| So you've decided to shun the
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| | Main Street," but what they don't tell
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| neon-flashing motel chains and
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| | you is they are a mile and a half from
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| marble-foyered monsters and venture into
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| | the shopping district on the west end of
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| the world of cozy, intimate bed and
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| | town. In our town, the 100-300 blocks of
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| breakfasts? After all, you've heard how
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| | East Main are considered the true
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| much more personal and romantic the b&b
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| | shopping district. So if proximity to
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| experience is, right? Well....usually
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| | shopping is your goal, you would be
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| that's the gospel truth. However, there
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| | better off with a cottage 3 blocks off of
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| are certain things to keep in mind and
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| | Main but within the 100-300 blocks than
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| questions to ask yourself (and
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| | at the property a mile and a half from
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| prospective innkeepers) before you make
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| | shopping that sounds so convenient.
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| your final decision and turn over your
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| | Remember the old addage, "Buyer
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| credit card number.The first thing to
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| | Beware."Question number two could be
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| consider is the area of the country you
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| | whether to stay at an Inn or an
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| will be visiting. Many towns across
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| | individual cottage. Fredericksburg is
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| America offer the b&b experience but only
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| | unique in offering literally hundreds of
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| have a handful of options for you to
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| | one-couple, individual Sunday Houses or
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| consider. On the other hand, if you
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| | cottages in addition to numberous true
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| visit our hometown of Fredericksburg,
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| | multi-unit inns. One big distinction
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| Texas (population 9,000) there are
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| | here other than the obvious over-all
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| literally hundreds of b&b's, reportedly
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| | privacy issue is usually breakfast. In a
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| the largest number of b&b's per capita in
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| | private cottage you almost always receive
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| the nation. Unfortunately for the unwary
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| | a continental breakfast, left before you
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| traveller, not all are created equal!
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| | arrive. At a traditional "Inn" or bed
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| When visiting such a popular bed and
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| | and breakfast, you are often served a
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| breakfast town, the research you do
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| | full gourmet breakfast at a pre-arranged
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| beforehand will greatly impact the
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| | time...along with other guests. So for
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| quality of your stay.These days it seems
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| | many guests the choice comes down to
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| almost everyone makes their travel
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| | continental with privacy or full-breakast
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| decisions and arrangements through the
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| | served in a dining room. Either option
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| internet. In fact you are probably one
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| | offers lots of possibilities. But with
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| of those individuals or you wouldn't be
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| | so many different properties, there are
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| reading this article. You can always
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| | no set rules; so check their website or
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| begin your search by typing in your
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| | ask!One more common pitfall is something
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| destination city or town and "bed and
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| | that sounds so basic but can really
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| breakfast" into your search engine to get
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| | impact your experience: decor. Word on
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| an idea of the options you'll have. As
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| | the street in b&b circles is that guests
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| you begin to view the properties, you
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| | are increasingly looking for a "magazine
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| should consider whether the b&b has the
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| | spread" when they walk in the door.
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| following amenities (assuming these are
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| | Nothing pleases me more than to open our
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| important to you): private bath,
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| | guestbook and read, "When we opened the
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| temperature control, full or continental
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| | door the beautiful room just took my
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| breakfast, off-street parking, daily
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| | breath away!" Few people go to a bed and
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| housekeeping and the ever-important
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| | breakfast looking for the type decor they
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| factor....location.Let's begin with
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| | have at home...or worse, their granny's
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| location. Proximity to the "center of
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| | decor! However, many b&b owners are
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| action" is often a plus for many
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| | under the false impression that they can
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| travelers; however, it sometimes comes
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| | take an empty rent-house and hang out
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| with a drawback...noise. In our town,
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| | their shingle. They may stumble upon a
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| many visitors want to be "on Main
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| | few unsuspecting guests...but you don't
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| Street," and to be sure it is a boon at
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| | want it to be you. Be sure and check the
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| the end of the day when carrying heavy
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| | pictures on the website. I would never
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| shopping bags back to your room.
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| | book a room that didn't at least show
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| However, guests are sometimes surprised
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| | photos of the exterior of the cottage or
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| at the street noise which lasts
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| | inn and the bed. Webmasters tell me that
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| throughout the night (Main Street is,
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| | these are the two photo's potential
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| after all, Highway 290)! Some visitors
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| | guests are most interested in. I would
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| prefer to be a few blocks off Main with a
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| | be very wary of a facility that wasn't
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| bit more privacy yet good access to Main
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| | proud to show its exterior and at least
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| Street. Still others prefer a place in
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| | one photo of the inside of each room.
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| the country.Making this first decision
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| | Jacuzzi tubs, hot tubs, gas fireplaces,
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| will cut the number of properties you
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| | it's all out there for the taking...for
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| consider by as much as 2/3. A note of
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| | those who do their homework. Spend a
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| caution however; if location is a prime
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| | little extra time asking the right
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| concern of yours be very detailed in your
| |
| | questions and you can have the most
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| quest. For example, many Fredericksburg
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| | wonderful, relaxing getaway experience
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| bed and breakfasts advertise "Located on
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| | yet.
|
