Archive For The “Florida B & B’s” Category

Casa de Suenos: A Romantic St. Augustine Bed and Breakfast


Casa de Suenos: A St. Augustine Bed and Breakfast

Destination: A Romantic Bed and Breakfast Getaway

A 30th wedding anniversary deserves special recognition, in a special place, don’t you think? Coupled with the fact our anniversary was on Thanksgiving Day this year, was even more reason to choose a celebration destination that would deliver a memorable experience worthy of our love for each other, and life itself. For this occasion we didn’t want a traditional hotel with hoards of people, making it difficult to relax and embrace our romantic side. Our lodging of choice was for a one-of-a-kind, intimate bed and breakfast, conducive for a romantic getaway. We wanted the accommodations to be fabulous, in a class of its own.

We hadn’t been to a bed and breakfast inn since celebrating a milestone birthday for hubby, three years ago. For that special occasion we were fortunate to find the River Lily Inn Bed and Breakfast overlooking the intracoastal Halifax River in Daytona Beach (Holly Hill), Florida. Everything about our four-night stay there was outstanding… and a hard act to follow! The River Lily Inn had become our new standard of excellence for Florida B&Bs. The B&B bar had been raised, and we were on a mission to match that esteemed bed and breakfast experience.

Casa de Suenos: House of Dreams

Casa de Suenos: House of Dreams

Part of our 25th wedding anniversary getaway was spent in Saint Augustine, Florida, and we have always wanted to return to that Ancient City on Florida’s Historic Coast. As a Florida resident, St. Augustine is only a few hours from home, and quickly became a new favorite destination of mine. I liked everything about it — the city, the architecture, the rich history, the epicurean delights, and of course, the warm Southern hospitality. As we began researching St. Augustine B&B’s, our first-choice was the St. Francis Inn. Imagine my disappointment then, to be told they had no vacancies for my anniversary date. The nice lady on the phone, however, mentioned they have a sister-BnB we may be interested in, called Casa de Suenos. After further review, we took her recommendation and booked four nights in the Sevilla Room — a decision that would later define the whole essence of a truly romantic getaway!

Casa de Suenos is a Spanish phrase, meaning House of Dreams. I can tell you now, the name says it all! It’s a fantastic place to just relax, unwind, and dream little… or a lot. If you allow the atmosphere of this place to seep into your soul, you will find yourself revisiting those [forgotten] dreams you once held tight. Yes, Casa will challenge you to dream again, only BIGGER this time!


Casa de Suenos: Gracious Southern Hospitality

The check-in at Casa de Suenos was a smooth and pleasant experience. Upon our arrival we were greeted immediately by Steve, one of the gracious hosts of the inn. He was just beginning a tour of the inn with another couple who had arrived before we did, so he recommended we have a seat in the sitting room/parlor. Can we just pause for a moment and look at this gorgeous room? Who wouldn’t want to kick back in this black and white beauty?

Casa de Suenos Parlor
Casa de Suenos Sitting Room/Parlor
Casa de Suenos Foyer

Almost immediately hubby and I were in a de-stressed state mind! Steve was back in a jiffy and left no stone unturned as he explained everything the inn had to offer, alerted us to the “rules of the house,” and gave us a personal tour of our home for the next five days.

Casa de Suenos Guest Amenities

Here are a few of the guest amenities you can expect at Casa de Suenos:

  • Free Onsite Parking (a rare commodity in St. Augustine)
  • 3 Free “Food Events” Daily (breakfast, social hour, and dessert)
  • Coffee, Teas, Hot Chocolate, Soda, & Bottled Water (available 24 hours a day in the front sitting room)
  • Nighttime Snack Basket in Dining Room (for those wee hour munchies)
  • Inn-Baked Signature Cookies
  • A Selection of DVDs for Guest Use
  • Use of Plush Terry Bathrobes
  • In-room Cream Sherry Decanter
  • Complimentary Fresh Flowers
  • St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum Passes
  • Discounted Entry into the “Oldest House” Museum
  • Use of Bicycles
  • Use of Umbrellas and Ponchos (kept in the foyer area)
  • A Heated Swimming Pool (at Casa’s sister-property, St. Francis Inn B&B)
  • Access to Anastacia Fitness Club
  • An Afternoon at the Beach with Casa’s Sister-Property, “Our Beach Cottage” (with free use of beach chairs, towels, private bathroom with shower, refrigerator, off-street parking pass)

