Ten Properties in 20 Days

It is always fun to be on the other side of the hospitality equation. We recently had an opportunity to sample ten different properties during a 20 day road trip throughout the Eastern and Southeastern US. By design, we stayed at a mix of five star properties and smaller boutique inns.

My favorite part of planning a trip is agonizing over the lodging, and then driving up to the property and seeing where your hours of research landed - either a fantastic find or a big miss. Sometimes the most gorgeous luxury properties are the most disappointing once you walk through the door and are greeted by a pretentious staff member. Sometimes the properties with less impressive curb appeal have the most helpful front desk staff that you can overlook a few little snags in the carpet, literally. 

These are the top takeaways from our travels:

1. Hospitality matters. From the front desk to the housekeeping staff to the manager, everyone matters and when someone is unhappy with their job, it is apparent. A smile and friendly greeting go a long way toward making a guest comfortable and valued. 

2. Basics are important. A clean room, a modern bathroom, a comfortable bed and nice linens are the bedrock of any positive overnight stay. Top notch amenities are nice touch, but if you do not have the basics down, it does not make the difference. 

3. Knowledgeable staff is key. Asking for directions, wanting to know the best place for tacos, looking for a local flea market- the staff should know these things and not shrug their shoulders and say they are new to the area. Inexcusable! 

4. Breakfast is a wildcard. A lot of properties are now serving complementary breakfast, and in my opinion, many should not. I would rather pay extra for a delicious homemade breakfast than settle for some boxed eggs and stale bagels. Also, I am a sucker for a full on, no holds barred, first class breakfast buffet- think silver chafing dishes and an omelet station. 

5. Tipping should not be expected. This may be an unpopular opinion, but tipping is out of hand. Hopefully the staff is paid a living wage and is not reliant on tips for income. When on vacation, I do not want to constantly have to worry about carrying cash to hand out in case someone helps me lift a suitcase or brings me an extra coffee pod or calls me a shuttle. 

6. Ask questions before you arrive. If you want a quiet room, ask for it. If you want a room that has a fan, ask for it. If you want twenty pillows on your bed, ask for it. Once these requests are in your reservation, the front desk can adequately plan for your visit and has time to accommodate your requests. Also, it is a good idea to follow up on requests a couple days before your arrival to ensure a smooth check in. 

We love sampling different properties: It gives us a chance to come back to the Inn and recognize what we get right and what we could improve upon. It also gave us a chance to appreciate and recognize our amazing staff, who always put on a smile each day and provide our guests with top notch service!

CN Travelers Readers Choice Awards: Please VOTE for us!

We are thrilled to announce that the Inn at Glencairn has once again been nominated for the Conde Nast Travelers Readers Choice Awards! This is a very exciting honor for us, and we are humbled to be in the running for four years in a row. We placed third last year in the Mid-Atlantic Region, ninth in 2021 in the Northeast Region and seventh in 2020 in the Mid-Atlantic Region! 

Please vote for us! We would be forever grateful if you spent a minute or two to cast a vote for us. Just click on this LINK and then click on "Hotels" and type in "Inn at Glencairn." You will be asked to sign up for the newsletter but you can unsubscribe if you would prefer not be receive future emails. Voting ends June 30th! 

Thank you for your support! 

2023 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Award Winner!

We are thrilled to receive the 2023 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award! The award has replaced the former Certificate of Excellence, so this is the ninth continuous year the Inn has received this award. As our guests know, we take our job seriously, and we strive to give each guest a wonderful, authentic stay.

Thank you to the over 400 guests who took the time to sit down and give us their honest feedback. We continued to maintain our pace of hitting the mark with 98% of our reviews in the Excellent to Good category! Kudos to our Innkeeper, Lydia, who is often mentioned by name and whose breakfasts are nearing legendary status. As always, it is the kind words of our guests that keep us going!

We have once again been nominated for the CN Travelers Readers Choice Awards. This is our fourth year being nominated (we placed in the top 10 for the previous three years). We would love to place again and would love your help! Just click on this LINK and choose Hotels then type in Inn at Glencairn to vote. As always, thank you for your tremendous support.

