In a recent USA Today story, travel reporter, Charisse Jones revealed a trend in hotels where bath tubs are being replaced by showers.  The article discloses that bath tubs are going the way of mints on the pillows; old traditions dying to save money or space.  According to Jones, hotels are no longer adding bathtubs to new properties to free up space.  Jones explains, “Holiday Inn has gone from roughly 95% of its newly built hotels having tubs a decade ago to only 55% of new structures featuring them now. Marriott plans for 75% of the chain’s rooms to have showers only. And Hotel Indigo, a 6-year-old upscale chain, never had tubs, except perhaps in suites”.

The article quotes Bill Barrie, senior vice president of design and project management for Marriott, who says the industry has been shifting from tubs to showers over the last five years. “There’s no time for baths,” he says.  Yet a 2008 survey by Embassy Suites showed a majority of travelers take a shower rather than a bath when on the road for work, but a tub or bath/shower combination is the first choice for vacations.  So if you’re vacationing at a hotel, your chances of a bath are increasingly bad.

We’re always on the lookout for distinctions between inns and hotels, and here is an important one.  For all you bath-soakers out there no need to say bye-bye to bath salts and rubber duckies.  DINE member inns all offer guest rooms with private baths featuring whirlpool tubs, soaking tubs and bath tubs.  Add to that lovely bath salts, bubble baths and lotions, and themed rubber duckies and you don’t have to say goodbye to a lifelong American tradition of the luxurious bath.  Nothing says R&R more than soaking in a tub, and DINE innkeepers heighten that experience with beautifully decorated and equipped bathrooms with deep tubs for soaking.

A BedandBreakfast.com 2009 survey showed that nearly 70% of all inns and B&Bs in the United States offer whirlpool tubs, steam showers and multi-jetted showers.  Choose an inn or B&B and you are sure to find yourself soaking away stress in a luxurious setting.

At home, Americans are increasingly multi-tasking in their bathrooms. An American Standard’s 2008 Bathroom Habits Survey revealed that today’s tech-crazed consumers have extended multitasking into their bathrooms going beyond the usual bathroom activities to  checking e-mail, talking on cell phones and listening to iPods. The survey shows that more than a third of Americans read their mail — both snail mail and e-mail, 43 percent get dressed; 20 percent sing; 19 percent listen to music via radio or iPod; 15 percent talk on the phone, and three percent watch TV.  As multi-tasking continues so does distraction;  it’s a wonder more people don’t get shocked or destroy one or more electric or electronic toy in the bathroom.  Perhaps that’s the next survey we need to do to find out!

If there’s too much multi-tasking going on in your bathroom, you need to put away the tech toys and focus on one thing…quality R&R.  No one wishes they spent more time reading mail in the bathroom when they look back on the legacy of their life.  For a complete change, plan a DINE getaway complete with a deep, relaxing soak in your tub leaving all that TV and tech-stuff  plus the world’s cares behind.  Plenty of DINE member inns offer double whirlpools and soaking tubs, perfect for dual soaking.  If you’re a shower person, have no fear.  No need to head to the Marriott and pull in your stomach to fit into your shower.  Your private guest room comes complete with tub and shower at DINE member inns.

Here’s a sneak peak at just some of what’s in store for your next soaking sojourn.

This is the second in a series where we offer the “INNside Skinny” on DINE member properties. Today we’re offering an armchair visit to the Captain’s House Inn in Chatham, MA.

Having never visited Chatham, MA, I drove past the Captain’s House Inn and continued a mile or so to check out the Fish Pier, beaches and Main Street, all within about five minutes of the inn.  Quintessentially Cape Cod, the beaches and sandbars beyond were strikingly inviting and Main Street’s eclectic shops lured me into a promise to make time later for some shopping.  As I drove into the Captain’s House Inn, I was struck by the size of the compound.  I recognized the main inn building from the website and brochure, and was enchanted by the two additional buildings, which I later learned offered ten more guest rooms in buildings called The Stables , Carriage House and the Captain’s Cottage.