As if all of this were not enough, hubby and I received two complimentary tickets to the holiday “Nights of Lights” trolly tour, two complimentary beverages at Claude’s Chocolates after the tour, and a sample box of Claude’s Chocolates — all for making our reservations months in advance! Oh, I almost forgot to mention the complimentary champagne for our wedding anniversary! WOW… that’s a whole lot of “freebies,” don’t you think?

Additionally, in a casual conversation with Steve one day, hubby mentioned we don’t drink Sherry, but that it’s a nice touch in the room nonetheless. And guess what? Hubby walked away with something that he does like very, very much. What a personal touch and totally unexpected gift from Steve! I won’t give specifics so as to not invoke jealousy, but the folks at Casa de Suenos are very generous, and very hospitable. All the hosts have one goal in common: to assure the utmost of customer satisfaction.

Generous Gifts from Casa de Suenos
Casa de Suenos Bed and Breakfast: In-Room Amenities

Casa de Suenos Room Accommodations

The Casa has seven guest rooms, three on the first floor and four on the second floor. Each one is unique with its own little flair and flavor. We chose the Sevilla Room on the second floor, as it had everything we like — a king bed, jetted tub, walk-in shower, and french doors leading to a private balcony. Sevilla is a lighthouse-themed room with classy nautical colors of navy blue, white, and a splash of red. Our bed was very comfy, the room impeccably clean, and I absolutely loved the quality and scent of the toiletries (there was also a generous supply of extra toiletries in the hallway).

During our stay, as the rooms at the inn were vacated and cleaned, the doors were then left open. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to browse and capture a few photos for comparison purposes for my next booking. (Enjoy the room photos below and let me know which is your favorite.)

NOTE: As with most B&Bs, there are no elevators, only steps leading to the second floor rooms. It was not an issue getting our luggage upstairs, but for those with mobility challenges it may be. In that case, I would recommend a first-floor room (one is ADA compliant), or simply ask one of the hosts for assistance.

TIP: Our second floor Sevilla Room did not have its own thermostat to control the heat and/or air conditioning, only a common one in the hallway controlled by the staff. Once again, this was not a problem for us, but worth mentioning if anyone is adamant about needing a particular temperature.

TIP: For a quieter room, choose one upstairs, away from the traffic flow on the first floor. All guests must pass by the first-floor rooms in order to access the dining area and front sitting room which has the complimentary snacks and beverages. Typically, this isn’t an issue since the inn is small with limited traffic. Only extremely lite sleepers may find it bothersome.

Casa de Suenos Sevilla Room
Casa de Suenos Sevilla Room with Balcony
Casa de Suenos Sevilla Bathroom
Casa de Suenos Valencia Room
Casa de Suenos Valencia Room
Casa de Suenos Saragossa Room
Casa de Suenos Saragossa Room
Casa de Suenos Cordova Room
Casa de Suenos Cordova Room
Casa de Suenos Castillo Room
Casa de Suenos Castillo Room
Casa de Suenos Nieves Room (ADA Compliant)
Casa de Suenos Nieves Room (ADA Compliant)

Evening Social Hour at Casa de Suenos

After check-in hubby and I freshened up and made our way downstairs for the complimentary evening Social Hour, which occurs daily from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. This included an assortment of wines (from the local San Sebastian Winery), a selection of beer (from Bold City Brewery Beer), house-made sangria on weekends, assorted veggies with homemade dill or curry dip (I really must get the recipe for that incredible dill dip!), and a different specialty appetizer every day.

