·        Free breakfasts for two daily (all B&Bs): $50

·         Free Wi-Fi access and/or guest computers (nearly 90% of B&Bs):  $20

       (94%  of B&Bs): $40

·         Tip-free help with luggage and concierge services (over 65% of B&Bs): $10

·         Free local telephone calls (75% of B&Bs) plus free long distance calls $10

·         Free parking (over 95% of B&Bs): Up to $50

Total savings for the two day stay is $180.  Include the $50 BedandBreakfast.com online booking bonus and save $230 for a two-night stay. 

Many BedandBreakfast.com members also add value with packages, and suddenly the economic reasons to avoid travel disappear.  A quick search through  thousands of packages offered on BedandBreakfast.com reveals the following Editor’s Picks for winter packages, listed in alpha-order by state. Packages not valid with other promotional offers, and may not be offered during MLK weekend or Presidents’ Week. 

The Butler House, Mankato, MN: All rooms are specially priced at $99 from January 3 to February 10th, 2009. Stay one night and receive a surprise gift from your innkeeper; stay two nights and get a $10 gas card.  

Albemarle Inn, Asheville, NC:  Travelers looking for post-holiday relaxation can chill with savings of 30 to 50 percent. Bronze-level rooms start at $100/night, silver rooms are $125 per night and platinum rooms top out at $175 per night through January (excluding January 18-19), including down-filled comforters, enticing parlor fires, and gourmet breakfasts. 

Covered Bridge House, Glen, NH: Stay two midweek nights and receive two lift tickets honored at any of the seven Mt Washington Valley ski resorts or two trail passes, group lesson and equipment rental good at any one of six Mt. Washington Valley Nordic centers, absolutely free. After a vigorous day on the slopes, return to the inn for a relaxing soak in the hot tub under the stars. This package includes two night’s lodging (Sunday - Thursday), two full country breakfasts daily, and two lift tickets for only $198 for two people through April 1, 2009 (excluding February 14-22, 2009). 

The Craftsman Bed and Breakfast, Storm City, OR:  Take advantage of the midweek special.  Stay two nights, Sunday through Thursday for the price of one.  Cuddle up warm inside while the high winds, blowing surf and waves crashing into the Cape Kiwanda offer pure excitement that Oregonians look forward to every year. 

Australian Walkabout B&B, Lancaster, PA: During January and February, stay for one midweek (Sun-Thurs) night and get the second for only $20.09. Take advantage of in-house massage options, complimentary beverages, a DVD library and whirlpool tubs to relax and rejuvenate this winter.

There's no reason to let winter keep you inside.  Book a two-night B&B getaway on BedandBreakfast.com and start the new year out right with some "chillaxing".

Back row L-R: Melissa Mosely, Eric Goldreyer, Willow Coyle, Janice Hollis, Sara Shusta, Kallia Shook, Bevin Gaines, Matt Gregory, Denis Kashkin, Eugene Tokarev, Jon Wofford, John Banczak
Row 3: Veronica Gonzales, Mary Scheltz-Wendel, Hallie Williams, Sandy Soule, Sarah Stotts, Andrew Ratner, Paul Bui, Shana Moffitt
Row 2: Elsa Carreker, Meghan Scott, Jessica Batt, Kesha Orr, Rachel Rivas, Cledstone Jordan
Front row: Matt Howe, Tim Wilson, Tom Beattie, Eric Carr, Brian Megless, Adam Wendel

While we at BedandBreakfast.com can recite many reasons B&Bs are a more affordable option for budget-driven travelers, I imagine that Frequent Stay programs are not one you'd think might be on the list.  However, BedandBreakfast.com surveys have shown that an estimated 1500 B&Bs offer frequent stay programs.  Many have been around longer than your standard hotel frequent stay program. We've traced frequent stay programs at B&Bs back 25 years. Just as no two B&Bs are alike (and that's what you love about them), many of the frequent stay programs vary and can be quite creative.  Here's a sampling of some of the frequent stay programs you'll find from BedandBreakfast.com members.

Beach Drive Inn Bed & Breakfast, Petersburg FL: Rooms are discounted to $99 for the off-season and $129/season for frequent stay corporate clients.  This is a $50 difference from normal room rates.

Captain Lord Mansion,Kennebunkport, ME: This Frequent Stay program was started 25 years ago, making it likely that it is one of the oldest B&B Frequent Stay program. Initially, when the program started in 1983, to celebrate a guests' 10^th visit, the guests received a pewter hurricane lamp from the inn.  However, as the list of returning guests grew, Rick and Bev Litchfield, owners of the Captain Lord Mansion, wanted to give guests something permanent. So about 15 years ago, they went to gift show in Atlanta, and found historic rock pavers.  In 1993, they created what they call a Memory Garden and each time a guest stays 10 times, a stone paver is engraved with their name and placed into the memory garden.  Today, a circle of pavers around a fountain has been filled with over 450 pavers with frequent guests names on it. There are so many now that a walkway is being built to accommodate the pavers. The pavers are not the only gift, however. For every fifth visit, guests receive special gifts. They are:5^th visit – a beautiful cut glass bud vase10^th – paver engraved and placed into the Memory Garden15^th – a lovely cut glass candy dish20^th – a gorgeous Large cut glass vase25^th – cobalt blue salt and pepper shakers with silver tops After the 25th visit, the Litchfields get creative depending upon the guests' interests. There is one couple that has stayed at the Captain Lord Mansion 75 times!   For their 75th visit, the Litchfields bought Kathi Nelson a solid gold lobster claw necklace with a diamond in the claw.  Because Hal is a Red Sox fan, he received a Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox shirt.

