While not traditionally a gift giving holiday, why not support our military with a gift card from BedandBreakfast.com this Memorial Day?  Even if you don't know of a service man or woman who might want one, our active military will benefit when you purchase the Getaway Gift Card for a birthday, anniversary or wedding gift now through the end of May.  A portion of gift card sales will support Fisher House, providing a home away from home for families of wounded soldiers. Simply use the promo code FisherBB and BedandBreakfast.com will donate 5% of the sale from your gift card purchase to Fisher House Foundation and offer you a 5% discount too through the end of May.  Additionally, look for hundreds of special offers from innkeepers for active military personnel on BedandBreakfast.com.

Here's how it works:  Innkeepers from Alaska to Alabama and 41 states in between are opening their doors to active military and first responders with discount offers, special rates, and free night stays.  Knowing that those on military leave want every moment to be special, BedandBreakfast.com members are making pampered B&B getaways easy and affordable; for the complete list, click here. Additionally, in commemoration of Memorial Day, BedandBreakfast.com will support Fisher House Foundation, a private-public partnership supporting the U.S. military in their time of need, while making it easier for you to offer a B&B getaway to your favorite service man or woman. 

From Mother’s Day through the end of May, reward your favorite service man or woman with The Getaway Gift Card from BedandBreakfast.com, welcomed at more than 4,000 B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada.  Use promotional code FisherBB and five percent of your sale will be donated to the Fisher House Foundation to build “comfort homes” on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers, enabling family members to be close to loved ones during hospitalization. BedandBreakfast.com will match that donation with a 5 percent discount for you on gift card purchases when you use the promotional code. Although Memorial Day is not traditionally a gift-giving holiday, why not honor a service man, woman, or veteran with a BedandBreakfast.com gift card, perfect for that upcoming leave?  It’s the ideal way to say “we salute you!”  For quick and easy online purchasing, go to www.BedandBreakfast.com  to buy a customized gift card complete with your personalized message, a choice of preset designs or your own photo uploaded and printed right onto the card. Nothing could be more heartwarming than a photo of you and your favorite service man or woman, or the specially designed Fisher House Foundation gift card. They’ll be able to enjoy the gift of a getaway, welcomed at over 4,000 B&Bs across North America. Best of all, BedandBreakfast.com gift cards have no fees, expiration or blackout dates.

Give the gift now, and it can be used anytime for an upcoming leave. Gift cards are conveniently sold online in any amount from $25 to $2000, and can be printed instantly online or sent from BedandBreakfast.com in foil-lined envelopes with a free 64-page directory, a $5.95 value. Shipping is always free, including free FedEx on orders of $100 or more.With help from BedandBreakfast.com and its members, active military are doubly rewarded – with gift cards benefitting Fisher House Foundation and special offers for savings.  Visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click the American flag icon for a full list of more than 100 offers for discounts, free nights and special rates at B&Bs throughout the USA.

About Fisher House Foundation: Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times -- during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. At least one Fisher House is located at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves about 10,000 families, and has made available nearly three  million days of lodging to family members since it originated in 1990.  For more information, click here.

Having recently posted an entry about the Rabbit Hill Inn, I wouldn't normally post another one so soon.  However, this story is just too good to pass up.  With the unrelenting news about economic woes, here's one inpirational story about how the owners of the Rabbit Hill Inn are helping a few unemployed people, one getaway at a time. 

Leslie and Brian Mulcahy know first hand the challenges of being unemployed.  In 1992, when they came to the Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, VT, the economy had taken a nosedive and middle management was being eliminated from the corporate world.  The “rabbit’s tale” proved lucky for them when they serendipitously went from being guests in 1992 to embarking on a new career as innkeepers at the Rabbit Hill Inn two years later.  Now they hope to provide the same kind of rejuvenation they found to others currently dealing with the uncertainty and anxiety of  unemployment.  Knowing that downsized workers finally have all the time in the world to travel, the Mulcahys understand they don’t have the resources.  Yet now more than ever, America’s four million recently unemployed need a break to help them regroup and regain some confidence.  In response to the unemployment epidemic, Rabbit Hill Inn will give away six getaways to unemployed workers; one each month from April through July and again in November and December. If you or a spouse has been unemployed for more than six months, Rabbit Hill Inn wants to hear the story. 

Dubbed the Pink Slip Getaway Giveaway, each month from April through July and November through December, the Rabbit Hill Inn will award one deserving couple with a rejuvenating two night getaway, including everything from beautiful accommodations to a candlelight dinner and even a rabbit’s foot for good old fashioned luck.  Simply send a letter or email by June 1, 2009 explaining your story in one page or less:Rabbit Hill Inn Getaway GiveawayP.O. Box 55Lower Waterford Road, VT  05848 or info@rabbithillinn.com.

The hope is to recharge the spirit and energy of unemployed people who really need a break, so they will be able to hit the pavement with renewed vigor when they return.  The Pink Slip Getaway will include:

• Two nights lodging (Sunday – Thursday, non-holiday) for two people in one room on a space available basis.
• Romantic gourmet dinner for two on one evening
• Candlelit breakfast each morning
• Afternoon tea and pastry daily
• Signature turndown service nightly
• All gratuities, service charges and taxes
• A good old fashioned rabbits foot keychain for luck

Note:  pub charges and transportation to the inn are additional.  

The Pink Slip Getaways will be arranged in April, May, June, July, November and December, 2009 to U.S. residents, 25 years or older who are not employed by or related to Rabbit Hill Inn. All letters from interested participants must be received no later than June 1, 2009.  One letter per person is allowed.  Duplicate entries will eliminate interested parties from consideration. Pink Slip Getaway recipients will be notified by email or phone.  Pink Slip Getaways are not transferrable and may not be combined with any other offers or promotions. Pink slip getaways will be scheduled no later than December 24, 2009, are subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply.

For more information about the Rabbit Hill Inn, scroll down on this blog or visit Rabbit Hill Inn on BedandBreakfast.com.