Luxury Bed and Breakfast - When Price Is No Object

There is pampered, and then there is pampered, and when it comes to luxury bed and breakfast accommodations where price is no object the pampering can take on a whole new dimension most people can only dream of.

Each of these unique properties is a travel destination in and of itself. Take for example Little Palm Island located in the lower Florida Keys. A 5 acre island skirted with white sandy beaches featuring 30 suites, this exclusive enclave has been highlighted in Fodors, Frommers and Travel and Leisure magazine. But, don't expect to be fed for the $690-$1,490 per day rate. For that you'll need to pony up an additional $135 for the Full Meal Plan (breakfast, three-course lunch and four-course dinner) and $115 for the Modified Meal Plan (four-course dinner plus a choice of breakfast or three-course lunch), not including tax and service fees. However, considering that meals are served in the private Oceanside dining room and have been applauded by Mobil, Zagat and Golden Spoon, this may be a bargain after all.

If you can afford the price of admission, you may find yourself situated in one of 28 thatched roof Oceanside bungalows outfitted with a sitting room, private patio with garden, indoor/outdoor showers, whirlpool bath and king size canopy bed. If that is simply too pedestrian for your tastes, consider booking one of two Island Grand Suites which feature British Colonial furnishings, a bathroom for him and one for her and of course, the obligatory outdoor hot tub.

For a completely different experience in escaping the mundane, consider The Point Resort, situated on a 10-acre peninsula along Upper Saranac Lake about 150 miles from Albany. This is truly old world rustic ambiance at its finest. Built in the 1930's for William Avery Rockefeller, the nephew of John D. Rockefeller, the resort features 11 guest rooms located in four buildings on the property. The resort has received outstanding reviews from Hideaway Report, Forbes, USA Today and Conde Nast Traveler and has a Mobil Five-Star rating. Guests pay per night from $1,350 for the Iroquois room in the Main Lodge to $2,600 for the Boathouse. For complete privacy you can rent the entire property for $20,150 (yes - PER NIGHT).

However, for this kind of money you will undoubtedly find some features you don't have back home, unless your bedroom back home is furnished in original Adirondack antiques, has a lake view, stone fireplace and one of a kind hand -crafted bed. You'll also likely find fully stocked bookshelves, a lake-view private deck or patio, dressing room with walk-in closet, breakfast/sitting room and perhaps a waterfall or oversized shower and double soaking tub in the en-suite bathroom.

If you get tired of all of that private luxury, venture into the public areas where you'll find the Great Hall dining room and Pub. Although you may think this is a laid back rustic mountain retreat, be sure to bring along a jacket and tie as it is the custom at this Inn to be so attired for evening meals.

For a completely different take on a luxury bed and breakfast retreat, you might want to check out Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana. Sure you can play cowboy on a real life cattle drive but at the end of the day, a tired cowpoke can rough it in one of 19 log cabins surrounded by incredible wildlife, wilderness and mountain scenes. You can put up the heels of your boots and enjoy the rustic atmosphere of your wood-burning fireplace, telephone with data port, wet bar and refrigerator or chill out on your private deck (some with private hot tub).

Located in the middle of the Bitterroot National Forest a couple hundred miles west of Helena, Montana, the rates for this cowboy adventure run from $650 for a one-bedroom Cedar Cabin to $2,495 for the two-story, 3,600-square-feet, and three-bedroom Ponderosa cabin.

If you tire of the seclusion of your luxury cabin you can make your way to the fitness center, putting green, outdoor hot tub and pool or tennis court. Boredom won't be a problem if you stay busy with one of the many activities available including fishing, hiking, horseback riding, fly casting lessons, Hummer tours and in the winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. After all of that you might do what any modern pampered cowboy would do and opt for an in-room massage.

There are many ways to spend your leisure time and your money. But for a totally unique once in a lifetime experience consider a luxury bed and breakfast get away.