Good deals are ‘inn’ season

Some of you out there are cringing. I just know it.

You saw the word ‘inn’ above my byline and maybe you remember the last time I wrote about bed and breakfasts. After that story appeared on CNN.com I thought I’d never darken the door of a small hotel again.

Well, this should come as good news to both the irate innkeepers and their disheartened guests. I’ve revisited some of the properties I badmouthed, and while the experiences were generally positive, it’s the deals that compel me to recommend a B&B this summer. I recently covered an uptick in two-for-one travel specials during June, July and August for U.S. News & World Report, but there’s no more dramatic an example than among small hotels.

Here are just a few of the bargains I’ve seen:

* At the Thorwood and Rosewood Inns in Hastings, Minn., book a $247 suite on any night except Saturday and you get the second night free. Another deal: pay for one full-body massage and get the second one free. Or order one house dinner and the second one is on the house.

* The Cliff Cottage Inn in Eureka Springs, Ark., is also offering a two-for-one deal running in June, July, and August. Just stay one night and the second is free. But check the fine print – the special is only good for stays from Monday through Thursday.

* Sometimes the dates are reversed. For example, at The Pillars of Plainfield Bed and Breakfast just outside of New York, the two-for-one is only valid if you book a Saturday night at a standard rate. (Sunday is free). The offer is void on holiday weekends.

* Here’s a variation on the theme. Book two nights at the Angel Arbor Bed & Breakfast Inn in Houston this summer and get the third night at half price. Room rates run from $95 to $125 per night for two people in this historic Georgian-style home.

You stand to save a bundle with these two-for-ones. But before you call to make reservations, here are a few tips. First, remember that B&Bs tend to be very, very strict about refunds. So make sure that you’re certain of your dates before you give the innkeeper your credit card number.

Another thing to keep in mind: even small inns have fine print on their deals. When you make your reservation, ask about the second free night. Don’t assume anything. If it makes you feel more comfortable, get the hotel to give you the offer in writing (often, when there’s enough time, the hotelier will send you a written confirmation). Make sure you both agree to the rate up front.

One of the wonderful things about staying at a B&B is that it’s a small business and the owners can make and break the rules. And I mean that in the most positive sense. Let’s say you had expected a special rate but failed to get it. At a mega-hotel you’ll just get a “tough luck” look from a disinterested front-desk employee as you check out. And then you’ll be shown the door. But at an inn, the proprietor is empowered to waive the rules and change the price – one would hope, revise it downward – at his or her discretion.

I didn’t fully emphasize the benefits of staying at a B&B in previous columns. Needless to say, there are many. And no better time to discover them than this summer.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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