The Waitsfield Inn

The kids were unsure about not having a TV in the room at first, but ended up loving it and now want to go back. They also made friends quickly with other guests, and my five-year-old got to "help" Tracy with things like tending the inn's many plants. We enjoyed talking with people in the great room, and Tracy was very welcoming. We had a lovely three-night stay while skiing at Sugarbush. On Friday we arrived at 10:30 p.m. and realized my husband had booked check-in for Saturday. I called Frank, and thankfully we were able to check in that night. Breakfast was better than expected for a continental spread: good granola, muffins, yogurt, bagels, fruit, and organic milk. On two mornings there was also a hot option, oatmeal with toppings one day and waffles the next.

Edit: I finally got reimbursed. The delay wasn't the issue for me, it was the dishonesty. If they'd simply explained that, as a small business, it might take a while, I would have understood. Instead, Frank kept giving me the same false story in a dismissive, condescending way. I booked a room at The Waitsfield Inn eight months ahead for a wedding, then got a call on the wedding morning saying they'd overbooked and we had nowhere to stay. There was no apology or urgency, just a casual promise to find something else. They eventually found another B&B, 20 minutes farther away, which completely disrupted our plans. We had no ride back after the wedding. The replacement cost $250 more, and they said they'd cover the difference. I called three times, and each time Frank said things like "the check's in the mail" or "I'm sending the check tomorrow." It wasn't true. I chased him for two months before getting paid. The whole thing was frustrating and unprofessional.

The paper left with your key doesn't mention that there are no TVs in the rooms, no ice machine, or no housekeeping service. So don't expect to find a do-not-disturb sign. If you want fresh towels, you have to ask. We were also told to bring any dishes or cups from our room downstairs and leave them in the kitchen when done. You have to carry your luggage upstairs. The carpet was old and musty, and when I bent down to pick something up, I noticed dusty furniture and a cobweb.

A lovely historic inn, with a cozy first-floor area for breakfast and guests to use. It's right by Sugarbush Ski Resort, and Waitsfield is a fun, quaint town with plenty to do and good places to eat nearby. My only complaints were the very thin walls between rooms and the tiny shower and bathroom.