In addition to the great food, this is where you have an opportunity to mingle and meet other guests from the inn. We had the pleasure of connecting with three other couples and enjoyed sharing life stories and our world-travel adventures. Our newly found friendships were so delightful we decided to do the holiday “Nights of Lights” tour together as a group. We had a blast! What a festive and fun way to celebrate the holidays in the Sunshine State!

Every evening after that, we would meet up during the Social Hour. One of those evenings the fun never stopped. No, seriously. Miss Linda (another one of our gracious hosts) recognized the awesome fun and conversation we were having, so she allowed us to remain in the dining room way beyond the scheduled ending time. (We were still there at 9:00, but don’t tell the innkeepers!) The fact we missed dinner that night didn’t seem to bother any of us, as Linda kept the “food and beverages” flowing until she ran out! Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard… for so long! We all exchanged phone numbers in an effort to keep in touch, and expressed a desire to meet up again at Casa every year!

Casa de Suenos Evening Social Hour
Casa de Suenos Evening Social Hour
New Friends at Casa de Suenos
Nights of Lights Trolly Tour in St. Augustine

A Bountiful Breakfast at Casa!

The next morning we were ready for a big breakfast, especially since we bypassed dinner the night before. There’s just something special about breakfast at a B&B. Come to think of it, if the word “breakfast” is in your name, I suppose you better do it well! At Casa, it’s a hearty buffet-style breakfast. At first I wasn’t crazy about the idea of a buffet breakfast, as we usually choose B&Bs that offer a multi-course gourmet sit-down breakfast (I know, my spoiled butt likes to be pampered!). But I later realized I like the buffet option better — I can take more of what I like, and less of what I don’t! And for hearty appetites, seconds (and thirds) are encouraged by the hosts.

The breakfast always includes two hot homemade entrees, which vary from day to day, fruit salad or fruit soup (the chilled strawberry soup is to die for!), freshly baked breads, coffee and assorted teas, fresh juices, homemade granola, cereals, yogurt, and a full serving of inn hospitality. On weekends and holidays Casa offers complimentary mimosas and make-your-own bloody Mary’s. Since hubby and I were there for Thanksgiving, we were treated to the special Thanksgiving Holiday Brunch, which was outstanding. (Here’s a link to the breakfast buffet menu.)

Most days the breakfast was so plentiful we were not hungry again until the evening social hour. And after that, we were usually too full for dinner. We tried doing dinner at a nice restaurant one night, but left half the food on our plate. And… we knew Steve would have a delectable sweet treat waiting in our room upon our return (he had already told us what it was going to be). The decadent evening desserts were delivered to our room nightly, between 8:00 and 9:00 pm. (Check out the special cupcakes we received on Thanksgiving Eve!) The food at Casa really is good! If you partake of everything they offer it can greatly reduce your dining costs.

And although it is acceptable to take the food to the garden patio or back to your guest room, you would certainly miss out on the remarkable ambiance of the gorgeous dining room with its majestic palladium windows bathing the area with bright natural Florida light. In fact, both sitting rooms (East and West) have walls of windows and loads of sunlight. Even on a rainy day, Casa smiles bright!

TIP: As with most bed and breakfast inns, Casa de Suenos is extremely accommodating to those with special dietary needs. Just ask!

Casa de Suenos Breakfast Buffet Menu
Casa de Suenos Breakfast Buffet Menu
Breakfast at Casa de Suenos in St. Augustine Florida
Breakfast at Casa de Suenos
Casa de Suenos Breakfast Buffet
Casa de Suenos Breakfast Buffet
Dining Room at Casa de Suenos Bed and Breakfast Inn
Happy Thanksgiving from Casa de Suenos

In Conclusion…

As an 18-year Florida resident hubby and I have vacationed from Amelia Island and the northern border to the southernmost point in Key West, and everywhere in-between. Atlantic coast, Gulf coast, we’ve seen most of what Florida has to offer. Undeniably, St. Augustine holds a special place in my heart. It’s one of my favorite cities in the Sunshine State — charming, quaint, romantic. I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate 30 years of marriage. Befitting, after all, people have been falling in love here for 450 years. Wander through the ancient brick streets of downtown and you’ll be sucked into a magical atmosphere that hovers over the nation’s oldest city.

