We see many people take huge suitcases with them on short getaways. While it’s handy to have a plethora outfits and toiletries to choose from, do you really need five pairs of shoes or three books for a weekend escape? Over-packing is particularly inconvenient and unnecessary when you're visiting B&Bs. Here's why:

• Lots of steps: A typical Victorian mansion has six or more steps to get to the front door, and at least two full flights of stairs to get to second- and third-floor guest rooms. Although many B&Bs have wheelchair accessible guest rooms, elevators are a rarity.

• Limited closet space: In the 19th century and earlier, most people had very few clothes--just their everyday work clothes and a Sunday suit or dress. The oversize closets of today's homes were very rare. Where closets existed, innkeepers have typically transformed them into bathrooms, since indoor plumbing was even scarcer than closets. While innkeepers do their best to provide you with adequate storage space, and newer B&Bs often do have some nice closet space, limitations do exist at many B&Bs.

• Limited staff: Although innkeepers will be delighted to help you with your bags whenever possible, B&Bs usually do not have bellhops or other staff on call for carrying luggage.

• Lots of amenities: Nearly every innkeeper will be delighted to provide you with a hair dryer and iron (plus an ironing board), so remove those items from your suitcase. Lovely toiletries at most inns (shampoo, lotions, etc.) can also lighten your load.

• Lots of books: Although good books are a key ingredient of a great vacation, you don't need to pack a library. Most innkeepers will be happy to trust you to return their own favorites, while others offer an informal exchange program--take a book, leave a book.

Be a ruthless packer. If you’re really tight on space, consider packing only neutral-colored slacks, shorts, and/or skirts (black & khaki are best), so that all your tops match all the bottoms. One great idea is taking no-iron microfiber fabrics, which weigh little and fold up into nothing. Since you can usually wear the bottoms for several days, you'll only need two or three if you’re going on a week-long trip.

Three pairs of shoes is the maximum, and two pairs is better--a pair of walking shoes, and another that's a little dressier. Always take a bathing suit since many B&Bs have hot tubs and/or lovely swimming pools. Roll it into a ball, stick it in a corner of your suitcase, and you'll never have to miss the fun if an opportunity strikes. Do bring an empty, lightweight daypack if you plan to go hiking. Most of all, enjoy your trip!

The Bartlett Inn in Bartlett, NH is running a great deal for guests who love winter skiing. The New Hampshire inn is located in the middle of five excellent downhill ski areas.

Starting at just $60 per person, you get two nights of accommodation (double occupancy) during mid-week in addition to one lift ticket per person for use at your choice of six local mountains: Attitash (2 miles), Bretton Woods (15 miles), Black (10 miles), Cranmore (13 miles), King Pine, Shawnee Peakone.

Your stay includes two nights in a cottage room with a private bath, cable TV, and gas wood stove. You also get to enjoy a hot country breakfast along with afternoon hot cocoa, tea, and cookies. Your stay also includes free snow tubing at Great Glen Trails.

Call 1-800-292-2353 to book your winter adventure at The Bartlett Inn. Ask about an upgrade to larger rooms with fireplace cottages, kitchenettes, or spa tub.

Our favorite part of our traveler reviews program is getting to read about guests having the time of their lives on vacation and experiencing the intimacy that only a B&B can offer. This review of a stay this winter at Inn at Cook Street in Provincetown, Massachusetts gave us a smile!

Review: "Home Away From Home"
One of the most fabulous places if not the best inn I have had the pleasure of spending a whole week with my partner. [Innkeepers] Lisa and Doreen were the best possible hosts while enjoying our vacation in PTown. They treated us like family and provided us delicious breakfasts and the best tea in town! We had such an amazing experience visiting PTown for the first time that we plan to make this an annual trip as long as we can stay at the Inn at Cook Street and enjoy the hospitality of Lisa and Doreen. A special thank you as well to Alex who is also a part of this great team. We love you guys and we will definitely be back!

The Provincetown B&B offers two cottages and six spacious suites, some with two bedrooms. The 1836 Greek Revival home has modern amenities such as Egyptian 800 threadcount sheets and towels. Complimentary airport and ferry pick-up is an unusual free perk they offer to guests. Relax in their gardens or explore the bay beach, only steps away.

