Photo courtesy of BnBFinder.com

The next  time you catch  the travel bug and want to “wake up someplace special,” check out the offerings at BnBFinder.com. This top rated Bed and Breakfast search engine, which has been in business more than 10 years (almost an eternity in Internet terms), lists thousands of B&B’s in the U.S. and around the world, and its advanced search engine allows searching by more than 130 features such as Jacuzzis in your room, frequent business travelers specials, or inns that accept bed and breakfast travel gift certificates. Searches take customers to a clean interface page, where each property is shown in a horizontal box that includes links to customer reviews and direct links to the B&B’s individual web site. BnBFinder even offers customers the ability to save specific properties and compare them with other inns by creating a free account at their “My Inns” program.

Best of all, the site tracks specials promotions offered by the inns. Currently, a number of properties are participating in “Gas Savings One Tank Trips,” specials make summer travel desirable without breaking the bank. The following are just Read the rest of this entry »

The family farm in St. Vincent. Photo courtesy of HelpX.com

“On mountaintop. Great view. On a small Caribbean island. Pineapple and wax apple farm. Building in construction. I live with my 3 kids. 3 German Shepherds 1 Dobermann, in the unfinished building. This is a child friendly environment. St.Vincent is a lovely island, non touristic. I can offer food and lodging for your help. I appreciate your assistance. Please come and help out with farming, construction, creating greenhouse, landscaping, plumbing, carpentry, organic planting, house stay, restoring antiques, handyman, domestic work, kids homework, kids activities, decoration, home reorganization….We speak Flemish, English, French, Dutch, but all nationalities are welcome to apply.”

The family in St. Vincent. Photo courtesy of HelpX.com

The above is just one of hundreds of listings found on HelpX.net (short for HelpExchange), a website that connects host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats with volunteers who exchange short-term work for food and accommodations. This particular listing is for a property located on the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean, and the family has already hosted numerous volunteers, some of whom have posted reviews of their experience. Kurt wrote:

“I loved the saltfish and bread fruit. Accommodation is very nice, your own room and bathroom. There is plenty of work, maintenance of the pineapple fields and landscaping around the house and odd jobs. Trips to town are often and you will get to mingle with the locals. When taking the local bus…hold on it is a ride.” Read the rest of this entry »