Made a reservation through Expedia for my son's graduation weekend. 10 weeks later I was notified…read morethat the room was not actually available after all. Owner put all of the blame on Expedia and offered no apology or explanation as to how it happened or why it took 10 weeks to realize they had oversold their rooms. All the other decent hotels were taken by that time. They also offered no support to find another place.

From the owner: Contented Cottage is nestled amongst the tree covered bluff right next to St. Olaf College…read more Stroll along the short scenic path from the cottage onto the campus in minutes. Enjoy the comforts of good hospitality with beautiful rooms and scrumptious treats and a three course breakfast. You will enjoy Northfield's historic and quaint downtown with its many fine retail shops, coffee and wine bars, restaurants, markets and seasonal and historical special events. For more information click on the link to Northfield's Chamber of Commerce.

While the house itself was pretty, that was the only positive aspect of my stay. The rooms were…read moremuch smaller than they appeared online, and there were cobwebs in several areas of the home. Overall, the experience was not worth the $250 per night price. Breakfast was served at 9:00 AM, and when I arrived, there was only a single plate of food prepared specifically for me. It appeared to have already been made and needed to be reheated. There were no additional options available, such as fruit, muffins, or other choices. I was not informed in advance that 9:00 AM was the only time breakfast would be served or that there would be no alternatives. For the price, this location did not meet expectations. I would not return and would not recommend it to others. You can spend your money elsewhere and have a much better experience.

Lovely! I booked the Dayton Room in the penthouse for the night before my wedding. It was a last…read moreminute purchase and I was very pleased with the results. I didn't want a generic hotel room so the New Victorian Mansion allowed me to have comfort as if I was in my own home. Some of my favorite highlights include: wrap around front porch, view of the Cathedral, large bathroom with a nautical theme, breakfast in the dining room and overall peacefulness and serenity of the space. Upon arrival, there is a free parking lot wrapped around the building and a main entry (you'll ring the doorbell) to get access to your room key pad number and front door code. Depending on what wing and room you stay in, you will travel either inside or out and have the option for both if you stay in the penthouse. The mansion is separated by two sections and anyone staying in the penthouse is on an opposite wing of the building. There is no elevator in the penthouse and it's clearly advertised online so you'll know what to expect in advance without any surprises. The penthouse is technically meant for large group gatherings as there is only shared 1 bathroom. Contrary, I saw others in the penthouse when I was there and we never overlapped on bathroom use. I enjoy the New Victorian because you can customize how you want to stay whether that is luxurious or a more modern dorm style. No matter what you choose, the common shared spaces in each wing are adorable being it's all a mansion. Even the penthouse kitchen was just enough with every accommodation possible: Nespresso machine, coffee cups, wine glasses, blender, fridge, pots, pans, etc. While I only stayed one night and had to depart early, I couldn't fully enjoy the breakfast as I was in rush mode to get married. Contrary, the staff accommodated a slightly early meal for me which was very thoughtful. Rating this a 4 as there is some generic wear and tear, missing paint, carpet stains, and cleaning supplies and cords in the open spaces. With some paint, hiding of tools, carpet stain remover, small porch sweeping with added flowers, this would get a 5 star. My understanding is that there are new owners so perhaps repairs are all in the works after being handed off? Don't be fooled: the place is clean but it looks more dirty due to the slight repairs that need to be done to keep the upscale vibe going.

Out of all the houses in Minnesota, this one is my favorite. Formerly the Hunt House, this…read morerenovated B&B is filled with charm, light, and thoughtful touches. I found this spot randomly when I came to Mankato for my birthday, and couldn't be happier. Breakfast is always delicious, and owners are experienced hospitality folk who go above & beyond to take care of their guests. I stayed in the Free Press Room, and my one friend who was visiting home also took a staycation and occupied the Worlds Fair room next door. Both were very comfortable, tastefully decorated, had an Google Home thingy that we learned to use . Plus, lovely bath products. They have recently added a second house for large group stays, which is a great option for "spillage" during larger family events (Ie, weddings, reunions, family vacations). Thank you for a wonderful stay, and keep up the great work!

