THE increasing popularity of historic New England country inns has led operators to add extra properties for summer.
New England Country Homes has moved into the sector for the first time with 36 inns in the region alongside more than 200 houses for rental.
Marketing manager Owen Davies said: “Clients can combine a week at a private house with a few days at an inn. Prices are based on a two-night minimum stay. Self-catering homes range from clapboard houses to log cabins and clients can choose two or even three-centre holidays.”
Self-catering homes are featured in all six New England states, as well as in New York State, where an 1800s farmhouse costs £758 per person for two weeks in spring based on four adults sharing.
All prices in the programme include flights, 15 days car hire, all airport taxes, first night city hotel stopover and insurance. The minimum two-night stays in country inns must be booked with a home stay of at least one week. Sample prices include the Deerhill Inn at West Dover in Vermont for £166 per person in spring for two people sharing, or £172 in summer, including breakfast.
Osprey Holidays has added the 19th-century Whalewalk Inn on Outer Cape Cod and the Jared Coffin Inn on nearby Nantucket Island. Respective prices are from £85 per person with breakfast, and from £57 per person room only.
Osprey has also increased its Boston hotel selection, added the Cranwell Resort and Golf Club in Lenox, Massachusetts, and introduced clapboard cottage accommodation in Maine.
New England Vacations has introduced Windward House in Camden, Maine, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, to its 2000/2001 programme. Bedrooms have antique or reproduction furniture, and cost from £39 per person per night.