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Saturday 28 April 2012

The Iconic English Bed & Breakfast

England invented the Bed & Breakfast and not surprisingly they do it very well. There are of course a wide range of accomodations from thirty pounds per night to much much more. We generally look for something in the seventy to eighty pounds per night per room. (Make sure you are clear it is per night, not per person.)

On our swing through Devon in September we stayed at the Villa Marina which is located literally on the beach in Paignton. I wasn't all that impressed with the city of Paignton, but the beach is good and our balcony view  was incredible. Anyway we had gone to Devon to spend some time staring at sea view - not to shop - and we were not disappointed. Also Paignton is centrally located between Torquay and Dartmouth and there are great beaches and countryside in every direction.

The Villa Marina has something like 8 rooms on two levels. I have trouble with stairs, so our ground floor room was just steps to the splendid dining room and the view from the room was wonderful and even better from the balcony.

You can't beat the balconies at Paignton's Villa Marina
You will have a hard time getting a better table than this anywhere.


http://www.villamarinapaignton.co.uk/


Rowan Barn - set in the Cornish countryside just minutes from St. Ives


While in Cornwall we stayed at the Rowan Barn in the countryside outside of Hayle, just a few miles from St. Ives. Rowan Barn is a wonderful experience. We had planned on staying in St. Ives but it is very difficult to find reservations unless you start months in advance - and it is expensive. Rowan Barns has a lovely country setting, reasonable prices and very friendly owners, who put on a terrific breakfast. Huw Jones had been a butcher before their B&B expanded into a full time endeavor. He and his wife Sally prepare delicious homemade bacon and sausage and omlettes with your choice of fillings, fruit, yogurt, juices and fresh ground, French pressed coffee. The rooms are elegant and comfy and the new additions blend in nicely with the original Cornish stone architecture. Definitely a class act.

Owners Huw and Sally Jones


http://www.rowanbarn.co.uk/

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