Staying at a Vermont bed and breakfast can bring an intimate, personal feel to a New England vacation. A Vermont bed and breakfast is likely to be in small town, so it will offer easy access to the more rural areas of the state. Staying in a bed and breakfast in Vermont also gives tourists a chance to interact with a Vermont native (or at least a long-time resident) who will be able to provide tips to the best restaurants, hiking trails, and events in the area.

A bed and breakfast in Vermont is likely to be operated out of a large historic manor home. Guests are accommodated in private bedrooms, but many rooms do not have private bathrooms. It is always best to ask ahead if this is a concern. Other drawbacks to choosing this type of lodging in Vermont include more restrictive entry and exit hours (hosts won’t appreciate a late return home) and minimum stay requirements. Obviously, there is no room service and no concierge at a Vermont bed and breakfast, so you must coordinate your arrival with the hosts in advance. Also, a bed and breakfast in Vermont is unlikely to accept credit cards, check with your hosts before you arrive.

There are many online agencies that will find lodging in Vermont. These are good if you want to compare prices, but you will often find the best rates and the most intimate B&Bs if you contact the Vermont inn yourself.

One of the best things about staying in a Vermont bed and breakfast is the chance to stay in a historic mansion. Perhaps the oldest Vermont inn is the Ira Allen House in Manchester Vermont. Parts of the house were built over 200 years old by Ethan Allen, of Green Mountain Boys fame and Ira Allen (Ethan"s brother) who was the Surveyor-General of Vermont. The inn is situated on Battenkill stream, one of the finest streams for fishing in Vermont.

Another historic Vermont inn is the Buckmaster Inn in Shrewsbury, between Killington and Okemo. The 1801 structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the National Register is Rowell’s Inn, a well-rated Vermont bed and breakfast in Andover Vermont.

There are romantic bed and breakfasts even in the largest Vermont towns. The Village Country Inn in Manchester is French-styled B&B with formal gardens, a gazebo, fountains, a 100-foor porch, and a large terrace. Angels restaurant at the in has some excellent country cuisine.

The Inn at Rutland, in Vermont’s second largest city, is a nice, affordable bed and breakfast a short drive away from Killington Ski Resort. The 11 guest rooms all have private, on-suite bathrooms.

Choosing a Vermont bed and breakfast as your lodging in Vermont is a great way to enjoy the relaxing tranquility and small-town life of New England.