Accessible from Boston in just a little over an hour, and as much a small resort as a country inn, the Captain’s House Inn offers up all the amenities anyone from business traveler to romantic couple might seek.  The in-ground pool and fitness center are complimented by beach chairs and beach towels, umbrellas for rainy days, port and sherry for an evening nightcap, a library filled with DVDs for guests’ use, afternoon tea with many traditional treats. The “extras” went on and on including bags of Cape Cod Chips and granola bars, juice and bottled water, plus terry robes in the rooms.  Everything a traveler might seek at any Cape Cod resort is here minus the price tag.  When I added the lavish breakfast to the list, the Captain’s House amenities amounted to nearly $100 in value that you’d pay nightly at other Chatham resorts, but not here.

A number of things set the Captain’s House Inn apart.  The attention to detail is exceptional.  From beautifully sculpted towels next to deep whirlpool tubs to the intricate directions to restaurants printed and organized at a helpful information desk, guests are left wanting little.  It came as no surprise to learn that the innkeepers will collect their 25thsuccessive Four-Diamond award from AAA soon. There’s an English influence here; a holdover from the previous British owners, I suspect. The complimentary afternoon tea features sweet and savory treats with the option to upgrade to High Tea featuring a three-tiered display of sandwiches, scones and sweets for just $7.50 per guest ($18.50 for outside diners).

A tour of the guest rooms left me imagining that Captain’s House Inn must be the ideal vacation destination for those living in cramped apartments.  Each room felt so spacious – from the standard rooms to the enormous three-room Lydia Harding Suite.  Many rooms offer cathedral ceilings, large sitting areas, balconies or patios; the guest rooms rivaled many a New York or Boston apartment in size and grandeur.  Every room offers a wood burning, gas or pot belly fireplace, small refrigerator with locally made complimentary Nantucket Nectar juices and bottled water, coffee makers with coffee and mugs, flat screen TVs, telephones offering local and long distance access, complimentary wi-fi, CD and DVD players, and beautiful beds. many with four posters or canopies.  The décor is distinctively traditional or maritime in nature, with beautiful accents.  Many rooms offer whirlpool or soaking tubs, located in dedicated rooms with separate bathrooms for the toilet and sink.  I spied one multi-jetted shower in the Lydia Harding Suite too. 

Unlike many other inns, the thirty-something innkeepers, James and Jill Meyer, started their innkeeper careers when they were 25 and 23 respectively.  While younger than the average innkeeper, they respect the traditions and history of the Captain’s House Inn and plan to continue to preserve its legacy, while adding modern amenities that appeal to a younger or older traveler. It’s no surprise that they are often mistaken for guests, not innkeepers, as many expect owners of a large country inn to resemble Bob Newhart, not Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie.

Come hungry to the Captain’s House Inn.  A lavish breakfast featuring fresh fruit, a wide array of bagels, smoked salmon, breads, cheeses and meats, cereals, homemade granola, freshly baked pastries is then topped off with a choice of savory or sweet breakfast entrees, complimented by steaming coffee arriving in individual teapots and fresh juices.  Afternoon tea follows with a choice of individually steamed teas and an array of sweet and savory treats.  Then, don’t worry about raiding the kitchen in the evenings; in fact you’re encouraged to enjoy the freshly baked cookies left for guests there and coffee or tea available 24-7.

Read more about how Captain’s House Inn’s value compares to Chatham Resorts here: http://www.examiner.com/bed-breakfast-in-boston/how-to-get-200-added-value-on-your-next-getaway

When You Go:

Captain’s House Inn, www.captainshouse.com, 369 – 377 Old Harbor Rd., Chatham, MA, 02633, 800-315-0728.

Directions From Boston: Route 3 south to the Cape Cod Canal at the Sagamore Bridge to Mid Cape Highway (Route 6) toward Provincetown. Take exit 11. Take a left off the exit onto route 137 and take an immediate left onto Pleasant Bay Road. Go through the stop sign all the way to the end and turn right on route 28. Go about 3 miles and turn right at your first traffic light. We are immediately on your right. 

Captain’s House Inn is a member of Distinctive Inns of New England and Select Registry.

Ask Chesterfield Inn co-owner, Judy Hueber and she’ll tell you she’s proud to be a granite stater.  Yet, located just two miles from the Vermont border and five minutes from Brattleboro, Vermont, one can’t help but feel the Vermont influence at this inn, just over a minute from the Green Mountain state.  I arrived on a blue bird day last winter, and as the sparkle from the pristine white snow banks contrasted with that brilliant blue sky and the pale green of the inn, I knew I was in for a great visit.  The warm greeting I received when I entered the inn with its welcoming lobby, and cathedral ceiling flanked with original beams confirmed my hunch that this was going to be an inn I’d remember.