Inn at Glencairn #3 in CN Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for Mid-Atlantic Region!

We are so excited to be a recipient of the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award! Being ranked in the top 10 for properties in the Mid-Atlantic is such an honor. We are beyond grateful to our past and present guests who recognized us by voting.

Lydia, our amazing Innkeeper, and our housekeeping crew deserve the accolades. They are constantly striving to improve the guest experience and have been so resilient and dedicated over the past few years.  So, a big thank you to our guests and to our staff. We are beyond grateful to receive this award for the last three years!

Check out the list of winners for the mid-Atlantic below.

1. Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

2. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

3. Inn at Glencairn

4. Asbury Ocean Club

5. The Ivy Hotel

6. The Reeds at Shelter Haven

7. The Asbury Hotel

8. The Rittenhouse

9. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

10. Hotel du Pont

Puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles!

You may have noticed Lydia's penchant for puzzles during your last visit to the Inn.  She is an admitted puzzle "addict" and was fully immersed into the craze during the pandemic!  Her favorite spot to piece them together was the dining room table. During the slow days of the pandemic this was ideal until the random guest would show up!

After a few too many interruptions from the brave, infrequent guest and a need for the dining room table, Lydia finally treated herself to a really cool puzzle board (holding up to 1000 pieces and large enough for a 21" x 27" puzzle) that now sits in the Office.  Guests of all ages give her a hand on these puzzles while they visit, and she completes each one.

Flash forward to today: Lydia now has about 40 puzzles that she has completed and we are running out of shelf space at the Inn. 

PLEASE help us!!!!! 

Bring Lydia a new puzzle (that you have completed) and feel free to take one (or two) home from our office shelf. Forgot your puzzle, that's OK, just remember one the next time you visit. And, if you are a serious puzzle fanatic (or know one), Lydia is happy to share information on her puzzle board!  

Vote! Inn at Glencairn is nominated for a CN Traveler Readers Choice Award!

We are so excited to be nominated again this year for the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards! We placed ninth last year for the Northeast Region and seventh in 2020 for the Mid-Atlantic Region. We are so appreciative to be nominated again among such fine lodging establishments!

We would be thrilled to place again this year. To vote, just go to: https://www.cntraveler.com/rca/vote and search for the Inn at Glencairn under Hotels & Resorts. (You will be asked to sign up for a newsletter but you can always unsubscribe.) And, please take a moment to recognize your other favorites. The travel industry continues to fluctuate with the whims of the pandemic and everyone could benefit from a little positive recognition! Thanks for your support!

The Slow Tourism Movement at the Inn at Glencairn

The pandemic has forced us to reevaluate our priorities. We were all forced to take a moment (maybe a year or two) of introspection and take stock of our existence. Some of us enjoyed having an excuse to work from home, or spend nightly dinners with our children and spouses, or put the brakes on our hectic lives. Travel and hospitality has followed suit. Travelers are wanting each and every experience to count because, you never know when you might be in lock down again. Guests are looking for an enriching experience, not just a mediocre bed and a run of the mill hotel to pass through. The buzzword is "slow tourism." Remember the slow food movement? Welcome to the slow tourism movement.

We at the Inn have been practicing slow tourism since we opened back in 2004. Walking through our doors transports guests back to a simpler time. As soon as you step in you realize this is not a cookie cutter hotel. Not everyone comes to us with their eyes wide open. Our favorite guests are the ones who walk through the door and have a skeptical look on their face. Maybe they were there because a spouse made the reservation, maybe a well-meaning travel agent assumed we were the Ritz because of our high ratings on TripAdvisor and Expedia, maybe a relative purchased a gift certificate as a gift. Not everyone walks in expecting a B&B in an 18th century farmhouse.

