Harry Potter, Batman Themed Lodging? Eviivo Online Links Travelers with Fiction-Fantasy BnBs in UK

Canongate Luxury Apartment in Edinburgh is a Harry Potter themed apartment, complete with a Hogwarts Express carriage room, and a Gryffindor dormitory common room and bedroom. Kitted out with artifacts, including a desk and a mirror both previously owned by J K Rowling herself, this B&B is a delight for any ‘Sirius’ Potter fan.

Britain-based online booking specialist eviivo has compiled an extraordinary selection of fiction-book themed B&Bs in the UK, including Harry Potter, Famous Five and Batman-themed establishments, perfect for fantasy holiday makers who are hunting for their next experience.

“The popularity of theme parks and adventure holidays has increased in recent years, and can turn an average holiday into an exciting and unique experience, but an expensive one,” Ruth Whitehead, a director at eviivo, said “Now, for less than the cost of a family cinema trip to London’s West End, adventurous families can live out the fantasies immortalised in works of fiction with a stay at a B&B.”

Canongate Luxury Apartment in Edinburgh is a Harry Potter themed apartment, complete with a Hogwarts Express carriage room, and a Gryffindor dormitory common room and bedroom. Kitted out with artifacts, including a desk and a mirror both previously owned by J K Rowling herself, this B&B is a delight for any ‘Sirius’ Potter fan.

A sign outside reads ‘Wizards welcome’, but Ruth Whitehead assures potential guests that “muggles will be let through the Dumble-door too!”

Built in the 1700s, the property already has an old and rustic feel and the owner has made numerous creative modifications to evoke J K Rowling’s fantasy world, including authentic bookshelf style wall paper, and an intricate display of potions bottles. One of the rooms boasts a real wood burner, perfect for snuggling up with a hot espresso-patronum.

This magical experience is conveniently located amongst some of Edinburgh’s best Harry Potter tourist spots, including The Elephant House Café where J K Rowling wrote many of her early novels.

For holidaymakers looking for an action comic experience, the ‘Joker Boat’ is a buoy wonder. Docked in Liverpool, this swanky barge was brought over from LA and restored to accommodate 6 people, after originally being made exclusively for Jack Nicholson for his role as the Joker in Batman.

The boat is kitted out in Gotham-style noirish luxury, complete with leather seats, purple velvet bedding and a 3D 52in LCD TV.  It is the perfect cosy spot for a dark Knight.

Making your way from the airport to your accommodation can be the ‘Bane’ of your existence, but in true Hollywood style, the owner is offering an optional chauffeur service from the airport, in the choice of either a Hummer or a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Families looking to escape to the fantasy world of the mid-20^th century British countryside are advised to visit Enid Blyton-inspired Widbrook Barns.  Situated in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside, this accommodation features a tuck shop, an original gypsy bow-top wagon and a shepherds hut, and comes complete with ‘lashings of ginger beer’ and ‘pick ‘n’ mix’, that will fuel any child’s adventures.

Ruth Whitehead added “Fortunately this accommodation sleeps up to 23, so even more than five can have a wonderful time”.

eviivo is a leading online booking specialist for independent hotels and B&Bs across Europe. Through leading-edge technology, hospitality owners can manage their bookings and sell their rooms online in the highly competitive global marketplace on an equal footing with leading international hotel chains.  Its diverse portfolio represents the best of independent hosts and hoteliers with over 6,600 small hotels, B&Bs and vacation rentals across Europe, offering over 60,000 rooms.  Accommodations span B&Bs, guest houses, pubs and inns, restaurants with rooms, serviced apartments, villas and cottages, hostels, and even boats, castles and windmills. For more information visit www.eviivo.com.

 

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Evergreen Inn at Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore Has Fall Promotion

The Evergreen Inn in Spring Lake Heights on the New Jersey shore, has a fall special through Dec. 31.

The Evergreen Inn at the Jersey Shore has a terrific Fall promotion: “Life’s a Beach” is a $150 package that’s free when guests spend any two consecutive nights until December 30, 2013.

• Two $25 massage credits ($50 value) toward an inn house Swedish Massage
• Two gym passes ($40 value) at The Atlantic Club
• Enjoy a dessert/appetizer/glass of wine ($10 value) at several local restaurants
• A $50 ‘gift’ certificate to give to a friend toward a stay at the Evergreen Inn

The Evergreen Inn, which has been called the “Sweetheart of the Jersey Shore,” is conveniently located in Spring Lake Heights, two blocks from Spring Lake and another short walk to the Atlantic Ocean. Owner Laurie Carloni has been hosting guests for 17 years in her 10 room historic bed & breakfast.

