Life is different here in Galveston.  I suppose it has something to do with the continuous lull of the Gulf waves
rolling gently against the beaches.  Perhaps, it has something to do with the long history of the island city – an area once teeming at the same time by devil-may-care pirates and industrialists.  To be sure, the pleasing climate of the place makes the life of the natives richer.
 
Of course, living on a speck of land actually off the shore of the continental mainland puts just that much more distance between us and the seemingly constant chaos of the world.
 
That’s a point not lost on our great bed and breakfasts here in Galveston.  With time enough to create in their kitchens, Galveston B&B innkeepers offer some of the most interesting breakfasts found in Texas.  More often than not, breakfasts at
Galveston B&Bs are not just simple meals. They’re events, in and of themselves, and well worth the visit.  So, let’s take a moment to peruse the great morning starts from some of Galveston B&B’s.  
 
 
Most  Galveston B&Bs offer multi-course breakfast symphonies, and the overture is nearly always fresh fruit and yogurt in concert with juices and muffins.  What differs among the various B&B’s is the way in which the breakfast is served. Here, within a few blocks of each other, Galveston B&B’s run the gamut in service style.  While one might bring weekday breakfast baskets to the guest rooms, another might have elegant table settings replete with fine china and silver in the dining room.  Still, another might serve breakfast in a long-table family-style setting where guests sit with each other in that sort of camaraderie familiar to seasoned travelers.
 
Then, like the bouquet surprise found in the pastoral turn of a trail, the second courses start to appear.  Casseroles and potatoes, French toast, frittatas, and omelets, and fresh eggs made to order.  The one constant about Galveston B&B breakfasts is that there is nothing common about Galveston B&B breakfasts.  Indeed, Galveston innkeepers are all great cooks, and each has their own range of house specialties.  For example, one Galveston B&B serves Spanish magdalenas on Sundays.  With a rich culinary history originating the Aragón region of Spain, magdalenas are fluffy little sweet and lemony cupcakes that are a rare treat (and often not
even found in Spanish homes these days, I might add).

Most Galveston B&B’s offer a third course consisting of desserts or fruit parfaits.  Specialties here might include
crème brûlée, cream puffs, pancakes, and pastries of many kinds.  Always, there’s fresh coffee and tea brewing,
as well as plenty of great conversation to be had.

Keep in mind that breakfast is not only the time that most guests look forward to in choosing to stay at a B&B; it’s also the time most B&B innkeepers look forward to as well!  The sharing of stories, the pleasant abandonment of time, the wonderful atmosphere of the B&B home – these all add to the makings of the best bed and breakfast  experiences.  
 
Being just short walks from the Gulf of Mexico and the historic Strand District is certainly a great reason to visit a Galveston Island bed and breakfast.  However, if ever there was another reason to come and stay at a Galveston B&B, it’s because of the delicious and personal breakfast experiences they all offer. 

Galveston B&B’s – having breakfast by the sea never tasted so good.

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

Back in the day (as they say), I would look forward every fall season to my parents receiving their Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Year after year, edition after edition, I would be completely awed by the fantastical array of gifts available to those folks with the imagination, and resources, to buy them. One year it was his and her camels, another was an actual Egyptian mummy in a painted and gilded coffin. Then there was a Monopoly game made of chocolate, followed the Thai baby elephant, and the chance to own a yellow submarine – my favorite.

Not much has changed over the decades, and this year’s Christmas Book remains a creative gifts page-turner. In addition to the simple pleasures of, say, a $7,200 Fendi baguette striped mink handbag (for her) and a $3,300 Belstaff jacket (for me), there are the quintessential exotic extravagances. For example, what say you to a purple metallic Dom Pérignon Balloon Venus sculpture by Jeff Koons ($20,000)? Or, how does an overnight stay with ten of your friends in Philip Johnson’s
architectural masterpiece, Glass House ($30,000), sound to you? 