We stayed at Moulin Rouge's house on a Monday night in late June. It was a last-minute decision…read moremade while we were still on the road in the evening, looking for a place to stop. Crhis answered the phone and had the good news that he had two rooms for our party of three, with the dog. He only asked that we don't let the dog go on top of, the bed, which we don't anyway at least when I'm around. It turned out that we were the only guests at Moulin Rouge that day. Kris said that typically, it's completely full during the weekend. As a testimony to that, he is still had a tent set up for a wedding party, and he was folding it when we arrived. Then her house is gorgeous and immaculately clean. I wiped up water after my dog, drank from her bowl and spilled a little on the floor. The napkin I used for that came back spotless white. The multiple course warning meal does not happen on weekdays, only on weekends. However, Chris still prepared yogurt parfaits for us and had a bunch of watermelon in the fridge. He also set up multiple baked goods and breakfast bars for us in the kitchen, ready for us to eat next morning. We opted to eat some of them that same evening. He also offered us to take whatever drinks were in the refrigerator, and we were able to store our stuff in the kitchen fridge as well. The windy Terry guys live upstairs to our rooms. Crhis unlocked our two rooms, and the other two or three rooms remain locked. Our rooms were connected, so we used them as a suite. The smaller room had a closet with a small refrigerator, which we didn't use because we had the downstairs kitchen with fridge our exclusive use. There were three bathrobes in the closet, and they used one of them. The bathroom was beautiful, with a shower and a very nice bathtub with bath salts out on the bench hanging across the tub. The water pressure was great in the shower, and the bath was very relaxing. There were bottles of water in each room with nice crystal glasses next to them. The house had a nice deck outside furniture, tables and sofas, and armchairs. There was also a beautiful small yard with yet another table and chairs, and a small vegetable garden. We had our breakfast in the courtyard outside, and our dog enjoyed the grassy area with bunnies hopping across once in a while the evening was hot, and there were fireflies in the air. Chris told us about. The area had flood issues, with landslides that week, so we couldn't get to see the Riverbank because they blocked the access due to dangers of mudslides. Still, we enjoyed a short evening walk with our dog in the neighborhood. Crhis pointed out that there was a house on their block were a famous writer of Betsy used to live on. He even pulled out one of the Betsy books that my 11 year old and I read together. My sophisticated 11 year-old First said she didn't really care for the book, but eventually, we both found it charming and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed listening to Chris story of how he ended up running the bed-and-breakfast. Apparently, he used to run an Eco hotel in Belize, where he met his wife who came as a guest. He followed her to Minnesota, where he went into the hospitality business. I think he works at one of the larger hotels, but a day, and also runs this bed and breakfast. His experience in hospitality business shows in how thoughtful the amenities are set up, and how clean the whole place is. All in all, it was the best hotel experience we have had while driving from Duluth, Minnesota back home to Berkeley, California. We usually don't stay in bed and breakfast, so this experience encouraged us so much that we tried another bit of breakfast, and Keystone, that had a great reviews, but it was far from the Moulin Hey Jeannie asked how we gonna celebrate July 4 and what they can bring Moulin Rouge experience. By the way, the reason why the place is called Moulin Rouge is because the house used to be a beauty parlor that had that name. He kept the name and the sign over the door, and the red tones in the decor go well with the Moulin Rouge theme.

We've been to the Pratt Taber several times and it's literally the only B&B we've gone back to more…read morethan once. For us, life is very busy and hectic and what we get from a weekend at the Pratt Taber is priceless: warm and cozy comfort and relaxation. The hosts Deb and Ron are witty and kind without being overbearing or too chatty. The coffee is wonderfully strong and the food really top notch. The linens and beds go the extra mile to make you comfortable and it's the little extras that make us feel so at home. And the price is reasonable for what you get, costing less than other boutique hotels in the area. Five stars, no hesitation! I hope this gem stays open long enough for us to come back a few more times because it's truly the best weekend we could imagine each time.

