Just spent the first night at FdL for 14 relationship anniversary with Mrs V (sans children!!!!)…read moreand it was LOVELY! Owners Mark and Leslie are very kind, attentive, and share a lot of history of the mansion and recommendations without being obtrusive. The mansion rooms are well appointed and I would highly recommend one of their food packages. We did chocolate and wine and both were amazing at a reasonable price considering the quality (which was good). Mark is a chef by trade (second career) and makes a darn good breakfast! There are complimentary snacks coffee and tea available 24/7. Location is great. The place has a bit of a dated feel and there are some repairs/upgrades needed here and there but keep in mind Dear Traveler: this couple has only owned the place for 15 months so I'm confident minor facelifts are coming. Only VERY minor complaint, and it's only from personal taste: food although delicious is a bit carb-heavy. This is no fault of the owners and they give you plenty of opportunity prior to your stay to mention any diet preferences, which I failed to do. So no knock on FdL at all. If in St. Louis visiting or need a nice staycation check this place out!! FYI they do a great job with COVID compliance, too

The Fleur-de-Lys is the epitome of a luxurious getaway. Whether it is the quaintly appointed guest…read morerooms or the delightful library and parlor, each area of this former residence is unique and meticulously maintained. While it is not likely the norm, the owners, Mark & Leslie, met us at the front door, quite literally inviting us into their establishment. It was simply the most welcoming manner in which to be introduced to this treasure and Leslie quickly engaged us with the history of the home and how she and Mark had recently become the owners. We chose this destination based upon the significance of the Fleur-de-lis to my love, a native New Orleanian. Given St. Louis' rich French heritage, the mansion was originally outfitted with four chimneys that feature the fleur-de-lis design and the pattern is repeated throughout the home. While we enjoyed a quiet morning coffee in the back of the property, a lovely shaded patio area, she noticed how many places the symbol was present. She actually made mention to Mark & Leslie that they could make an activity out of counting/finding all of the fleur-de-lis around the home. What a fun idea! We were fortunate enough to book the Tower Grove Park room, a spacious room fitted with a king-size bed and a two-person jacuzzi tub. There is even a 'fainting couch' for that extra French touch! The bed was amazingly comfortable and the decor and accoutrements were exceptional, right down to the pocket doors and writing desk. But a B&B is set apart by the fare served in the morning, and this is where Mark, a chef by trade, and Leslie, a self-taught baker, knock it out of the park. That morning's menu included a fruit starter, fresh juice, Leslie's home-baked sourdough toast and home-baked English muffins, and Mark's egg and sausage soufflés with country potatoes. The entire breakfast had us completely over the moon! We felt so at home that we wanted to clear our own place - so we did! The rates are competitive and well worth every moment spent here. There is parking behind the property, as well as across from the property, and each guest is allowed a unique security code so as to gain entry while you are enjoying your stay. I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this getaway, and Mark, Leslie, & assistant Sammy made us feel like family from the moment we crossed the threshold. We'll be back - and you should give Fleur-de-Lys a try!

Well, I was very impressed with our stay here Last night and I forgot to check in. As we were…read moreleaving the hosts gave us a very sincere farewell and hugs!!! We took our bags out to our car parked out front - lots of street parking, very nice street - and walked across to the biggest farmers market I have ever been to! Extremely cool, but wait, let me tell you the rest of the story about our stay here. We checked in Friday evening about 5:00 and were greeted by Jordi at the front door. Extremely personable, he welcomed us in and I immediately felt like part of the family. After showing us our room, the kitchen and the outdoor pool, he gave us some tips on dining in the area. It ended up being a nice Mexican place close to the Botanical Gardens where we attended an evening "after hours" with cocktails and live music. All this was easy walking so we didn't need worry about driving after drinking. We walked back along the west side of the gardens and then back to the Casa along Magnolia Avenue. It was 95 degrees at 9 pm and we were hot. After changing into our bathing suits we jumped into the outdoor pool. Wow, Jumping in the pool was so refreshing and We had it all to ourselves. A great nights sleep led to an early morning cup of coffee and a first class breakfast. More food was served than I could eat, but all was very fresh, well thought out and prepared. I want to come back and do it all over again! Thanks again to our hosts!!

This is a "Must Stay" if you are ever planning an overnighter in St Louis. Casa Magnolia Bed and…read moreBreakfast is by far one of the most charming places we have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Our stay was perfect; Lillabet Popp and Jordi Felix (our hosts) were absolutely wonderful, our room was stunning, and the breakfast with conversation was delightful. Such a comfortable and relaxing getaway and a most memorable experience. Betts wanted a pic on every chair lol. Thank you Jordi and Lillabet, we are very much looking forward to our next stay.

