Photo: Courtesy of Bindon Bottom B&B.Its name may seem straight out of a Tolkien or Rowling book, but Bindon Bottom is tops when it comes to serving up a great night's stay. Located in the village of West Lulworth in Dorset, England, this charming five-room guest house has been named the world's best bed and breakfast by TripAdvisor's annual Travelers' Choice Awards. So, what if it has a funny name?
With rooms on offer for as low as £85 a night (about $141 U.S.), the recently renovated Victorian country house is rumored to have been designed in part by author Thomas Hardy. It currently has 459 TripAdvisor reviews praising it for its "fantastic hosts," "stunning views," and "brilliant breakfast." Time to step up your game, Airbnb-ers.
Only two American B&Bs managed to crack TripAdvisor's top 10 list: the Historic Oak Hill Inn in Natchez, Mississippi (#3), and the Arbor Guest House in Napa, California. Meanwhile, the Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, Switzerland was named the best hotel in the world, topping first-rate accommodations in China, Greece, Maldives, Costa Rica, India, Ecuador, Mexico, and Canada. Yep, U.S.A. struck out again.
Anyone else feeling a bit sheepish about settling for a vending machine and films on demand? Looks like it might be time to renew our passports. (Guardian)