Add to that, Casa de Suenos. It is, in a word, perfection. They just don’t make B&Bs like this anymore. Casa distills the mood-elevating properties of a classic bed and breakfast inn. I highly recommend this inn for any special occasion, or no reason at all. When romantic Saint Augustine is presented with a full serving of Casa de Suenos hospitality, it’s a match made in heaven! Happy Anniversary, hubby!

Happy 30th Anniversary at Casa de Suenos, St. Augustine
Happy 30th Anniversary at Casa de Suenos
Casa de Suenos During Nights of Lights
Casa de Suenos During Nights of Lights

QUESTION: Have you been to romantic St. Augustine? Our readers would love to know where you stayed and your experience there. Or, perhaps you have a question regarding Case de Suenos, restaurant recommendations, or things to do in the Old City. Please share in the comment box below. 

Customized St. Augustine Cards, Gifts & Souvenirs

Historical St. Augustine - America's Oldest City

Historical St. Augustine – America’s Oldest City
by Fabulous Florida Gifts


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River Lily Inn Bed and Breakfast – Excellency in Daytona Beach Florida!


 

River Lily Inn - A Luxury Bed & Breakfast in Daytona Beach Florida

River Lily Inn – Excellency in Daytona Beach Florida

 

River Lily Inn: A Deliciously Different Destination in Daytona Beach

While planning my hubby’s 75th birthday celebration I stumbled upon the River Lily Inn.  This milestone event had to be special, so an ordinary hotel hiatus was out of the question.  Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been to a multitude of fantastic upscale resort hotels but I wanted this occasion to be unlike any getaway we’ve ever done.  I was searching for something new, fresh and unfamiliar; something deliciously different. My preference was something small and quaint, without the hustle and hurriedness of a large hotel or busy resort.  Perhaps because we’re getting older, I don’t know, but I didn’t want to be required to move rapidly to catch an elevator or rush through long lobby lines to catch a valet.  My thoughts turned toward a small boutique hotel or better yet, a B&B, something we hadn’t done in decades.

For days I foraged the internet for the finest B&B’s in the entire State of Florida, and was flat out amazed to find one of the highest rated ones right in my own back yard.  The River Lily Inn was only a short 90 minute drive, and in the most unexpected place… Daytona Beach!  Daytona Beach?  Yep, right there in the middle of the Spring Break/Party Capital of the World, was a tranquil retreat that felt like we were a million miles away from the high-energy vibe and sardine-packed beaches that Daytona is famous for.

***TIP for Booking Any Bed and Breakfast Inn

We spent four fantastic nights at River Lily.  I booked my reservation over the phone, speaking directly with the Innkeeper.  As with all Bed and Breakfast reservations, it’s beneficial to discuss the booking with someone even if you have the option to book it online.  The reason?  Based on the occupancy levels, the Innkeepers may offer special unadvertised incentives for additional nights.  For example… when I spoke with Polly (the Innkeeper) on the phone, I asked if there were any current promotions.  At first she said no, but then changed her mind and offered me a “buy 3, get the 4th night free” deal.  Wow!  For me, that was a major blessing since I was about to reserve the ‘best’ (and priciest) room in the house.  [She didn’t know it, but I had intended to book 3 nights anyhow.]  Had I booked online, I would have missed out on that deal. Making a phone call saved me $215 + tax!