Not enough you say? Well, then, just for you Neiman Marcus offers this year to make you a Master Falconer through the ultimate falconry experience that includes amongst its gift menagerie, four exotic-skin falcon hoods and a 20-karat gold-plated falcon perch resplendent with hand cut rings of lapis lazuli ($150,000).

But, what can you do when you really need to give a gift that’s a little more personal than an elephant?  It’s so hard today to find that perfect gift for someone who already has every little thing. Indeed, in a down-sizing culture where plastic things mean so little because they are so abundantly available (and fill our closets to no end), more store stuff is the last thing many of your friends want or need.

We all know someone who we consider the perfect nominee for the Gift Giver Hall of Fame. You know the type.  Time and again you marvel at how very thoughtful they are in selecting gifts, especially when it comes to giving one to you. It’s as if they had been listening to you all the time with only the idea of looking for the thread of your words that would lead them someday to finding you the perfect gift.  
 
That’s the one secret common to all GGHF’s (Gift Giver Hall of Famers). They listen. 
 
So, if you’ve been listening to a friend who talks about their travels, or a friend who’s been itching to travel for some time, there is one creative gift that Neiman Marcus can’t match: A bed and breakfast gift certificate.

B&B gift certificates are the sort of thing that say, “Hey, I’ve been listening all this time.” Choosing the right B&B is at the heart of the matter, and that decision can be guided by a couple of things. Of course, if your friend has already gushed about an extraordinary experience at a particular B&B, this would be your most efficient path to take. Find that B&B online and take a look at their website. Chances are good they offer gift certificates. If nothing is mentioned on their site, simply give them a call and chat with them about your gifting plans.

You can also get a gift certificate from a B&B at which you’ve had a particularly enjoyable stay. When you know quality, share the notion through a couple of nice nights for special friends and relations. Over time, the common experiences you will be able share with your gift recipient about the B&B will make you even closer and prove what a great gift it was. 

How ever you choose to do it, just keep in mind that a B&B gift certificate is something that will certainly put you in the running as a GGHF. And in the end, who really needs a 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante ($345,000)?  
 
(Besides me, that is.)

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

Oh, it’s that most wonderful time of year – again. Time to  get out the good linen, tidy up the guest room (making sure to dust the bottom bookcase shelf this time), and find some pillows for the pull-out couch. It’s time for guests to converge on your humble abode for the holidays.

But, unlike the past when the kids came home from college, or the daughter and her new hubby could just crash on the old double-bed, now you’ve got heaps of new hubbies and wives, college graduates taking a break from their new jobs, and all sorts of other relations who know that your place is the place to be during the holidays.

And, you know it’s just not like you to ever tell someone, “Well, I’m not sure I’ve got the space.” On the other hand everyone is so grown, and there are so many more of them this year. The time has finally come to consider new lodging options.

It’s time to find a neighborhood bed and breakfast this holiday season!

Why a bed and breakfast for your overflow guests? Let’s count the reasons.

Okay, you’ve come to the conclusion that you simply can’t fit another overnighter in the house (and, you’re also a little uncertain about the airtightness of the old inflatable mattress stuffed in the back of the much older garage).  However, it seems to you that the local motel is more shabby than chic, and the chain hotels are much too sterile for guests, not to mention sadly impersonal places to stay during the holidays. And, while the motels or hotels in your area aren't particularly close to you, they also do little in terms of making things easier for you other than just providing beds for heads.

However, just imagine the genius of first scouting, and then recommending your overflow guests stay at local B&B’s. Sure, there will no doubt be an initial shock at your coming to your senses to let them know your house is filled beyond capacity with guests for the first time in family memory. As well, they might feel a bit let-down that you don’t have a dozen or so guest rooms just waiting for them. That’s why having a plan in place for a growing and ever-extending family is so important when it comes to overnight accommodations.

Here’s where the local B&B comes to the rescue to save the holiday. 