My gf and I on a whim were looking for a weekend/overnight get away. Actually, I had wanted to do…read moresomething special for her for Christmas, but not something material. Then I got Covid. When I got better, I thought more about what I wanted to do and decided on escaping from the cities even for a day. Eventually, choosing the town of Red Wing. It had been a long time since our last va-ca, and giving ourselves ample opportunity to do so throughout the year is important to us. At first, I looked at the hotels in the area, but nothing felt right. Then had the idea of staying at a B & B (Bed and Breakfast.) We began our search and when we saw the Pratt Tabor Inn and read the reviews, went over their website, something in both of us felt good, like the Universe compelled us to try this out. It would be my first time and for my gf it had been years since she went to a b&b with her family. When we arrived, we met Ron, and right away our conversation felt lively and warm. He helped get us situated and settled and the rest as they say was history...I'm a strong believer in my later years that the Universe places people, events, and experiences in your life that aligned with how you want to live your life. I wanted this get-away to be about relaxing and sharing our love for each other, ourselves, and others! And it definitely was. Instead of writing an epic story, which I totally could, I'll list off the highlights of our stay. -Incredible atmosphere -Ellie, Buddy, and Max!! -Wonderful hospitality -Lovely time over Wine, Cheese, Conversations -Amazing dinner suggestions in town, including what to order! -Deb and Ron - delightful human beings -We love sitting down with people to share stories. I loved that both Ron and Deb created the time and space for us to engage with them, as much as we wanted to. -beautiful rooms -fireplace (not real wood) -Popcorn -relax environment -breakfast, coffee, dessert oh my!! So good. So much care. -Bottle of champagne! And flowers (yes it's extra but so worth it!) -Beds -Autumn room I have too many great things to say about Pratt Tabor Inn, but I think the memory I will take with us this first time here was the love, care, and story. Deb's story is powerful! You can tell the love that radiates this B&B and how that love is transported to all the guests who come through the doors. Thanks Ron and Deb, Ellie, Buddy, and Max. Thank you for being you and wanting to take care of your guests, like family. We can't wait to return to learn more about each other. Big hugs, Pete and Emily

Amazing Private Bed and Breakfast. Exclusive clientele consisting of family and friends.read more

Phenominal Place! This is one of those rare moments when a five star rating is not enough. It…read morewould rate it so much higher than many of my other five stars because of the unbelieable hosts, delicious breakfast, clean rooms, super comfortable bedding, and breathtaking rooms. Unbelievable! This place is well worth the price. The private bathrooms are spectacular. Between the eucalyptus steam shower with a myriad of water features and the jacuzzi type soaking tub, we could barely tear ourselves away from our personal spa time to go to dinner. We love the fact they have no tv's in the rooms but an awesome speaker/disc system for music of your choice and a refrigerator full of drinks. They had snacks available upon our check in and I would highly recommend the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for an additional $5 - YUM! The best part of our moring was the delicious breakfast served right to your room. OH My! We loved our breakfast (see picture) and the homemade scones were SO good. We came here to celebrate our 29th Anniversary in February and we weill be back for a summer visit and of course, many more anniversaries. This place made our anniversary special. Thank you Tom and Sandy.