Nichols Guest Rooms, Seekonk, MA: Despite inflation, stock market declines, etc., this inn matches the rate return guests paid on their last visit.  For example, recentlya guest who'd stayed three years ago returned for a visit at the rate he paid in 2005 which was a 40% discount.

Maxwell House B&B, "Mayberry" Mount Airy, NC

The Maxwell House Bed and Breakfast, offers a "Mayberry" stayer program. The program runs  for two years from the date of your first stay.  Guests can accumulate points for all stays plus and referrals After your first stay..... for each night you personally stay and for each night that someone you referred to the the inn stays, you get a point.  After 10 points or ten nights of stays, you get a free night. Points are not available for promotional packages and rates. 

Bed and Breakfast Inns of Missouri (BBIM). The BBIM Frequent Stay program is called F.U.N. – Free Unstressed Nights. Guests collect a stamp for any number of consecutive nights paid lodging with the same inn. (Business program is one stamp for two or more consecutive nights paid lodging with the same inn.) Collect six stamps to fill the F.U.N. collection card, mail the completed card to BBIM and receive a $100 gift certificate good at any BBIM member inn. Only two stamps may be collected from any individual member inn after August 15, 2007. Stamps and collection cards will be issued through May 1, 2009. Completed collection cards must be received by BBIM not later than July 1, 2009.

Next time you book a stay at a B&B, be sure to ask whether they have a frequent stay program.  It's a great way to rack up points toward discounted or free stays in 2009.  Be sure to visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click on SEARCH then SPECIAL PACKAGES then choose FREQUENT STAY PROGRAMS from the drop down menu for more frequent stay programs from BedandBreakfast.com members.

Barb & Fred Vogel, owners of the award-winning inn, Sea Crest by the Sea, have just published With Love from Sea Crest by the Sea, perfect for holiday entertaining ideas AND  perfect for holiday gift-giving. Filled with 135 of guests’  favorite recipes (including Jersey Shore Potatoes, Croissant French Toast, Mike's Tomato Pie, and Rainy Day Sangria), this cookbook is great for holiday entertaining and holiday gift-giving. Recipes range from delicious breakfast dishes, to sinful desserts, to tasty hors d’oeuvres; some are surprisingly quick and easy, others a bit more advanced.  It’s compiled as a loose-leaf notebook, making it easy to use because the pages lie flat, but can also be removed for easy reference while cooking/baking. To order a copy, click here. 

Note:  Sea Crest was located in charming Spring Lake, NJ, but was sold as a private home in 2007.  For information on other delightful area inns, click here.

During a recent trip to Summerville, SC, I had the pleasure of spending an enjoyable night at Linwood Bed and Breakfast Inn. This lovely Victorian home is situated on nearly 2 acres of award-winning, landscaped gardens embellished with handsome statuary. The gardens have lots of special niches (including a child's secret garden) which provides additional areas for relaxing while visiting the inn. Unlike most bed and breakfast inns, Linwood also offers guests a large swimming pool to enjoy during warmer months. Peter and Linda Shelbourne are the gracious resident innkeepers at Linwood, and their many years of innkeeping is reflected in the excellence found throughout their delightful inn. Linda is also a master gardener, and her talents are evident throughout the gardens.

There are 3 tastefully decorated suites within the main house, and I especially like the one I stayed in (The Brandt Suite shown above). Comfortable mattresses and high-quality linens are standard throughout the inn, as well as private label amenities. There is a working fireplace in The Brandt Suite which I also enjoyed during my visit. Linwood also offers 3 fully furnished and equipped outbuildings which are ideal for long-term, short-term, or corporate rentals; each of these is self-catering. The Guest House and The Hay Barn (both shown below) provide excellent lodging for families traveling with children. 

For guests staying in the main house, a bountiful and tasty Continental breakfast is served each morning in one of the inn's two dining rooms. The table is impressively set with gleaming silver, fine china, and starched linens.

The quaintness of Summerville makes it one of my favorite SC towns. Located just 23 miles from Charleston, Summerville is conveniently located to favorite tourist destinations such as Middleton Place Plantation, Drayton Hall, and Magnolia Place & Gardens. When visiting the Summerville area, I have always had excellent meals at Middleton Place Restaurant and Summerville's Sweet Water Cafe (within walking distance of Linwood).