Charm is on the outside, no hospitality inside. The proprietor and host does not know hospitality…read morebut she sure knows how to tell you the rules! House is in desperate need of restoration and deep cleaning. Condition issues throughout the house are evident, from worn floors, windows with gaps and weatherstripping hanging loose from window sills, to unstained woodwork and trim. The location is great but cannot recommend.

We stayed here to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had a wonderful experience. The house has…read morebeen lovingly restored and we really enjoyed the World's Fair Room and it's outdoor porch. Marie was a terrific host and cooked a fabulous breakfast. Highly recommended! Linda and Tony S.

If you're an antique collector or lover this is the only place to stay in Alton. I went here for a…read morework trip and have extreme diva standards when it comes to hotels. In Alton there isn't much to choose from. For a decent hotel you'll have to drive to St. Louis which is 30 minutes out of my way for meetings. I chose this place because it's a B&B and it was gorgeous from the pics and literally 6 minutes from my meeting the next day. Once I booked it, I got a call from one of the owners, Jim, who asked me about my tea preferences and what he could do to make my stay there more comfortable. I was ecstatic. Tea and antiques! Once I got there I was blown away at the detail they put to maintain a long gone era of Victorian décor. Everything was carved and commanded a presence of luxury. Also, I immediately notice how calming and quiet it was, which was a pleasant surprise! I really dislike loud noises of any kind (high anxiety here), and I felt peace in this place. Jim helped me take my luggage to my room and even gave me a tour of my room outlining all the details and amenities just in case I wasn't sure. My room was absolutely gorgeous! There was an 8 or 9 foot tall carved teak armoire, a great size bathroom with separate shower and bathtub and homemade lavender infused bath salts his wife made! I took a bath every night and I felt like a queen! I was ecstatic. There was even a separate antique vanity strategically placed in the corner of the room right in the middle of two windows so that light would surround it evenly. It was fabulous. I enjoyed all the attention to detail. They made sure a guest would not need a thing. The bedding was perfect. Down comforters and down pillows and cotton sheets, none of that microfiber nastiness. It smelled and felt like home. The most important thing was the food! They had a tea station in the dining room for 24/7 use. And the kitchen was open in the morning for breakfast. Tea, oatmeal, bagels, fruit, eggs. Perfection! I would've been happy with just the 24/7 tea station. And let me tell you it was just bliss to be able to obtain some decent tea and hot water at any point throughout the day. I am HUGE tea drinker! And this was the reason I fell in love with this place. There was also coffee and their own brand of tea which was also quite delicious. They even had stevia if you didn't want the 5 other choices offered for sweetener. On the other side of the dining room there was a station for CHOCOLATE! I was a mess. They were all carefully placed in crystal dishes with the flavor or type of chocolate being offered just above it. Just shoot me. It was amazing. Sadly, I stayed here for less than the time I actually booked it for since I had a cancelled flight and rushed to book something earlier as a result of the airline. I was in such a panic to leave that I left my very expensive leather backpack in the room and didn't notice until I was already at the car rental location. When I called over I spoke to Jim and he went to my room to locate it and said he would overnight it to me as per my request. It contained not only my laptop but also my house and car keys! I was distraught, but knew Jim would take care of it as he had taken care of everything else while I was there! Overall the price was more than fair for the room. Cleanliness 1000%. Quiet. Beautiful. EXCELLENT customer service. Oooh and there also was free brandy in the parlor. I gotta stop because otherwise I'd be writing a dissertation. Please stay at this place when you're in Alton, Illinois!

What a delightful bed and breakfast mansion complete with host in a tuxedo and amazing history! I…read morefelt right at home and absolutely loved my amazing suite complete with chandeliers in the bedroom and spa bathroom. The bed is soooo comfortable, the fireplace homey and takes any chill off on a rainy night. The jacuzzi helped ease my muscles after a long drive. I was a short drive from bakeries, restaurants and St, Louis.

This was myself and my husbands first time ever using Airbnb and we didn't know what to expect but…read morewere also pretty excited about it. Jenn was very nice from the start and communicated easily when I had questions prior to our stay. Finding her place was very easy and she also let us know exactly where to park. Jenn met us outside the apartment once we got there and she then took us in to give us the tour. The apartment is beautiful and filled with lots of awesome artwork! The kitchen was great and had everything that you need. We planned on making dinner and had no issues with anything. All of the cookware and dinnerware was provided. That was nice. The wooden spiral staircase was so cool because it was the original wood. She warned us to be careful of the narrow steps and that was great advice. The bedroom was beautiful as well with a full bathroom and back deck. Now, the bed was absolutely amazing! Had one of the best sleeps ever! There was also a little reading nook in the corner with some St. Louis reading material that I took advantage of. Very nice touch! Unfortunately there were some things that we weren't happy with. This night was very special to my husband and I and we did our research when it came to booking a room for the night. After finally making a decision we decided on Dwell because of what we read online in Jenn's description of her place, the amenities that were offered and the awesome reviews. We had two very important things that we were looking for. One, we had to have a fireplace and two, we wanted a prepared breakfast. Both of these things were mentioned on her website and in the amenities list on Airbnb. The fireplace did not work and it was super disappointing. I feel that if you don't have a working fireplace, you need to remove it from the list of available options or at least reach out to your guests to let them know. The breakfast was also a major disappointment. We read such wonderful reviews on how great the prepared breakfast was and what we got was yogurt and bagels. Nice, but not what we were expecting. Again, this was something that was mentioned on the website. I read through every single review on Airbnb so we couldn't wait to take a shower with that amazing rainfall shower head. Well, if you don't mind showering in front of a window at night with no window covering then you're good to go. Yes, people lived across the alley so it wasn't like no one could see you. We on the other hand need a bit more privacy. Just to make sure, I stood in front of the window while my husband went outside and he without a doubt could see me. Very, very disappointing. Needless to say, our experience was not five stars like everyone else's and we wanted it to be so badly. Especially when paying the money that we did.

