Selecting a Bed & Breakfast to stay at is a little different than choosing a Hotel or Motel. Unlike the Hotel and Motel chains where every one is the same wherever you may go; each Bed & Breakfast is unique. A little pre-planning is necessary before heading off on vacation. Here are a few tips to help you with your Bed & Breakfast experience.

Bed & Breakfasts offer personalized services and home-like atmosphere but the amenities offered will vary from Inn to Inn. It is important to make a list of what is important to you and when you call for reservations be sure to ask questions.

• Call ahead for reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and they fill up quickly.
• Be sure to ask if there is a private bath or if you will have to share a bathroom with other guests.
• Ask about smoking policies.
• Are the rooms airconditioned?
• Are children and/or pets allowed?
• Is breakfast included? What does the breakfast menu consist of?
• How far is it from local attractions?
• What is their policies on cancelations?
• Is dining available at the Bed & Breakfast for meals other than breakfast?

These are just a few of the questions you should keep in mind when planning your stay. Once you stay at a Bed & Breakfast, you will never want to go back to a Hotel or Motel again!

The weather is getting nice and many people are planning vacations. Here are a few travel tips to help you. Check out the travelocity link for help planning your vacation.

If you are driving...check out the road conditions first. There are websites for all 50 states Department of Transportation where you will find current road conditions. This can be very helpful and save you from being stuck in frustrating delays. If you need a great deal on a rental car check out this link.Find the Best Car Rental Rates in Top Destinations

If you are leaving the country, make sure your passport is up to date and check to see if you need any visas to enter the country you are going to. Also check with the U.S. State Department to find out about any tourist safety warnings; they are very helpful.

Don't forget...try a Bed & Breakfast instead of the same old Hotel/Motel.

Have a GREAT VACATION.

If you are looking for a place to stay while visiting the beaches of North Carolina, here is one of my recommendations.

The Tranquil House Inn is a great Bed & Breakfast located right on the waterfront in Manteo, North Carolina. The Tranquil House Inn is our favorite place to stay when we go to the Outer Banks. It's not far from Nagshead, and it is home of the 1587 Restaurant, with world-class chefs! What a wonderful dining experience, the food there is outstanding!

We have stayed there a couple of different times and really enjoyed it. My favorite thing about The Tranquil House Inn is the wine and cheese they serve in the afternoon on the back porch overlooking the water. It is so peaceful and refreshing to sit there and chat with the other guests as you nibble on cheese and drink some good wine.

Here is the link to their website: The Tranquil House Inn.

Manteo is a quaint little town and a great place for a walking tour and it's just a short ride to Nagshead, Kitty Hawk and other tourist attractions.

While you are there be sure to check out The Lost Colony, a musical theater under the stars, about the first English Colony here in NC that vanished without a trace! Here is website for The Lost Colony.