B&B innkeepers are just like you – conscientious tenders of quality guest relations! Unlike the unpredictable upkeep of local motels, or the impersonal care provided by chain hotels, B&B’s offer unmatched attention to the comfort and happiness of their guests. 
 
You have freshly cleaned towels and linens for your holiday guests – so too do B&B’s.
You have that touch of festive décor in your home and hearth – so too do B&B’s.

Perhaps most clever of all, B&B’s make things easier for you by starting off the day with a nice breakfast for your overflow guests. No more will your guests show up late-morning looking to eat right away, hungry from their long boring drive over the meadow and through the woods. In fact, you can usually find a bed and breakfast so close by that the travel from there to you is negligible. Just think, your overflow guests will already have had a great
breakfast to tide them over until your yams are done, the pies are cooling, and the plump golden bird comes out of the oven.

So, get ready for the holiday guest wave this year by doing something a little different. Have overflow guests feel right at home by helping them stay in another home – a local B&B.

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

With so much brew-ha-ha in the news today about this crisis or that corruption, it makes one wish for long trips to faraway places – simply to get away from it all. But the thought of putting out considerable funds, time and effort to travel somewhere far, far away seems a bit daunting. In reality, the more you think about it, the more you realize that the farther you travel, the more the cost and labor of going there increases exponentially.

What's there to do, when all one wants to do is to toss some things in a shoulder-bag and dash away from the world for a while – and not have to take out a second mortgage to do it? 

How about a B&B staycation?  
 
Isn’t it interesting that we live somewhere for so long, but never think about exploring the region we call home? It’s as if the notion of escape is tied to some abstract idea of distance. The more miles we put between ourselves and our home must surely mean greater pleasures will be had from the effort. Right? 

However, isn’t it equally interesting how frequently we’re disappointed when we discover that such a long trip was not really worth making after all?

All around you, though, and not very far away in fact, are destinations galore. Often only an hour or two distant, there are small towns with glorious pasts, lovely sites, friendly people, and – most all – relaxation. All the ingredients of what it means to get-away-from-it-all.

Even more, within these hidden hamlets are usually found the most wonderful bed-and-breakfast inns. Where time goes slowly, the old ways remain and charm continues on. Here in the local and regional bed and breakfasts waiting for your discovery, you can find great places to escape from your everyday world. For many of us, there are already well known tourist destinations in our areas; places that we’ve either never visited or haven’t been to in a long time. No doubt, you'll easily find a number of B&B’s nearby that will comfortably accommodate you and your spontaneity.    

For an interesting, even daring, result, consider searching for the quick get-away place by simply pulling out a map of the city where you live and avoiding the major tourist areas. Instead, follow your main highway out of town, and then a few miles outside the city limits (where there are more trees than roads), arbitrarily take a big curvy left or right off the highway (not a sharp turn, mind you). Follow that line until you hit some tiny spot on the map that has an interesting, but completely unfamiliar name. Places like Skyline, Kahala, Cherrytown, Mustang, and Dauphin. Put a pin in the spot and do a Google search for a B&B. The chances are you’ll find the best little bed and breakfast hide-away that, in time, will be a place you’ll want to go back to escape it all once again.
 
Want to save the hassle of making big complex plans to make a break from the chaos? Sounds like a contradiction in terms, now that you think about it.

Yes, think locally or regionally for a B&B staycation. Sometimes the best get-away-from-it-all solutions are to be found right there, close by, in a bed and breakfast in your own backyard.

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

Ring-a-ring-a-ring!  It’s 9:00 a.m., and the phone sounds at the lovely, peaceful, Blossom Bed and Breakfast.
 
     Innkeeper: (lyrically) “Hello, this is the Blossom Bed and Breakfast, how may I help  you?”

     Guest: (less lyrically) “Yes, this is Bill Smith. We got into town a little early today, and we’d like to go head
     and check in.”
 
     Innkeeper: “Ah, Mr. Smith, your check-in time is at 4:00 this afternoon – another seven hours from now.”

