We are thrilled to announce that the BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection™ program has reached a major milestone: It now has over 400 member inns across the U.S. and Canada! Established over three years ago, this program offers luxury, value and memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences to travelers.

Our recent survey of nearly 2,500 travelers reveals that this winter, more than one in four (28%) plan to enjoy a “splurge weekend” and stay in luxury accommodations.  Of these travelers, more than three out of four (77%) plan to stay in a luxury bed and breakfast, and nearly half (48%) say they would be willing to pay more than $100 a night extra for the high-end accommodations.

“Travelers are increasingly looking for ‘smart luxury’ accommodations providing pampered experiences along with special touches and extra perks that provide great value,” says BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection Manager Tim Wilson.  “Diamond Collection inns exemplify smart luxury and are the perfect choice for travelers who want more out of their travel experience.”

In addition to having fantastic traveler reviews on BedandBreakfast.com and offering luxurious and modern amenities and services, Diamond Collection inns participate in a comprehensive third-party annual inspection conducted by InnConcierge. “When we evaluate and pass an inn for BedandBreakfast.com’s Diamond Collection status, it has to pass a 400+ point ratings criteria, which is the most stringent of all ratings programs,” says Stephen Tallon, InnConcierge founder.  “Innkeepers across the nation have sought out the Diamond Collection program from BedandBreakfast.com because it highlights and markets the unique offerings these special bed and breakfast inns offer to their guests.”

Thank you to all of our participating Diamond Collection inns and travelers for supporting this wonderful program! Pictured is Castle in the Country in Allegan, Michigan, which has been a Diamond Collection member since 2009.

By Emily Starbuck Crone

This beautiful photo is of Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Inn, a BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection B&B in McMinnville, Oregon. Located within 20 minutes of over 80 Oregon winteries, it's the perfect place to stay for an Oregon Wine Country adventure. The inn itself is perched atop a mountain on 50 acres and is surrounded by 22 acres of pinor noir and gris. A stay here is the ideal way to discover the area!

By Emily Starbuck Crone

Guests love Manor House, a 1898 Victorian Tudor estate in Norfolk, Connecticut. The BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection's elegant guestrooms are outfitted with luxurious down comforters, and some of the rooms have fireplaces, private balconies, a Jacuzzi or a deluxe soaking tub.

Here is a review of the inn from a very happy guest who stayed here earlier this month.

"A Norfolk Delight"
The Manor House is a delightful bed and breakfast in the Berkshires. The home is beautiful, comfortable and quiet and nestled into a beautiful property. Nearby are hiking and ski trails, lovely shops and restaurants, Infinity Music Hall, and countless other treasure troves. Kathy and Kurt and the perfect innkeepers...warm and hospitable with a desire to please, yet in tune with the needs of guests who want some peace and quiet...simply perfect!! And their breakfasts are delicious! I highly recommend a weekend getaway to this lovely home away from home.

By Emily Starbuck Crone

This recipe is from Carson Ridge Private Luxury Cabins in Carson, Washington (pictured). This BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection inn has gorgeous views of the Columbia River Gorge and the surrounding mountain range. Its 12 private cabins are outfitted in luxurious amenities, such as spa tubs for two, walk-in showers with dual rain heads, fireplaces with leather chairs, custom-made log beds, and private deck with log swings. Enjoy this tasty dessert recipe from the innkeepers!

Servings: 8
Prep time: 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 22 oz can peaches
• 1 cup mixed berries (blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup oatmeal

Steps:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9X13 baking dish, then sprinkle a thin layer of yellow cake mix on the bottom (1/4 of a cup), then the oatmeal. Open the can of peaches and spoon on peaches, then place mixed fruit on top of the peaches.

2. Pour the rest of the cake mix on top of the fruit then spread the brown sugar over the cake mix. Melt the butter and pour it over the top along with a little more peach juice.

3. Bake in the over for 30 minutes. Top with nuts or whipped cream.

By Emily Starbuck Crone

In case you missed it, last month we announced the winners of our 2012 Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners. Each fall, we select winners by a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of guest reviews from the past year. We have over 13,000 member inns, and with so many having stellar reviews, it's a very difficult to pick just 30!

This year, eight of the 10 U.S. award winners and two of our Canadian winners are BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection members. The inn names that are bolded below are in the Diamond Collection.

Top 10 B&Bs in the United States

• Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill in Mills River, North Carolina
• Belfast Bay Inn in Belfast, Maine 
• Bufflehead Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine
• Chestnut Hill Bed & Breakfast in Orange, Virginia
• Historic Webster House in Bay City, Michigan
• Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast* in Amelia Island, Florida
• Port d’Hiver Bed and Breakfast in Melbourne Beach, Florida
• The Farmhouse at Veritas in Afton, Virginia
• Twin Pine Manor Bed & Breakfast in Ephrata, Pennsylvania
• Villa D’Citta in Chicago, Illinois

Top 10 B&Bs in Canada

• Abbeymoore Manor Bed and Breakfast in Victoria, British Columbia
• A la Carte B&B in Montreal, Quebec
• A Touch of English Bed & Breakfast in Kelowna, British Columbia
• Binners’ Bed and Breakfast in Victoria, British Columbia
• Cartland Estate Bed and Breakfast in Niagara Falls, Ontario
• John Lewis House in Victoria, British Columbia
• Queen Anne Inn in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
• Sweet Dreams Luxury Inn in Abbotsford, British Columbia
• The Refuge Bed and Breakfast in Mont Tremblant, Quebec
• Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia in East Kempville, Nova Scotia

We do not yet have a Diamond Collection program outside of the U.S. and Canada, but here are our top 10 international winners:

• Bed & Breakfast Pegaso in Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy
• Casa Lima Bed & Breakfast in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Casa Roa in Mexico City, Mexico
• Estinfil Guesthouses in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
• Le Roulage in Longueville, France
• Lippergüt’l in Füssen, Germany
• Los Artistas B&B in Ajijic, Mexico
• Maison Maurice in Biron, France
• Suites Plazza del Popolo in Rome, Italy
• Villa Los Paraisos in La Puebla de Cazalla, Spain

By Emily Starbuck Crone