Starting to book your summer vaca? Here are 6 tips to book your next stay in The Shires

Four Chimneys Inn in Bennington Vermont

Can you believe it!  We just hit the first day of spring this past week!  Okay, so its still snowing in Vermont. However, now is the best time to book your next trip to The Shires of Vermont, a picturesque New England region nestled in the Southwesternmost corner of Vermont.

This beautiful region between the Taconic and Green Mountains has the unusual distinction of having two “shire” towns, traditionally referred to as county seats. Anchored by Bennington, the South Shire, and Manchester, the North Shire, the region is a collective of 15 quintessential Vermont towns and villages connected by a scenic ribbon of highway known as Historic Route 7A (now the Shires of Vermont Byway).

Surrounded by Vermont’s famous mountain range and enriched by the many waterways including the Battenkill and Walloomsac, The Shires of Vermont is world-renowned as a four-season destination for those seeking the authentic Vermont experience. Equally attractive to both residents and visitors of the area is the relative closeness to major metropolitan areas including New York City, Hartford, Boston, Northern New Jersey, the Berkshires and Canada.

The Inn at Manchester in Manchester, Vermont

Already united by a common sense of place, history and culture, the region also possesses abundant recreational resources, a proud agricultural heritage and a robust entrepreneurial spirit. A wide range of culinary, lodging and shopping experiences await curious travelers along our highways, byways, country roads, on mountainsides and busy Main Streets.

So as you plan your summer get away, here are what some of our best lodging owners suggest for tips to book the best stay:

1)      Have a flexible schedule? Sundays and Mondays most always have the lowest price of the week.

2)      Check in early to get the lay of the land. If check in is 3pm, stop in as close to 3 as you can to soak up a wealth of knowledge offered by your  local innkeeper. Vermont innkeepers are steeped in knowledge about the area, where to eat, what to see. And, they are armed with the best maps and sometimes even discounted tickets to area attractions. But don’t worry, if you just want to lay low and keep to yourself, Vermont innkeepers are keen at knowing when to step back and not be overbearing.

3)      The Best deals of the year – the week before and after a holiday week are traditionally very quiet in the travel industry. Scoop up  the very deepest deals a few days before a holiday week!

4)      Don’t be fooled by that BLUE ‘BOOK NOW’ bar. So often, innkeepers talk with guests who are convinced they booked on the property website. However, if you click the blue BOOK NOW button on google, you are not going to the property site. If you don’t book directly, you may be missing out on specials, packages and best pricing.

5)      It’s not your grandma’s inn! Today’s Vermont inns are geared with phone chargers, bedside outlets, wifi, flat screen cable TVs and all of the technologies and comforts of home. You won’t find doilies and dusty knickknacks in Vermont’s top inns: they are fresh and clean and tastefully infuse a current vibe into their grand, historic properties.

6)      Follow your favorite Vermont inns on Instagram. Create a Travel Bucket List folder and drop in your favorite Vermont villages and inns. The next time you are looking for a spontaneous getaway, open the file and your getaway will be all but planned!

Whether is the small iconic Vermont bed and breakfast, the majestic inns of the north, or something off the beaten, cabin-cozy path, we’re sure you’ll find the best ways to make our region your home during your stay.