     Guest: “Oh, that’s okay, you can get us in right now, can’t you?”
 
     Innkeeper: “Mr. Smith, the present guests haven’t even had breakfast yet, and won’t be checking out
     until noon. I’m sure you understand.”

     Guest: “Well. . .no, not really.”

As most travelers well know, there are a few basic courtesies they can exhibit to be considered good bed and breakfast guests. Some of these courtesies are commonsensical (or rather, they should be), others perhaps not so familiar. In case you're wondering what they are, here’s a short, sweet top five listing of qualities that make a good B&B guest:

     1)  As in the case of eager Mr. Smith above, don’t show up seven hours early for check-in.  Or, six hours, five ours, four, three, or two hours early. Certainly, while a little early might be fine, try to adhere to the check-in time frame arranged between you and the innkeeper. Unless you’re very close friends of the guest checking out (and I mean very close), watching them pack their bags might be a bit unsettling for you both!

     2)  It’s a bed and breakfast. Without advance notice from you, the innkeeper will be providing you not only a bed, but – voilà – a breakfast as well! It’s a great courtesy to let the B&B innkeeper know if you’re not showing up for breakfast. And, with the reduced energy costs from not making the breakfast you’re not having, it’s also another great way to save the planet.

     3)  Let’s just assume you do show up for the great, scrumptious breakfast the innkeeper has promised. Now, there are a few different styles of breakfast service at a B&B (covered in another of our blog posts). But, whatever the service style, it’s good to remember that it’s usually not an all-you-can-eat buffet. Don’t over-do it with ordering more than you can consume. Keep in mind that B&B’s are all about quality, not quantity.

     4)  Another thing B&B’s are all about is atmosphere; it’s why most B&B’s are in old-architecture homes. Don’t be surprised if you hear a creak or two underfoot as you walk around the place. And, as you do, remember those
creaks will be there when you come in later that evening after painting the town red (or, whatever it is you decide to do to the town). Step lightly when coming in late, lest you rouse other guests in their more sedate states in their comfy B&B beds.

     5)  Lastly, here is one of those overlooked guest things I spoke about earlier. With all of that wonderful B&B atmosphere comes some quaint décor accents. Things like velvet curtains, warm libraries, or even little gourmet
chocolates on your pillow. Another thing? Three words: Beautiful, fluffy towels. Yes, that’s what I said – beautiful, fluffy towels. After your town-painting (see #4), avoid the temptation to use the beautiful, fluffy towels for wiping mascara and lipstick off your equally beautiful mug!  

There you have it. Some basic elements innkeepers the world over have agreed upon in making this, the universal top five qualities of a B&B guest. Surely, there are others, and perhaps many that you might even consider to be more vital. In any case, practice makes perfect. So, when traveling, always stay at a B&B, if only but to practice your being-a-good-B&B guest skills. 
 
Even better, bring a friend and practice them together! 

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

No matter where you travel, there will be special things about the destination and lodging to be found there. It’s the reason you decided where to go and stay there in the first place. Maybe it’s the scenic views, history, people, or attractions that make it a place you want to go to. And, when it comes to room accommodations, well, there are usually all sorts of rooms, beds, and services to fit just about every tourist’s need.

But, for those of us who absolutely love breakfast and can’t find enough ways in the world to experience it, there’s nothing like a B&B to make sure your day starts off right. In fact, some folks choose a B&B based solely on the types of breakfasts they serve and the menus they create. Once a B&B gets a word-of-mouth reputation as a great place for breakfast, the world beats the reservation path to its door.

On the other hand, if you’re visiting a B&B you’ve never been to before, the best way to find out what they serve for breakfast, and when they serve it, is simply to ask. Often this information is found on the B&B website, but if it’s not, be sure to give the innkeeper a call. They can give you a sense of the type of breakfast they serve based on the time of week you’re planning to visit. This sort of communication is particularly important if you have any food allergies that they need to be made aware of (or, other such issues as the need for dishes to be free of gluten or lactose, vegan or vegetarian, etc.).  