Escape to The Inn at Westwynd Farm in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, and you will find a quiet countryside retreat with 25 beautiful horses roaming the hills. The B&B is situated on a working horse farm in a rustic setting, but it's conveniently only a few miles from Hershey. Innkeepers Frank & Carolyn Troxell turned their family home and 32-acre land into a charming inn with 11 guest rooms. Carolyn kindly took the time to let us interview her and learn more about her unique inn, the best things to do in the Hershey area, and why she loves her job.

1. How long have you been an innkeeper?
We have been innkeepers for 10 1/2 years.

2. What were some of the first steps you took once you decided to become an innkeeper?
My career in bank marketing and administration served me well. We felt we had an excellent location, but we still did our research on tourism statistics and developed a detailed business plan and five-year pro forma. We also gave a lot of thought to what it would mean to our lifestyle and whether we were ready for all the challenges. It's definitely a team effort. We both love what we are doing--our joke is if Frank (an engineer) couldn't fix stuff we couldn't do this. The cooking is the easy part. We also have wonderful staff and great marketing partners in Whitestone Marketing. It's important to be very clear on knowing what you don't know and then finding folks who do it well.

3. What do you enjoy most about being an innkeeper?
Most importantly, seeing our guests really enjoy the inn and farm. Their smiles are sunshine to us. We love every aspect of innkeeping--meeting new people, entertaining , cooking,  problem solving  even cleaning

4. When you opened The Inn at Westwynd Farm, what was your vision for it?
We wanted it to be a lovely respite that reflected some our own best travel experiences.

5. Why did you choose to have an inn in Hummelstown/Hershey?
We actually have owned our horse farm since 1980. When I retired from a career in banking, we added on and remodeled to create the bed & breakfast. We knew we were fortunate to have an ideal location just three miles from Hershey but also close to Lancaster County and the Amish and Gettysburg as well as Harrisburg, our state capitol. The farm also has a beautiful setting.

6. What are some of the local attractions or activities that make your town worth visiting?
The entire list could take pages. We are very close to Hershey Park, Chocolate World, The Hershey Story Museum, The Hershey Zoo and all the concert and theater venues in Hershey. In addition, there is a wonderful Antique Car Museum and Indian Echo Caverns and some great wineries all within a few miles. Lancaster County and Gettysburg are also nearby. The area is great for biking, and the Swatara Creek offers canoeing and great bird watching

7. What is your B&B's history?
Our children were showing horses, which led to purchase of the farm. We thought it would be more economical to keep their horses at home, and we would board a few to keep them company...The few horses now number 25 in addition to two alpaca, a goat, two dogs, and some very friendly barn cats. We stayed in a bed & breakfast on our 10th Anniversary and liked it. The more we traveled, the more we felt we would like to offer this special type of hospitality to others. When the children went off to start their own lives, that is exactly what we did.

8. What sets your B&B apart from others?
Our farm setting, yet still having the proximity to so many attractions. We often say we are "so convenient but a world apart."

9. Do you have any food specialties that guests love?
We try to use seasonal and local foods as much as possible. We have a small garden, and it's great fun when asparagus comes in or wonderful summer tomatoes. When we have a bumper crop of concord grapes as we did this year, we make juice and jam and really good pie. As for breakfast, our egg blossoms (eggs baked in ham cups) are always a big hit.

10. Why do you think travelers should choose B&Bs over hotels?
It's all the little unexpected extras, but most of all, the caring attention of the hosts that sets B&Bs apart.

By Emily Starbuck Crone

This month's annual award recognized the Top 10 Romantic B&Bs of 2013. The winners were selected based on their over-the-top romantic atmosphere, amenities, and add-ons. If you and your loved one need a romantic getaway to reconnect or relax, these 10 inns are ideal destinations.

Congratulations to the following winners:

• Antigua Capilla B&B in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

• Cascade Valley Inn in Cashmere, WA

• Dashwood Manor in Victoria, BC

• Domaine du Moulin in Saint Laurent des Arbres, France

• Heartstone Inn Bed & Breakfast in Eureka Springs, AR

• High Pointe Inn on Cape Cod in West Barnstable, MA

• Inn at Riverbend in Pearisburg, VA

• Island Cottage Oceanfront Inn & Spa in Flagler Beach, FL

• Inn at Sunrise Point in Lincolnville, ME (pictured)

• Victorian Mansion in Fredericksburg, TX

Which of these B&Bs would you love to visit?