When planning a vacation, the second most important decision to make (right after picking your travel spot) is where you'll be staying once you've reached your destination. Staying in a multi-chain hotel can oftentimes be an impersonal, been-there, done-that experience. Sure, you can visit with the gal at the reception desk and pick the concierge's brain about a fun local hot spot, but sometimes what you really want is words of advice from a friendly native. Staying at a bed and breakfast (B&B) can offer a more personal experience, and, for many people, these guest houses are the perfect way to enhance their vacation needs.
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Some rooms at Pecan House even offer a private 2nd-floor deck leading outside.
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When staying at Honeycomb Suites, be prepared for an amazing breakfast from the celebrated eatery, Glory Bee Baking Co., including a breakfast quiche, fruit, croissants and more.
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Although the house underwent a 10-month renovation, the Delta Street Inn porch is original to the 1920s- style home.
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"I know people that just love staying in bed and breakfasts and think it's the only way to travel because of the homey, cozy atmosphere they provide," said LouAnne Hughes, owner of Master Travel in Longview. "In order to have a happy, successful stay, though, you must do your research."
Home, sweet home
The name says it all. A bed and breakfast is a place to get a good night's sleep and enjoy a full breakfast as the sun rises. Oftentimes, the B&B is a renovated home, mansion or small hotel. The term has come to describe anything from an upscale, sprawling historical estate to a small room in an unassuming, three-bedroom home.
Typically, staying at a bed and breakfast offers a more personal experience than staying at a hotel. You can interact with the innkeeper and other guests -- something that isn't always practical at a hotel.
"A definite plus to staying at a B&B is that you're actually staying with the locals," LouAnne said. "You can get to know them, and they can tell you all the neat places to go, things to see and activities to do while you're visiting."
That's right — the owner of the bed and breakfast can guide vacationers to sights and sounds beyond what's written in their travel guides or highlighted in their trip advisors.
Plan to plan
Unfortunately for the traveler, not all B&Bs are created equal. When shopping around for a bed and breakfast to rest your weary head, the research you do beforehand will greatly impact the quality of your stay.
"Bed and breakfasts can really vary, so when you've decided on a list of potential places, it's best to talk to someone who's been to those spots before," LouAnne said. "I would recommend asking for references."
Charm fell "inn" love with these East Texas B&Bs:
Pecan House Bed and Breakfast
Located in Pittsburg, this Victorian architectural masterpiece is a cozy blend of elegance and comfort, and is well-known in the area for its British hospitality. Pecan House is within walking distance of antique stores and restaurants, and minutes from any other local attractions. All of its fully restored suites have private en suite bathrooms, remote control A/C, TV, phones and high-speed Internet connection. Most suites have private 2nd-floor decks and king-size beds with 1,000-count Egyptian cotton sheets. The Pecan House gourmet English breakfast is a delicious way to start your day any time you wish!
A designer by profession, Pete Jessop spent many years in England before selling his company and setting out for America ... and the bed and breakfast business. But he didn?t leave his English ways of life behind him in the move. He brought them to East Texas, where he shares his British touch — from afternoon tea to lavish furnishings — at Pecan House Bed and Breakfast. Six suites boast six eclectic styles, from an ooh-la-la French bungalow to a royally romantic Windsor suite.
Pecan House is at 212 College St. in Pittsburg. For reservations, call (866) 732-2655.
Honeycomb Suites
In the heart of the Antique Capitol of East Texas, Honeycomb Suites is a unique "bed and bakery" inn located above Glory Bee Baking Co. in downtown Gladewater. Enjoy a stay in one of the romantic, intimate rooms, and wake each morning to the smell of fresh-baked goodies coming from the ovens of the bakery downstairs. Boasting six suites and one spacious accommodation, the amenities include private baths (four with whirlpool baths for two), TVs, VCRs, plush linens, gourmet breakfasts and themed decor.
When Bill and Susan Morgan started up their celebrated eatery, Glory Bee Baking Co., they purchased a two-story building with no plans for the second floor. After a vacation in a small, romantic Eureka Springs B&B, they knew what they should do: start their own! In 1990, the Morgans opened the Honeycomb Suites, and they themed it for couples looking for a relaxing, romantic stay in Gladewater.
Honeycomb Suites is at 111 N. Main St. in Gladewater. For reservations, call (800) 594-2253.
Delta Street Inn
Built in the prairie-style circa 1920 and accented by large shade trees, a 400-square-foot front porch and an expansive lawn, the Delta Street Inn in Jefferson welcomes any traveler looking to sit back, relax and enjoy East Texas charm. Each of the five rooms has its own fireplace, so guests may enjoy the cheerful play of firelight year-round. Each room is individually decorated with a king or queen bed, reading chair, TV, DVD player, clock radio, ceiling fans, hardwood floors and private baths. Also, two rooms have private balconies.
After being in the corporate world all their lives, Bob and Pam Thomas wanted a change of pace. Pam knew something about the bed and breakfast business because her aunt operated one in the Texas Hill country. Bob and Pam both agreed that, when they were ready to retire, they would enjoy the B&B way of life. They opened the Delta Street Inn doors to travelers in October of 2006 after a 10-month renovation.
Delta Street Inn is at 206 East Delta St. in Jefferson. For reservations, call (877) 665-2929.