River Lily Inn — Home Sweet Home

The Innkeepers at River Lily Inn, Art and Polly Cappuccio, offer outstanding personal service.  Once you walk through the front door of the Inn, you are no longer a stranger, as they immediately adopt you as part of their family.  Polly is usually waiting at the door to give you one of her ‘signature’ hugs and a personal tour of each room of the Inn before escorting you to your reserved room.  Art and Polly are masters at making you feel as if their home is your home, not simply a hotel to lay your head at night.  In a word, the welcome mat on the front porch said it all: “Home!”

 

Welcome mat at the front door of River Lily Inn

Welcome mat at the front door of River Lily Inn

 

Breakfast at River Lily Inn — A Gastronomical Delight!

To me, one of the best things of a Bed and Breakfast Inn is, of course, the breakfast!  When choosing a B&B, I automatically eliminate those which include a light ‘continental’ breakfast.  Come on, if I wanted that I would have booked a Fairfield Inn for the night.  Part of the ambiance of a B&B is the full, hot, more-than-you-can-eat, over-the-top, gourmet breakfast.  Oftentimes, as in this case, sharing a table with other guests staying at the Inn.  Sharing a meal is a great way to get to know people and an added benefit is the exchanging of vacation stories along with travel tips, recommendations and advice.  (Traveling the world, after all, can be full of pitfalls!  One wrong step and your vacation could be ruined.)  During breakfast, we made new friends and even exchanged emails in an attempt to keep in touch long after our stint at River Lily had ended.

Even before breakfast, which was served daily at 9:00am, we awoke to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that was placed conveniently in the hallway right outside our room at 7:00am for early risers — or, for those like me, who are not coherent until after a generous jolt of java.

 

Freshly brewed coffee right outside our door!

Freshly brewed coffee right outside our door!

 

Each morning of our stay, Art prepared a true gastronomical delight.  Breakfast was served with a smile by Polly (and sometimes Jennifer, the Assistant Innkeeper).  The selections varied every day and attention to detail was evident.  The hot entree was always accompanied by coffee/tea, juice, fresh fruit, and sometimes an additional pastry item.  It was always more-than-enough (but I don’t remember leaving anything on my plate).   Breakfast was so plentiful it carried us through until dinner each day.

 

Our 1st Breakfast

Our 1st Breakfast

Our 2nd Breakfast

Our 2nd Breakfast

Our 3rd Breakfast

Our 3rd Breakfast

Our 4th Breakfast

Our 4th Breakfast

 

Art the Artist!

Art not only excels in the kitchen, but as breakfast is being served, he serenades the guests with subtle background music as he plays piano and guitar and sings from an adjacent room.  You see, ‘back in the day,’ Art was a session musician who played with Billy Joel and other well-known rock stars of the 60’s and 70’s.  As if that were not enough, Art is also an artist.  (Why is it that some people have more than their fair share of talent?)  Virtually every room in the Inn includes original artwork painted by Art.

 

 

Painting of Billy Joel Artist: Art Cappuccio

Painting of Billy Joel on display at River Lily Inn Artist: Art Cappuccio

 

Painting on display at River Lily Inn Artist: Art Cappuccio

Painting on display at River Lily Inn
Artist: Art Cappuccio

 

Artist Art Cappuccio draws inspiration from his former "rocker" days!

Artist Art Cappuccio draws inspiration from his former “rocker” days!

 

Painting by Art Cappuccio on display in our room at the River Lily Inn

Painting by Art Cappuccio on display in our room at the River Lily Inn

 

Painting by Art Cappuccio on display at River Lily Inn

Painting by Art Cappuccio on display at River Lily Inn

 

Original artwork by Innkeeper/Artist Art Cappuccio on display at River Lily Inn

Original artwork by Innkeeper/Artist Art Cappuccio on display at River Lily Inn

 


 

Polly’s Tea Room

During our stay Polly hosted one of her very popular ‘Afternoon Tea’s.’  The Tea’s which occur several times a month consistently receive rave reviews from guests of the Inn as well as locals from Daytona Beach and surrounding areas.  Polly spent two days in the kitchen preparing pastries and mouth-watering little morsels for the event.  Oh my goodness, words cannot describe the sweet aroma that penetrated our upstairs room and every nook and cranny of the Inn.  We were not able to attend due to a previously scheduled day-trip, but hopefully we’ll have the opportunity during our next visit.