We recently had a guest who was "put up" at the Inn while giving a talk at a local institution. She was somewhat taken aback by the skeleton key. We know because she posted about it on facebook! What followed in the comments are priceless, ranging from, "18th century dungeon door key" to "do they require payment in schillings" to (my personal favorite) "is Narnia on the other side?" Well, on the other side was a well appointed four poster bed with a fluffy down comforter and silky softs sheets, a comfortable sitting area overlooking our back gardens, and a modern spotless bathroom with fluffy towels and handmade soaps. After one night, we had a convert and perhaps our biggest fan to date. She posted about the fabulous homemade breakfast featuring eggs benedict over baked prosciutto and arugula served with fresh jams, granola and a chocolate truffle along with a grapefruit dish that was so good "I wanted to cry!" When she left, she had a bagful of homemade granola and jams and our homemade laundry detergent.

When you walk into the Inn, you might be taken aback that it does not look like a hotel, it might have a few bumps and bruises because it is nearly 300 years old. We work tirelessly to keep everything maintained impeccably and our recent renovation brought the structure into the 21st century, but at its heart, the Inn is quite simply "an old farmhouse" and we celebrate it as such. So, make a reservation and come see what "slow tourism" is all about. You will not be disappointed.

Not Your Grandmother's Bed and Breakfast

I had the recent experience of visiting a college campus with my teen daughter. We stayed in a bed and breakfast near the campus. Sound familiar? The campus visit was a success, the B&B not so much.

After we checked in and looked around, my daughter said, “Is this what you’re implying when you say your B&B is “not your grandmother’s bed and breakfast?” Maybe the stuffed peacock in the corner, or the extensive collection of glass figurines gave her that idea.

Listen, there’s a B&B out there for everybody, and some people LOVE the stuffed peacocks and glass figurines, but when we opened our doors, we wanted to be different. The best compliment we can receive, is, “We hate B&Bs but we LOVE your place!”

The Hunt Room

Our decor is eclectic. The antiques we do have are mostly sideboards, end tables, and accent pieces. Our artwork is a mix of modern and traditional. Any surface you sit on is new. Don’t worry about encountering a wobbly 100-year old chair or a creaky bed and springy mattress. OK, full disclosure, our floors are random width pine, and crooked, and you can see through the cracks. But, we call that character!

You will never see doilies, stuffed animals, dingy wall to wall carpeting, or drab wallpaper at the Inn at Glencairn. You will see comfortable rooms that complement the era of the building and enhance the ambience. And, rest assured, our electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems are all up to date and working properly! Sure, they didn’t have central air conditioning in the 18th century or flat screen TVs, but wouldn’t it have been nice if they did?!

So, when you book at the Inn at Glencairn. Keep in mind, this is “not your grandmother’s bed and breakfast” and enjoy your stay!

Getting Ready for Jersey Fresh Tomatoes!

This simple recipe allows for the sublime combination of Jersey Fresh Tomatoes and sharp cheddar cheese to create the perfect Summer Brunch treat!

Tomato Pie

Ingredients
Par baked pie crust (homemade or store bought)
2 large tomatoes or several medium size
8-10 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Fresh herbs of your choice
Salt & pepper

Directions
Slice your tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices, salt the tops, and place on a paper towel to drain a bit. Leave them for 20 minutes at least. Chop your herbs (our recipe uses fresh green onion and thyme). In a par baked crust, layer cheese, herbs, and tomato, twice in that order. Top with cheese and some herbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Be sure the crust is nicely browned on the bottom. Remove and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm. (NOTE: because there are no eggs, baking longer than stated is fine. Go with how it looks.) Enjoy!

Inn at Glencairn nominated for CN Traveler Readers Choice Award!

We are so excited to be nominated again this year for the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards! We placed seventh last year for the Mid-Atlantic Region and are so appreciative of the honor. It has been a challenging year to say the least, and to be nominated for this prestigious award among these top hotels and resorts means the world to us.

We would be thrilled to place again this year. To vote, just go to: https://www.cntraveler.com/rca/vote and search for the Inn at Glencairn under Hotels & Resorts. (You will be asked to sign up for a newsletter but you can always unsubscribe.) And, take a moment to recognize your other favorites. Chances are they had a rough year too and could benefit from a little positive recognition! Thanks for your support!