Jenn runs a great inn. Fantastic hospitality and a great location. I would stay here again. No…read morematter what you are looking to do, I'm sure Jenn would have a great recommendation nearby its like coming home after a long day out & the breakfast is very good.

The best B & B around!!! Deborah and Tim are the most…read moreaccommodating hosts EVER!!! So sweet, so nice! We stayed in The Gables and had a lovely time and will 100% be back!!! My husband has Celiac and Deborah made his breakfast 100% Gluten Free, just outstanding all around!!! Thank you so VERY MUCH!!!

Our experience at the Maple Leaf Cottage Inn Bed and Breakfast was like something out of a Hallmark…read moremovie. Deborah was warm and welcoming upon our arrival, greeting my group of friends and me with warm brownies and fresh squeezed lemonade in our room. The room was neat and cozy, and we felt right at home. After a fun day in Grafton, we returned to a warm fire pit. Deborah thought of all the small touches such as lighting torches and offering big spray. In the morning, we were served the most delicious breakfast! I honestly can't pick a favorite portion, as it was all fantastic. I would highly recommend the Maple Leaf Cottage Inn, and can't wait until I can make a return trip!

Great bed and breakfast with a lovely couple managing it. They had a couple of sweet labs…read more Breakfast was amazing and healthy with a variety of veggies well incorporated (not heavy as so often breakfasts can be). The beds were comfortable and the room was quiet at night. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, when we were rained out from our planned afternoon outside we were happy to spend the time reading, listening to the rain in the cozy main room.

We were greeted by the owners and two barking dogs. I did not see anything about resident dogs on…read morethe website which I think is important in making a decision on where to stay. I've been dog bitten twice in my life and am petrified of them. The owners were very congenial and accommodating and said they would put the dogs away if we notify them ahead of time, which isn't exactly convenient for a guest. The dogs barked at us once while we were in the common area which was completely unnerving. The website photos of extravagant breakfasts were lovely and looked delicious. We got fried eggs, toast and chicken sausage. The brochure stated breakfast was at 8:30. My husband started getting texts prior to 8 am needing to know what we wanted for breakfast because all the other guests were up and out. I don't like leaving underwhelming reviews but we were truly underwhelmed by the breakfast part of the B&B classification. The building truly is remarkable. The owners were kind and accommodating to find safe storage for a large painting I had brought for an appraisal event being held nearby. If you're a dog person, this may be a great place for you to stay.

We spent five nights at the amazing Timmermann House in Aviston, IL. The innkeeper, Sandy is the…read moreultimate professional. Such an authentically nice person. Her husband Andy, also so lovely, has great stories and made me want to sit and talk to him for days!! :) This place is a gem and MUST VISIT destination. The house is pristine and decorated so beautifully. The hard wood floors are immaculate and the bedrooms are super inviting and cozy. The house is a wonderful place to stay but then you go to breakfast and you are transported to culinary heaven. Chef Sandy is brilliant. Her food is perfection. She makes different dishes each day of your stay based on your preferences she obtains when you book your trip. The food is always fresh, mostly from their own garden. I can't even describe how amazing our whole experience was. The house is located very near many townships but it is so quiet and peaceful tucked away on a nice plot of acreage. The yard is massive and landscaped so beautifully. The minute you arrive, everything is just perfect down to every detail. I recommend booking early and request the bedroom with en suite bathroom. The king size bed is so comfortable and the linens / towels are 5 star hotel quality! The house has a beautiful outdoor deck overlooking the yard with shade cover. I could go on and on but really this was the best hospitality we have ever experienced. 10 out of 10 definitely would recommend!!!

We just booked our third stay at Timmermann House. Wonderful accommodations and excellent hosts…read more Visiting family members it is such a nice option to relax, and enjoy the beautiful garden, at the end of each day! We have moved from OK to AL and still find this our favorite! Scott & Nancy look forward to this visit!