You love inngoing and have decided the kids are ready to try it too. This summer, take some advice from Sandy Soule, BedandBreakfast.com's Marketing VP. As a successful child-toting B&B guidebook author and mom, and now a B&B marketing expert and grandma, Soule offers great advice and encouragement to families wishing to enjoy an affordable summer inn getaway.

• Convenient location: Choose an inn with plenty of activities for good weather and bad--sand castles to build, boats to row, mountains to climb, farm animals to feed, horses to ride, and museums to visit. Minimize travel time; cramped kids are cranky kids.
• Appropriate accommodations: A family suite, cabin or cottage will give you extra space and privacy, so the kids' lack of "volume control" won't disturb others or make you tense.
• Food: Hungry children whine and fuss. Find innkeepers who understand that kids prefer teddy bear pancakes to eggs Benedict. A refrigerator for snacks and afternoon refreshments and a bottomless cookie jar are also welcome.
• Family-friendly furnishings: Combine museum-quality antiques with young children for guaranteed stress. Teach your kids to respect property, but select accommodations with sturdy, comfortable durable furnishings.
• Built-in fun: Look for games, puzzles, outdoor play equipment, cribs and even special children's programs and/or baby-sitters. An extra plus for children is the new friends they'll make. On the other hand, remember that close supervision of your children is your responsibility as a parent.
• Family-friendly pricing: Select properties with rooms or cottages that sleep four, and include family oriented extras in the rate.This year, B&B means Budget and Bargains, not Break the Bank with nearly 75 special offers for value-filled family fun on BedandBreakfast.com. For details, go to BedandBreakfast.com and click on the photo of the smiling kids for a complete list of fabulous family-friendly B&Bs and packages. 

Here are two of the many offers to give you a sample. For more family-fun-filled package ideas, we have created a longer list here on BedandBreakfast.com.

Small Hope Bay Lodge, Fresh Creek, Andros Island, Bahamas: Beautiful beaches, fabulous scuba diving and snorkeling, plus one- and two-bedroom beachside cottages welcome families to this island lodge. Look for complimentary evening babysitting in the game room for kids over 2 and free introductory surface scuba lessons for kids age 6-9 years plus a free snorkel or dive lesson for kids ten and older. Through 12/18/09, all-inclusive rates are $209 per person for adults and $95 child (2-12) nightly, including accommodations, meals, beverages, kayaks, bikes, windsurfers, nature trails, Hobie Cat, hot tub on the beach, and taxes.

Villa Paggi Country House, Carasco, Italy: Just eight kilometers from the shores of the Tigullio Gulf, this eco-friendly home is a perfect base for exploring the Italian Riviera, including the renowned aquarium in Genoa, one of Europe’s biggest, and a guided tour of the Mine of Gambatesa, where everyone dons a helmet and rides a small train several hundred meters into the earth. The family-friendly guest rooms accommodate up to five; a family of four can enjoy seven nights accommodations, buffet breakfasts, and nightly dinners at a nearby restaurant-agriturismo with beautiful views, and self-raised meats and vegetables for €1,250 through October, 2009 – that’s about $250 per day for the family, including meals!