"Best Quiche Ever"

When your Chef and Innkeeper says she just made the best quiche ever, you take note, especially when guests tell you that they nearly proposed to her after having her scrambled eggs! Travel is still slow these days, but Lydia continues to try new recipes and perfect old ones. Here is her latest. Or as she calls it “one of the best quiches ever … really!”

Sausage and Spinach Quiche:

8 ounces of your favorite ground sausage

4 ounces of cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

5 eggs

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

Handful of spinach

Directions: Brown the ground sausage. Add cream cheese and mix so sausage is covered. Remove from heat and pour into pie plate. Add a little water to the pan used for sausage and wilt the handful of spinach. Layer the wilted spinach on top of the sausage mixture. Cover with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Blend the eggs with the heavy cream and pour over the mixture in the pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let the quiche rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Microweddings are Here to Stay!

Fabulous florals by Blue Jasmine Floral were one of the highlights of this Microwedding.

In 2020, many brides and grooms were forced to cancel their large weddings because of Covid related lockdowns and travel restrictions.  Just thinking of planning an event where guests would be coming from afar or where older family members might be at increased risk, had many couples reevaluating their special day and opting for a much smaller event. What seemed like a 2020 trend is now looking like a longer term shift.

The many microweddings and elopements we have witnessed this past year have varied greatly. Some are simple affairs that involve the couple, an officiant and a photographer.  Some are more elaborate, full blown celebrations, where the couple has decided to splurge on things that matter most to them.  Sometimes that means gorgeous floral design and gourmet catering.  Sometimes it is a celebrity wedding photographer. Sometimes it is a big city stylist and a couture wedding gown. Sometimes it is all of these things and no expense is spared for the lucky handful of invited guests. However the event unfolds, it is as special and unique as the couple involved.

At some point, the pandemic will be a distant memory, and time will tell if the shift toward microweddings is long lasting. Until then, we will continue to provide a blank canvas for our couples to design their perfect wedding day. We wish all of our couples a lifetime of happiness and will look forward to seeing them back at the Inn to celebrate their anniversaries!

Inn at Glencairn named top 10 Hotel in the Mid-Atlantic by Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards!

When we converted our 18th century farmhouse into the Inn at Glencairn, we knew it would be a labor of love. At the time, many nearby historic properties were being deserted, boarded up, and demolished. We wanted to preserve Glencairn and give it life as a sustainable enterprise.

With just five guest rooms, we knew the Inn could not compete on size with the big chain hotels in the Princeton area, but we also knew that those big chains could not offer the unique history, charm, and personality that a small country Inn can provide its guests. So, we focused on what we could offer: A respite from the average hotel stay. We set out to create an environment that would transport travelers to a cozy country estate owned by a favorite relative. 

Now, over fifteen years later, we are so excited to be a recipient of the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award! Being ranked in the top 10 for properties in the Mid-Atlantic really is such an honor. We are beyond grateful to our past and present guests who recognized us by voting. To be on the same list as The Rittenhouse and the Four Seasons is pretty humbling. Our staff, Lydia and Sindi, deserve the accolades. They are constantly striving to improve the guest experience and have been so resilient and dedicated, especially during the current environment. 

So, a big thank you to our guests and to our staff. We are beyond grateful to receive this award! Check out the list of winners for the mid-Atlantic below. 

Condé Nast Traveler’s full Top 10 Hotels in the mid-Atlantic ranking includes:

1. The Rittenhouse: Total score: 99.55.

2. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center: Total score: 99.23

3. The Reeds at Shelter Haven: Total score: 99.04.

4. The MC Hotel, Autograph Collection, located in Montclair, New Jersey. Total score: 98.54.

5. Troutbeck, located in Amenia, New York. Total score: 98.31.

6. The Roxbury at Stratton Falls, located in Roxbury, New York. Total score: 97.72.

7. Inn at Glencairn, located in Princeton, New Jersey. Total score: 96.97.

8. The Ivy Hotel, located in Baltimore: Total score: 96.92.

9. Historic Hotel Bethlehem, located in Bethlehem: Total score: 95.63.

10. The Study at University City: Total score: 90.45.