The Evergreen Inn’s accommodations reflect the colorful spirit, creativity, privacy and relaxation that have been recognized by Arrington’s for ‘Best Breakfast’ and Trip Advisor for being in the top tiered ‘shore’ properties for Excellence.

What is more, if you don’t want to drive, the inn is minutes from the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line train station.

Contact The Evergreen Inn, 206 Rt. 71 (corner of Ocean Road), Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey 07762, 732-449-9019, Laurie Carloni, Innkeeper, evergreeninn@verizon.net, www.TheEvergreenInn.com.

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Horse Stamp Inn on Georgia Coast Winter Promotion Features Golf at Sanctuary Cove

The Horse Stamp Inn is nestled on 16 sprawling acres of the Georgia coast, with expansive pastures, rustic horse barn.

The Horse Stamp Inn, inWaverly, Georgia, one of the newest and most distinctive bed & breakfast inns on the Georgia coast, is hosting a winter promotion that includes golf at the championship Sanctuary Cove, designed by Fred Couples and Davis Love III. The golf course sits on the Golden Isles of Georgia, representing one of the top semi-private golf facilities in the state.

From January 1 thru March 15, 2013, guests of the Inn who stay for a minimum of two nights (based on availability) will receive one complimentary round of golf, including cart. Sanctuary Cove Golf Course is only seven miles from the Inn and a perfect accompaniment to the luxurious and handsome Southern mansion (second person pays $35 to play).

The 5-bedroom Inn is nestled on 16 sprawling acres with expansive pastures, rustic horse barn and artesian fresh water pond. Owners Tom and Kris Hutcheson begin each day with breakfast prepared from fresh and locally produced ingredients. Guests can have breakfast served in their room or suite, choose to dine on the al fresco verandah or in the homey Inn kitchen.

The inn features oversized accommodations with exquisite rural country views, a private salt water swimming pool 16’ x 32’, a horse-friendly four-stall stable with tack/saddle room, a large chicken coop for fresh farm-to-table eggs, brick fire pit for bonfires, picnics and cooking fresh caught fish from the pond, and farm-to-table breakfast featuring family favorite dishes that also respect guests’ dietary needs.

Horse Stamp Inn, 2418 Horse Stamp Church Road, Waverly, Georgia 31565, 912.882.6280, www.HorseStampInn.com.

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Select Registry Gives Away ‘Vacation of A Lifetime’: Free Nights at Each of 350 Leading Inns

Travelers can win a “vacation of a lifetime” with a new contest from Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America. The grand prize winner will be entitled to a free night stay at each of the nearly 350 inns and B&B’s in the Select Registry™ portfolio for a full year.

“It’s a dream vacation – an opportunity to explore exciting new places and visit family and friends, with complimentary accommodations at the most celebrated inns and bed and breakfasts throughout the U.S. and Canada,” says Will Carlson, executive director, Select Registry.

To enter the Vacation Of A Lifetime Contest, you register with the Select Registry Golden Quill Loyalty Program at http://www.SelectRegistry.com/GoldenQuill. After that, each of your qualified Golden Quill nights throughout 2012 will count as an additional entry.

One grand prize winner will be entitled to a free night’s lodging at each of the nearly 350 Select Registry inns, B&Bs and boutique hotels throughout North America, redeemable for a full year.

Additionally, three first-place winners each will get a $500 Select Registry Gift Certificate good at all the portfolio’s properties. Five second-place winners will each receive a $250 Select Registry Gift Certificate.

Select Registry’s Vacation Of A Lifetime Contest is open to travelers ages 18 years of age and older in the U.S. and Canada. The promotion ends midnight EST, Dec. 31, 2012, and winners will be announced in early 2013.

Only 350 inns in North America have earned this designation, passing rigorous inspections to gain and then maintain membership.
Former Vacation of a Lifetime winner Lee Willson traveled with his wife, Joyce, from their home in Washington to Select Registry inns in that state as well as in Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C. and British Columbia.

“We stayed at amazing inns in cities and towns where we have friends and relatives,” Willson explains. “Joyce and I like regional cooking and things that are local and unique. We sampled fantastic regional cuisine from the Pacific Northwest all the way to New Orleans and Charleston, and we got our recommendations from the Select Registry innkeepers.

“Unique experiences – that’s what we got at each B&B,” Willson continues, “along with beautiful accommodations and a real feel for the local culture. It truly was the ‘vacation of a lifetime.’”

