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Guelph Ontario bed and breakfast:
One of the best bed and breakfasts in Guelph Ontario
recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Toronto Area and Niagara Region
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Willow Manor Bed and Breakfast
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Donna M. Cooper and
Jean Duffus-Hill
408 Willow Rd.
Guelph, Ontario
Canada, N1H 6S5
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| Phone: 519-763-3574 |
| Fax: 519-763-4531 |
| Toll Free: 866-763-3574 |
| A flawless restoration and a bed and breakfast that's full of thoughtful extra touches. |
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. Here is one I recommend. Janette Higgins
In the early research years, when I was still doing my bed and breakfast book, I'd pinpointed one city ripe for a good B&B. It had a university, good restaurants, a well-to-do population, and an historic past. That city was Guelph. The former host of Willow Manor bed and breakfast saw the gap as well, thought it was a good place to retire from his executive position in the pharmaceutical industry and dove in. Now he's sold to Donna Cooper and Jean Duffus-Hill. I always go back incognito to check out new hosts and this time I was pleased to see that these two personable women have kept up the standards.
Willow Manor is an 1860s Georgian-style stone house set back on a small estate property. From the moment you walk in you're knocked out. Not only by the French-country decor but by the thoughtful extra touches. An offer of tea or a glass of wine when you arrive. Thick white terry robes in the rooms. The fluffiest of duvets on the beds. Cedar-lined closets. Small fridges stocked with mix and mineral water. Tiled bathroom floors that are heated. The list goes on.
As for the B&B guest bedrooms, they're all nicely done. Three are upstairs and if you want large book the Master Bedroom which has a private bath next door and working fireplace. Another pretty one, the Springtime Room down the hall, has an en suite bathroom, as does the capacious Loft which can be reached from inside, but which also has its own outside entrance. It has a king-size bed and features a giant Jacuzzi. The fourth room, near the front entrance downstairs, is a favourite of business-travellers. The Stripe Room, as it's called, has its own bathroom and fireplace with a queen-size bed.
Donna's a nutritionist with her own line of fresh pasta made from different grains, so she clearly likes cooking, and our continental breakfast did not disappoint. Ours was orange juice, berry compote (made with Saskatoon berries, raspberries and blackberries), homemade granola and freshly baked scones and cinnamon rolls. Donna tells me she usually serves a custard sauce with the compote and occasionally during the week she does waffles with maple syrup. Sundays, though, are a different matter. It's quite a menu and might include a main course like yoghurt scrambled eggs, Mennonite sausage with vidalia sauce and roasted tomatoes.
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting Jean and Donna know you read my review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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Willow Manor Bed and Breakfast, Guelph, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.willowmanorbb.com |
| Best to call: |
anytime |
| Season: |
all year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S or D $85-100 (plus 5% PST and 6% GST) |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
VISA/AMEX |
| Restrictions: |
enquire about children; no smoking; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
4 bedrooms (2 king, 1 queen, 1 double bed); 4 bathrooms (3 en suite with combined shower/Jacuzzi, 1 private-use with Jacuzzi); living room for bed & breakfast guests; in-ground pool |
| Parking: |
ample |
| Breakfast: |
continental |
| In Residence: |
George, the Jack Russell |
| Location: |
on west side of Guelph; 1 hour west of Toronto, 8-minute drive to University, 20 minute-drive to Elora and St. Jacobs' Farmers Market |
| Directions: |
from Hwy 401 take Hwy 6 north 13 kms to Willow Rd in Guelph. Turn left. Willow Manor B&B is 2nd house on left |
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