There are also a range of dining styles that can be found in B&B’s. Here are the most popular, but note that a B&B may use several of these breakfast serving styles based upon notions such as day of the week, season of the year, or other considerations.
               
    Buffets: Here, guests are served during a specific time to a variety of breakfast selections 
    that may include traditional and specialty items, as well as fruit, breads and cereals. Keep 
    in mind, in this style of serving, guests who arrive later in the breakfast service time frame 
    may find the yummies have been largely devoured by the early risers.

    Continental: Somewhat similar to buffets, continental breakfast service differs in that it 
    usually has a smaller array of food offerings. Whereas buffets might have casseroles, eggs 
    or other entrees in addition to dishes like pancakes, potatoes, and hot cereals, continental 
    type breakfasts are limited to pastries, muffins, toasts, juices, and coffee/tea. While certainly
    great tasting, expect lighter continental fare in a more casual atmosphere.

    Family Style: Though a less frequently found breakfast service method, the family style 
    breakfast is a B&B tradition going back to its very roots. Again, the innkeeper sets the time 
    everyone is to arrive for breakfast. Ten, dishes of food (sometime very deep and large!) are 
    passed around and between guests. Family style breakfast service is as interesting as it sounds – 
    a group of guests communing together over a meal.

    Breakfast Made-to-Order: In a B&B that offers made-to-order breakfasts, guests have more 
    flexibility about what they eat, and when they can eat it. Innkeepers offer breakfast during certain 
    hours, and when the guest arrives they can order from a limited number of entrees and a wide 
    selection of other items such as pastries, fruits and even innkeeper specialties.  The food is then 
    prepared and brought out to you. Some B&B’s will even provide second and third servings (the 
    rule of thumb: Be sure to only order what you can actually eat!). 

    Breakfast in Bed: The ideal romantic notion. Some B&B’s offer this as a matter of their routine, 
    while some will do it for an additional charge. In all cases, breakfast in bed is quite the charming 
    travel experience. With the breakfast in bed style, guests will usually order the night before from a 
    menu. The next morning, at the desired time, breakfast is delivered to the room, and then cleaned 
    up afterwards. No need to get dressed or, for that matter, even get out of bed. Again, check with 
    your innkeeper to see if this is something they offer.   
   
There you have it, a traveler’s primer to B&B breakfast styles. It's obvious from this list that in the same way the accommodation qualities of each and every B&B are unique, so too are so their many breakfast styles.  

Alas, so many B&B breakfasts, so little time to try them all!

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

It’s the dream of every  traveler – going to paradise and find you have the whole place to yourself.  Well, there’s a place and time like this and I’ll tell let you in on it, but you must keep it to yourself.

With the advantage of a nearly year-round temperate climate, off-season travel on the island of Galveston, Texas is the super-secret paradise of the Gulf Coast.  From early fall through early spring, the Island is an exceptionally casual place, absent of congestion, and filled with beaches to comb, sites to see, and shopping galore. Even better, the many lodging and local attraction discounts give you the benefit of extending your stay for a truly relaxing get-away.  In fact, USA Today has included Galveston
amongst its “Top Ten Sleepy Beach Towns Perfect for Fall”.   

Certainly, it’s an understatement to say Galveston is a warm, if not hot place in the summer.  August is, on average, the warmest month of the year.  However, just after Labor Day, when kids are well ensconced in school and the beach tourists are gone, a miracle happens in Galveston.
  
The temperature cools to its most comfortable of the year with an average of mid-60’s to 70’s during the day from October through April, and the place comes alive as Galveston locals come out of hibernation to play.  A colorful and entertaining bunch, the locals are wonderful people to get to know while out and about day or night, or perhaps while watching the dolphins during a ride on the ferry (it’s free!). 

The local’s mantra?  It’s Island time.