I only need to say one five star thing. THEY SERVE ICE CREAM with breakfast!…read more Well, we've only stayed in five or six bed and breakfasts (mostly in Maine or New Hampshire) but this is (without a doubt) our favorite. The Mansion is beautiful, a real mix of old and new.. so you get history.. but still really nice bathrooms and big bedrooms It's about three blocks further than the other highly rated one in town and well worth the extra travel. We were greeted by our gracious hosts, Tom and Sandy. We made it just in time for the afternoon snack.. you know.. wine, cheese etc... with time to enjoy the large veranda. In fact, we were there for three nights and made extensive use of the veranda.. at breakfast, in the afternoon and in the evening. Tom and Sandy are good about seating you with people that are a good match.. or if you prefer.. alone.. there is plenty of space. You can even have food delivered to your room. We played croquet on the grounds (yes, they have ample parking, gorgeous landscaping, a fountain and a place to play croquet) it was fun, but when my wife kept beating me I decided it was time to try something else. (I grew up in the city, what do I know about croquet?) Back to the breakfast thing.. one day the whole area suffered a power outage so they fired up the grill and cooked us our breakfast. No big deal, it was excellent. We stayed in the Joseph room, but were able to view all except one and they were all very nice. We had a King sized bed (super comfortable) and an oversized bathroom.. a big tub with jets and a shower that I needed the instructions (laminated) to use.. so many sprayers. As we spoke with the other guests.. we were all in agreement that this is a really remarkable Bed and Breakfast. Tom and Sandy's labor of love really shines. A great value.

My wife planned a short weekend getaway for us and her Mother for Mothers Day. Since her mom lives…read morein the Twin Cities, Mankato was a good almost half way spot. This B&B proved to be a fun place to enjoy some local flavor outside of the standard box hotels. The rooms are nice and the bed comfortable. The owner was geniune and willing to share about the history of his home, which is fun to hear about. Breakfast was ample and our fellow guests entertaining too. Come check this place out for an alternative to the chains!

Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to meet the owner of this B & B, not sure if it would have…read moremade a difference in our experience or not. She was pleasant and friendly over the phone when I made our room reservation. I will say most of the B & B's I've enjoyed, was partially because we had a chance to get to know the owners a bit and see how passionate they were about making a great B & B experience for everyone who stayed with them. So, maybe I've just been spoiled a bit by the extent of the services and amenities others offer, but that's my comparison. What this place does have going for it, is it's location. However depending on where your room is, you'll hear the traffic noise as this is located on a busy street. Also, the fact that there isn't really much else around lodging accommodations limits your choices for this area. There is private parking for guests. The room was clean and comfortable. It was lacking the extra little touches that many travelers have come to appreciate from bed & breakfast operators-shampoo, blower dryer, complementary water or soda, glassware or plasticware instead of dixie cups in the room. Self service coffee, tea and microwave popcorn was available in the dining area. For the price of the rooms, the little extra touches might have helped.

A very pleasant stay, and I am not a fan of B&B's because I have to, you know... socialize, and I…read moream not an extrovert. But hey, our hosts were relaxed and friendly, and the folks we sat down with to breakfast had fun stories to tell. The rooms are idiosyncratic but charming. The bathrooms: just idiosyncratic, but they worked. Breakfasts on the weekends were more elaborate and tasty, and on weekdays simpler but adequate. I get the feeling this may vary with the number of guests. The Birdhouse is on a "busy" intersection which is no big deal because Excelsior is a pretty quiet little town; and a charming one. You are a walk away from good shops and restaurants. You are a very short walk from Lake Minnetonka and its activities. The Porch and grounds are delightful. If you get the right weather for it, lazing outside could be a delicious experience, with an elevated view of the neighborhood. Of course, getting bearable weather (not too many mosquitoes, not too much heat and humidity, not 5 degrees below zero, can take scheduling and luck. In the winter, I imagine the large parlor would be very inviting. So a point off for the various weird bathrooms, which were all functional but awkward, but all in all, I will be staying there again, the next time I visit relatives.

Very lovely, very comfortable, and the host Chad went above and beyond to make sure my stay was…read moregreat. Really appreciate Nicolin Mansion and recommended highly.

I stayed at the Nicolin Mansion for a wedding and was super impressed. The room was super…read morecomfortable and clean, and the common areas and patio were great to relax in. Owners Chad and Laura were very responsive and helpful with everything from advice on local restaurants and sights to the delicious breakfast the next morning. I would definitely recommend staying here!