Wednesday, December 17, 2008

No Time to Shop? Print Out a Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificate

By Jane Leisteiner

Time is running out and you still haven't found the perfect gift or maybe you are trying to find something unique to give your best friend. Wouldn't these special people appreciate the thoughtful gift of travel? Head to iLoveInns.com and purchase your loved one a printable gift certificate. This quick and easy gift can be used at thousands of country inns, bed & breakfasts or boutique hotels throughout the United States and Canada.

The gift certificates have no blackout or expiration dates and are valid seven days after purchase. This activation date will be listed on the certificate. Gift amounts begin at $50 and are available for as much as $1000, so you can pay for part of a trip or give someone a whole weekend away. The best part is that all you have to do is buy and print, and you have a little instant seasonal joy. Here are just a few of the inns that accept iLoveInns.com's gift certificates:

Graycote Inn, a historic Bar Harbor bed and breakfast, is so charming you may decide to spend the rest of your days luxuriating here on Maine's scenic coast. The guest rooms of this 1881 farmhouse are decorated in period style with fine fabrics and canopy beds. Several rooms include a clawfoot tub and one has a wood-burning fireplace. During the warmer months, scrumptious morning meals are served on tables in the sunny breakfast room, which looks out to the garden. Fresh fruit, homemade breads and a daily entree complete this multi-course affair, which will prepare you for a happy day of site seeing.

Country hospitality and a convenient location entice guests to the Corner Oak Manor, a cozy bed and breakfast in Asheville, North Carolina, just a half mile from the Biltmore Estate. There are four guest rooms, featuring country dcor and antiques, as well as a private cottage with its own kitchenette. Innkeeper Karen Spradley has a culinary degree and prepares the morning meal, featuring an artfully displayed menu using the freshest local ingredients. She even has her own cookbook, so you can bring a little of that bed and breakfast charm back to your own home.

Located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Casa Tropicana is directly across the street from the beach and scenic San Clemente Pier. The rooms feature romantic beach dcor, and many feature an ocean view. Fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs are among the other amenities. For a special occasion, consider booking the posh Casablanca suite, which encompasses the entire fifth floor of this Southern California inn and includes a private deck with a Jacuzzi. Guests can walk to restaurants and shops or stroll across the street and enjoy a picnic at the beach.

In addition to offering printable gift certificates, iLoveInns.com, which has published more than 60 travel guides, also offers the guidebook "Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns." The book, which can purchased on the website for $24.95, includes a buy-one-night-get-one-night-free certificate which can be used at any one of the more than 1,400 boutique inns and B&Bs. The average savings is more than $150, so consider purchasing a copy for yourself, as well as a friend. ILoveInns.com also features detailed listings to more than 19,000 unique lodging choices, from lighthouse bed and breakfasts to posh city boutique hotels. - 16492

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