For a quick video on Select Registry’s Vacation Of A Lifetime Contest and a look at the portfolio’s celebrated inns, visit http://www.selectregistry.com/Vacation-of-a-Lifetime.asp

About Select Registry
Select Registry is a collection of North America’s premier inns. Member properties must pass rigorous, unannounced quality inspections to gain and maintain admission to this elite portfolio. Many of the inns are recipients of coveted industry awards for both service and ambiance, including: Best Small Hotels in the U.S., Top Ten Romantic Inns, Best Breakfast in America, Best Places To Watch the Sun Set, and World’s Best Adventure Lodges. Only 350 of the 20,000 inns and bed and breakfasts in North America have qualified to join this “best-of-the-best” collection. To explore Select Registry inns across North America, visit http://www.selectregistry.com.

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Select Registry Member Inns Supports B&B’s For Vets with Free Stay, Nov. 10

Historic St. Augustine, Florida. The St. Francis Inn in St. Augustine is participating in the free night's stay program for veterans, Nov. 10 (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America joins B&B For Vets to honor the men and women of the armed forces with an offer of complimentary accommodations, Thurs., Nov. 10, the night before Veterans Day. Last year, nearly 100 Select Registry inns in 26 states, Ontario and British Columbia signed on to mark the day of observance by providing complimentary rooms to service members. Many of these properties included other perks too, such as discounts on spa services, dining and local activities.

Last year, more than 900 properties across North America participated in B&B For Vets, a program conceived in 2008. The campaign continues to enjoy enthusiastic support from innkeepers this year too.

The free night’s stay is good for active and retired members of the armed forces. To participate, service members must show a valid military or Veterans Administration ID. Inns are offering one or more complimentary rooms, available to vets and one guest on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of the military should contact the B&Bs directly to reserve their room.

Here’s the current list of participants:

 

Arkansas

Arsenic and Old Lace B&B, Eureka Springs

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, Hot Springs

Hilltop Manor, Hot Springs

 

California

Emma Nevada House, Nevada City

 

Colorado

Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast, Denver

 

Connecticut

Stonecroft Country Inn, Ledyard

 

Florida

St. Francis Inn, St. Augustine

 

Georgia

Chanticleer Inn B&B, Lookout Mountain

Glen-Ella Springs Inn, Clarkesville

Beechwood Inn, Clayton

 

Kentucky

A Storybook Inn, Versailles

 

 

Maine

Inn at Sunrise Point, Camden

Captain Jefferds Inn, Kennebunkport

Maine Stay Inn & Cottages, Kennebunkport

Captain Lord Mansion, Kennebunkport

 

Maryland

Savage River Lodge, Frostburg

Wayside Inn, Ellicott City

Brampton Inn, Chestertown

Sandaway-Waterfront Lodging, Oxford

 

Massachusetts

Captains House Inn, Chatham

The Birchwood Inn, Lenox

Gabriel’s at the Ashbrooke Inn, Provincetown

 

Michigan

Inn at Black Star Farms, Sutton’s Bay

Mississippi

Fairview Inn, Jackson

 

New Jersey

Candlelight Inn, North Wildwood

Mainstay Inn, Cape May

 

New York

Genesee Country Inn B&B, Mumford-Rochester

Asa Ransom, Clarence

Geneva on the Lake, Geneva

 

North Carolina

1898 Waverly Inn, Hendersonville

1906 Pine Crest Inn, Tryon

White Doe Inn, Manteo

The King’s Daughther’s Inn, Durham

 

Ohio

Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, Logan

Whispering Pines B&B, Dellroy

 

Oregon

WildSpring Guest Habitat, Port Orford

 

Pennsylvania

King’s Cottage, Lancaster

The Beechmont Inn B&B, Hanover

The Lafayette Inn, Easton

Inn at Twin Linden, Churchtown

Reynolds Mansion, Bellefonte

The Inn at Bowman’s Hill, New Hope

The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, Holicong

The Inn at Westwynd Farm, Hummelstown

 

South Carolina

The Cypress Inn, Conway

 

Texas

Inn Above Onion Creek, Kyle

 

Vermont

The Inn at the Round Barn Farm, Waitsfield

Forty Putney Road Bed & Breakfast, Brattleboro

Swift House Inn, Middlebury

West Mountain Inn, Arlington

 

Virginia

Brierley Hill B&B, Lexington

Inn at Riverbend, Pearisburg

 

Washington

Shelburne Inn, Seaview

 

West Virginia

Thomas Shepherd Inn B&B, Shepherdstown

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