 

Upon check-in we received this advertisement for Polly's Tea Room

Upon check-in we received this advertisement for Polly’s Tea Room

 

The tables were elegantly set for the Afternoon Tea

The tables were elegantly set for the Afternoon Tea

 

Polly hard at work in the kitchen making the blueberry scones and lemon curd for Polly's Tea Room

Polly hard at work in the kitchen making the blueberry scones and lemon curd for Polly’s Tea Room

 

River Lily Inn — A Holly Hill Historic Landmark

The River Lily Inn is located on the Intracoastal Halifax River in a section of Daytona known as Holly Hill. The Inn dates back to 1888 and is a Historic Landmark.  It is almost 3800 square feet with an adjacent 2-story carriage house.  The one and a half acre property is adorned with ancient oak trees (hundreds of years old) and Florida’s signature palm trees.  It has a unique oversized heart-shaped pool that was built in the 1950s and modeled after Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield’s pool.

 

River Lily Inn - A Holly Hill Historic Landmark

River Lily Inn – A Holly Hill Historic Landmark

 

Heart-shaped pool at the River Lily Inn

Heart-shaped pool at the River Lily Inn

 

Art and Polly purchased the old plantation style home in September of 2007 and after major renovation (that they did themselves) opened the doors in Spring of 2008 as a Bed and Breakfast Inn.  There are six guest rooms each with a private bath that vary in size and price.  During our first night the other rooms were not occupied thus allowing us to peek inside.  After touring each room, I’m confident I would be happy and comfortable in any one of them.

 

 

The River Lily Room — Elegance Redefined

Our accommodations were in the premiere room, named after the Inn itself — The River Lily Room. Simply stunning!  Every aspect of the spacious room projected an aire of elegance, from the twin chandeliers right down to the luxury linens and bedding (cozy, comfortable, upscale bedding is a mandate when we travel). The soaring vaulted ceilings made our special space truly ethereal and the dual skylights provided an extra measure of brightness.  We enjoyed our morning coffee in the sitting area perfectly positioned in front of the extra-large palladium windows, characteristic of neoclassic styles.  Watching the sunrise over the Halifax River was a breathtaking display of radiant colors.  I’m not typically a morning person, but it was worth waking up early to witness the sun’s brilliant rays glistening off the golden accents in our room!

 

 

River Lily Inn — The Ritz Carlton of B & B’s!

As an amateur photographer, I was in my glory!  Inspiration is one of the most important aspects of my photography, and at the River Lily Inn it was easy to be inspired.  Since architectural photography is one of my favorites, I found this Historic Inn to be extremely photogenic.  Even on a rainy day, she smiled! Needless to say, our stay at the River Lily Inn both met and exceeded our expectations.  In fact, I’ve nicknamed it “the Ritz Carlton of B & B’s!”  This Florida find was a real gem and we’re already planning a return trip.  River Lily had everything we were looking for; beautiful property, excellent location, and something you will not find in any other Bed and Breakfast Inn… Art and Polly, the Grand Poohbah of Host’s!

 

Art and Polly Cappuccio - The Grand Poohbah of Host's!

Art and Polly – The Grand Poohbah of Host’s!

 

River Lily Inn — Daytona Beach — Photo Tour

 

Art and Polly Cappuccio, Innkeepers / Owners
558 Riverside Drive, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Telephone: (386) 253-5002

The River Lily Inn Has Received the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence!

Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence!

 

Calling All B & B Enthusiasts…

Please share your thoughts or questions regarding the River Lily Inn in the “comment” box below.  Or, perhaps you have a favorite Florida Bed and Breakfast Inn (name and location) that you can share with our readers!  

 


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