If you’re a beach-comber, there is no better place to be in the fall and winter than on Galveston Island.  There are shells and birds aplenty on long stretches of mostly deserted pristine beaches.  Indeed, for shell-seekers and birdwatchers, it’s easy to lose yourself in all day excursions, only to later find yourself watching the horizon over the Gulf of Mexico turn a salmon-peach hue beneath a deep indigo blue sky at sunset.  

For history buffs, Galveston is famous for its 19th century Greek Revival and Victorian homes and buildings, such as Moody Mansion and the Bishop’s Palace.  And, while touring these sites in the summer heat might be a bit arduous, the pleasant climes of fall and winter in Galveston make the experience that much more enjoyable.  Oh,
and did I mention that not only do you often have the beaches to yourself off-season, but with the right bit of luck and the thinning of tourists about the Island your homes tours might end up being just as private. 

Another great secret of the well-traveled Galveston visitor is that an off-season stay in one the several bed-and-breakfasts in the area is a reward in and of itself.  From stately manors to quaint inns, the B&B experience in  
Galveston is really a must-do for the fall or winter traveler.  The hosts at each are well-versed in things to do around the Island, and the opportunity to stay in a uniquely historic accommodation makes great conversation upon returning your home.  There is more info to be found about Galveston B&B’s at their association website,  
www.GalvestonBedandBreakfast.com.

As interesting off-season destinations go, for climate, attractions, and history, Galveston Island is the best kept super secret of discerning travelers.  Give it try this year.  But, remember, once you do, try to keep the secret to yourself.

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com

While the comparisons made between bed and breakfasts and hotels are
very much dependent on who is making the comparison, one thing is certain: The world is simply filled with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. The great playwright, Henry Miller, said this. And, when  it comes to the notion of why you’re traveling in the first place, Miller’s words give us pause for thought regarding reasons why traveler’s should consider staying at a B&B on their next journey.

First, let’s talk a bit about hotels. Surely, everything has its place and the chief attribute for many (though a deficit for others) is their predictability.  That is to say, some travelers desire the commonness of hotels – all the rooms the same from location to location, and very little difference from their home environment.  For some – particularly overnight business travelers – this sort of predictability is a convenience that fits in well with the purpose of their visit. Where they stay has little importance in the scheme of things.

However, for many travelers where they stay is of considerable importance.  For them, it is the world of Miller’s rich treasures they are seeking. The escape from the common is not only a desire, it’s a goal, and the cookie-cutter sterility of a hotel room is not for them. It is for those who want unique experiences in their travel that the
B&B experience is the perfect fit.  Folks who’ve stayed at B&B’s while on a trip know this, and it’s the reason why B&B stays are in and of themselves an important part of the trip.

Why stay at B&B instead of a hotel?

        1) Each B&B is a unique lodging experience – no two B&B’s are alike.

        2) B&B hosts are excellent concierges at no extra charge (hotel concierge service usually costs 
            quite a bit in gratuity). They are able to steer you to well-known attractions and restaurants, 
            as well as the local gems found off the beaten path.

        3) The decorations are charming, the environments comfortable, the linens fine, and the 
            breakfasts homemade. Some B&B’s will have wine and cheese in the early evening, or a 
            special tea-time included during your stay.

        4) A B&B is an experience, a part of that rich pageantry of the world. An atmosphere that keeps 
            your spirit of travel alive throughout your stay. A hotel simply cannot be these things.

Again, there are reasons why some travelers choose hotels, and it is for these reasons that hotels do have their place. However, if the reason you are traveling is to escape the common, to discover beautiful places, beautiful souls, interesting people – then a B&B stay is the fit for you. 

Remember, just like choice hotels, choice B&B’s often book many months in advance. It’s good to plan ahead by visiting the websites of B&B’s in the places you are traveling to. Unlike hotels, though, you will be able to get a good look at pictures of the very room you choose to stay in. Make your selection, book your room. The experience of staying in a B&B is one you will want to have over and over again.

www.galvestonbedandbreakfast.com