Set on what was once a circa 1790 rural farm, many of the original beams are still present at the Chesterfield Inn, seamlessly blended with modern conveniences like flat screen TVs, gas fireplaces, DVD players, refrigerators in rooms, and double whirlpool tubs.  Walk throughout the inn, and you’re welcome to peek into rooms if you see the doors (reminiscent of barn doors) open.  One can’t help be struck by the spaciousness of the rooms. Tall, often cathedral ceilings and ceiling-to-floor windows not only give a feel of spaciousness, but also offer natural light that practically brings the outside in.  Add in artwork depicting nature and outdoor scenes, you’re struck by the beauty of the surroundings – both inside and out.

Guests can choose to dine in the inn's dining room or opt for breakfasts or dinners on their own private patio.

The inn has a bit of a dual personality.  The rambling main inn offers nine guest rooms with configurations that work for any travel group – families, girlfriends, couples traveling together and couples seeking alone time. Where ever possible, a balcony or deck is accessed from guest rooms via French or sliding doors.  Two-room suites, rooms with lofts and double queen rooms mean there’s plenty of space for the whole family.  Outside the main inn, two newer buildings offer up six rooms with private terraces, gas fireplaces and some whirlpool tubs too.  Here, those traveling with pets find the perfect respite, with seemingly endless meadows right out the door to romp and play.

Tall cathedral ceilings, spacious baths, and those wonderful oversized windows provide ample light by day and the flickering gas fireplace offers a warm glow at night.

“Sometimes guests check in and we become immediate and fast friends,” said Judy.  “Yet for some who want a truly private escape, we provide breakfast and dinner in the rooms, and they never have to leave the comfort of their rooms and terraces”.  What a novel experience, I thought.  Rooms rivaling the size of a New York apartment with their own terraces complete with tables and chairs; what could be more romantic than sharing a candlelight dinner on the terrace overlooking the meadow and Vermont’s Green Mountains in the distance.  Between the whirlpool tub, fireplace, refrigerator stocked with water, sodas, wine and beer, a king bed (which alone was roughly the size of my daughter’s small bedroom) I can understand why some people never leave.  Yet pet lovers, snowshoers and hikers who want easy access to the outdoors would clearly be equally happy here too, I thought.

Decorative containers of holly, pines and cardinals were found throughout the property at the Chesterfield Inn.

There’s more! Continue reading about the Chesterfield Inn and see more photos on Examiner.com.

 

In a story circulated by the Association Press recently entitled Watch for Hotel Fees, Not Just Internet , author Karen Schwartz warns “If you’re budgeting for summer travel, be on the lookout for fees on your hotel bill for everything from newspapers to luggage storage.” The article goes on to lament the myriad of  often non-discolsed fees  hotels and resorts add including everything from a $30 daily resort fee for facilities you may or may not use to parking, porters and package delivery.  The charges that get to me are the fees for the in-room safe, whether you use it or not, and the min-bar fees. In a blog entry posted back in February, we explored how one Cape Cod resort charged more $100 a day for  items and services offered free to guests at the Captain’s House Inn less than 2 miles away. We’ve also quoted NY Times reporter Joe Sharkey on his complaints about hotel fee-fests.

We don’t mean to pound the same message over and over, but inns simply march to the beat of a fee-free drummer. Compare any chain hotel or resort to a DINE member inn, and you’ll find that while the amenities are equal, the prices and certainly the add-ons are not.  Stay at a DINE member inn and you’ll find any where from $200 to $250 in added value. However, what you won’t find is those charges on your bill at the end of the stay! How does the added value add up?  In gourmet breakfasts ($20 per person at hotels and resorts), mini-bar stocking fees and outrageous sums for water and peanuts therein (water and peanuts will run you upwards of $15 in a hotel mini-bar) complimentary DVDs ($19.95 on pay-per-play at resorts), afternoon and evening refreshments and tea (up to $30 at resorts) and the list goes on.  Consult the AP story, and you’ll see how porter and concierge fees, parking, resort and credit card fees add up at check-out.

