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Show MAIL ORDER SHOPPHING MADE EASY travel Bone up on B&Bs Ifyou’re planning a weekendoffall color, use these 7 tips to pick the perfect inn harming. Romantic. Cozy. The brochure blurbs sound idyllic. But a fall-color weekend at a bed-and-breakfast inn could turn into a dismal stay in a bedroom recently vacated by the innkeepers’ teenage son. Manyunlicensed lodgings have hung out “room available” signs to capitalize on the USA's decade-long love affair with B&Bs. _ Several groups, such as the Boston- 4a i FlackHoldsut 12 Caps! Now you can solve the problem of cap overoed with cur new Cap Rack Put an end to caps faling of overtoaded hooks and ending on your floor! Srnpy onder these easy-to-install and you wil soNe the prodiern of “Where do | out ail of these lines. Till those take hold, though, here’s howto check out a B&B: dip. Hang one for everyday use, and onder several DECIPHER BROCHURE JARGON. A photograph can help, but the text might mislead. “A brochure is the ownerofthe inn trying to sell rooms,” says Charles Hillestad, with the Queen Anne Inn in Denver. His advice: Ignore the adjectives; look at the nouns. The overuse of such terms as “quaint” and “charming” is a bad sign. for your cap coflecton. Made in USA of Solid ; Wood. Great og Kea. Reg. $11.95—New for limited time. ONLY $8.85 + $5.00 08h Single 12clamp Cap Rack (3° long) Reg. $11.50- Row ‘or imited te, OMLY $8.50+55.00 o8h Sere Check or MO. 20 Gay money deck quarantee Dent US-1081, 1118 W. Lake HOLST, linc. Box 370, Tanes cay, Mi 8764 HITCHCOCK SHOES, INC Dept.41T Hingham, MA 02043 TAN AT HOME! H's trouble finding the right| gift? Why not choose a traditional, fragrant high quality BALSAM or FRASER Christmas gift? Our products | are boxed and delivered anywhere in | continental U.S. and Canada. Gift | ed card with your message included. Look Great All Year Long! Everything For Today's Homes For Less! Thousands of unique items at fantastic savings! Solid brass Soh ing fixtures, china HW Oo oO Fin Ww Bo Oh jw BR Ww 2 oOo SA fF 1 Qo D1 4443 ¥ Ww PJ PY t PJ FREE CATALOG 6 Decorared Wreath 20° Decorared Cane 24" Garland 18" $ Hh 1-800-228-6292 + Cali for FREE Catalog and Wholesale Pricing! aH wh » Home & Commercial WOLFF™ Tanning Beds » Hoare Delivery! Prices From $199 smoking just five years ago; today, more than half of the country’s innkeepers insist that you step outside to light up. And what's for breakfast (after all, that’s half of the bed-and- based American Bed and Breakfast caps?” Easy to use — simply fold in the back of the | | welcome preteens. What about smoking? It was uncommon to ban Association, are preparing guide- cap and snap each cap into the PATENTED plastic Set of wo 6-clame Cap Racks feach 18" long) gone an extra step by installing fancy whirlpool tus. Are children allowed? A majority of inns will not Prices inchade delivery Satisfaction guararreed Call us toll free 1-800-465-5148 We accepr Visa, Mastercard and American Express or send your check or money order to cary Evergreens Inc. }. Box 425, Dept 1 Perby Lime, \ f Utees! | i READ GUIDEBOOKS CAREFULLY. You need to knowwhether the authorvisited each inn personally, or if the inns paid to be included. Glowing descriptions often comedirectly from the innkeepers GET PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS. “Much of mybusiness comes from word of mouth,” says Marjorie Bush, with Asa Parker House in Marine on St. Croix, Minn. “So when someone comes here on a friend’s recommendation, it almost always means they have a great time.” But question your friends carefully, warns Pat Hardy, co-director of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International. Friends might love a place but might “not consider the unique qualities you're looking for.” PHONE THE INNKEEPER. Five wellprepared minutes are your best bet for satisfaction. “First you look at your own fantasy and ask yourself some questions,” Hardysays. “Then relate that fantasy to the innkeeper.” ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. Arc bathrooms private? Many inns have 10 USA WEEKEND * Cette 1 -15, 199 breakfast experience)? The morning meal might range from microwaved croissants and instantcoffee to fresh fruit, quiche and home-baked muf- fins. With notice, the inn might even be able to accommodate special diets UNCOVER HIDDEN costs. Don’t ask for just the room rate; inquire about taxes. They can add as much as 12 percent to yourbill. And discuss the deposit and cancellation policy Most B&Bs set a deadline for arrival, beyond which they keep your deposit. Also, some inns refuse credit cards. PLAN FOR PEAK WEEKENDS. Keepers are well-versed on local festivals and attractions. Travelers preparing for fall-color tours should figure out which weekends are at peak and, if possible, travel midweek, when manyinns offer substantial discounts By John Monaghan, former “Innsider”’ edito and author of next spring’s “Best Places to-Sta in the Midwest” (Houghton Mifflin, $14.95 Tliustration by Suzette Barbie |