of grass court time, a can of balls, plus complimentary racquets and admission to the Hall of Fame museum, which is for tennis, what Cooperstown is for baseball. A true Newport original. Details . . .

Reservations at Cliffside Inn can be booked online by clicking here or by phone 800-845-1811. Come discover the magic that has made Cliffside Inn one of America's favorite luxury B&B Inns. In addition to being a founding member of DINE, Cliffside Inn is the flagship property of the Legendary Inns of Newport, AAA's top-rated Rhode Island luxury property group. The trio of historically significant, finely appointed Victorian B&Bs includes Cliffside Inn, Abigail Stoneman Inn and Adele Turner Inn.

Distinctive Inns of New England

Distinctive Inns of New England
MANOR ON GOLDEN POND NAMED BY FORBES
AS TOP EASTERN U.S. VACATION DESTINATION
Holderness, NH; June 2005 – Forbes.com magazine has ranked the Manor On Golden Pond, Number 5, on its latest Summer Travel Guide 2005 list of Eastern U.S. vacation destinations. The Manor On Golden Pond, a historic 25-room luxury inn located on Squam Lake in the heart of the Central Lakes Region of New Hampshire, is the state’s only Small Luxury Hotel of the World.

“This vote of confidence tells us that we have achieved a high level of customer satisfaction, combining world-class service and an incomparable vacation experience,” explained Brian and Mary Ellen Shields, Innkeepers.

Highlighting its ownership’s commitment to excellence, the Manor’s exquisite accommodations include individually designed guest chambers and lavish suites featuring voluminous beds with cotton linens and down comforters. Wood burning fireplaces, lovely paintings, fresh flowers, and lush fabrics appoint the rooms. Heavy damask treatments frame windows showcasing panoramic views of Squam Lake and the White Mountains to the north and where unfailing attention to every detail is a standard and not an exception.