As we approach the summer season and planning for your romantic or family escapes gets underway, we know you’re looking for value, and you’re also looking for a relaxing, hassle-free getaway.  Who wants to end a week of R&R with surprises on the bill at check-out?  If you wish to save, we hope you don’t feel you must opt for the “housekeeping-free” rooms hotels have begun offering (does this mean it wasn’t cleaned prior to arriving??).  Consider a distinctive inn, anywhere in New England where you’ll find all the amenities and accoutrements you seek for a pampered surprise-free getaway and the housekeeping happens daily at no additional charge.

For more information on Distinctive Inns of New England, simply visit www.distinctiveinns.com.

Complimentary port and sherry are served in the library along with a large selection of DVDs for guests' use at the Captains House Inn.

While Cinco de Mayo celebrates more than just drinking Tequila, it is a holiday that surrounds much revelry and appreciation for fine Mexican food.  In honor of Cinco de Mayo as well as the onset of grilling season in New England,  I’m sharing the Rabbit Hill Inn’s recipe for a delicious grilled shrimp kicked up a notch with a lime-Tequila marinade.

Grilled Lime-Tequila Marinated Shrimp from Rabbit Hill Inn

 Preparation of the Marinade    Yield 1 ½ cups  

¼ cup lime juice, fresh squeezed                               

 ¼ cup tequila

½ Tbls garlic                                                               

 2 Tbls shallots

6 Tbls olive oil                                                

 1 Tbls Dijon mustard

¾ tsp fresh black pepper                                            

2 Tbls minced cilantro

4 Tbls minced parsley

Combine all ingredients and incorporate well.

Preparation of the Shrimp:

2 lbs large shrimp

De-vain and shell shrimp. Soak in the marinade for 2-3 hours (longer if possible). Remove shrimp from marinade and let drain for 2-3 minutes. Oil the hot grill rack to prevent sticking. Grill on both sides until done (3-5 minutes total).

“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.”  

- George Harrison

May is the month for cake at DINE member properties.  Two wonderful cake-themed events are the perfect reason to grab your fellow sweet toothed friend or partner and head for Camden Maine Stay and the Inn at Thorn Hill for fabulous cake tastings or to take your chance at being the Cake Boss. 

May 7, 1-4pm, Camden Cake Walk: Remember all those cakes Mom baked for you over the years? Here is your chance to say “thank you” and give Mom a sweet memory on Mother’s Day Weekend. The Camden-Rockport Historical Society and Camden’s historic inns are teaming up to present their 2^nd Annual Camden Cake Walk on Mother’s Day weekend. Hop aboard All-Aboard Trolley, tour and visit ten participating inns while sampling delicious cakes ranging from cheesecake to pound cake to cupcakes. Treat mom, treat yourself and help preserve local heritage. All proceeds benefit the Camden-Rockport Historical Society. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12, available at Market Basket, Harbor Audio Video II (HAVII), Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, and Dot’s.  Better yet, stay at Camden Maine Stay, one of the participating inns, and enjoy a special one or two night package. The Camden Maine Stay two night Cake Walk package (Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday) includes a 10 percent discount on the room of your choice and includes  one ticket to the Camden Cake Walk per person,  accommodation for two nights with a full gourmet breakfast daily. Stay a 3rd night and get 25% off your 3rd night stay. One night packages available also. 

May 29, 2^nd Annual Jackson Cake Boss competition:  Here’s your chance to take the “Cake Boss” title while enjoying the annual Wildquack Duck River Festival in Jackson, NH.  This festival, highlighted by thousands of rubber duckies floating down the Wildcat River in Jackson, NH for prizes and more, includes a spirited competition for who can create the best cake or cupcake and take the title of Jackson’s Cake Boss.  Sponsored by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce the competition is open to professional and amateur chefs and visitors.  There’s a $25 entry fee, and you must provide enough to feed 50 people.  Judges are local chefs and restaurant owners.  Why not make a weekend of it  Register to compete in the Cake Boss competition at www.JacksonNH.com and then plan to stay at the Inn at Thorn Hill.  You’ll be walking distance to all the Wildquack Festival fun, and May is the perfect time to visit Jackson.  On top of delicious cake, you’ll sample fine dining and an impressive wine list in the Inn at Thorn Hill dining room too! 

Cake for breakfast?  Chef Rosemary at the Gateways Inn promised me that each and every breakfast includes a cake sampling.  What a sweet way to start the day!

May comes complete with cake-filled escapes at DINE member properties, and you’ll find plenty of cake and other desserts offered at each DINE member property throughout the month of May.