Charleston Illinois bed and breakfast - a motel/hotel alternative - Queen Anne's on 7th Street Bed and Breakfast

Centrally located between Chicago, Indy, and St. Louis. Walking distance to EIU, 10 min from I-57, and 20 min from the Amish areas

"This is a lovely house-something charming everywhere I look-and you are a skillful, gracious hostess..."
St. Louis, MO

Your Privacy is our Priority

Our goal is to welcome guests warmly, give a quick tour of the facilities,
and then set guests free. We provide private ensuite baths, keyed entry,
individual breakfasts, TV/VCR's in each room, and a secluded pool. We
consider your booked room your own intimate space and do not intrude
upon it. Owners have private quarters as well.

Men find the private atmosphere particularly appealing. The typical
gathering around the breakfast table does not occur here. See our
Breakfast Page for details on our breakfast serving style. We offer the best
features of both a B&B and a motel.

Overview

Situated on over a one acre lot, this Queen Anne Victorian built in 1892
offers the joys of a gardened and wooded backyard. The B&B is
beautifully decorated with antiques of the era and offers a casual
elegance for guest comfort. Charleston, located in central Illinois, is 4
hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis are 2.5 hours away.
Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Terre Haute are just 1 hour away.

Quiet, private atmosphere
Kitchenettes, whirlpool, swimming pool
Business amenities
Private ensuite baths

"What a lovely B & B! As one who has stayed at numerous B & B's throughout the US and
Ireland, I must say yours is the finest. Your attention to guest comfort is second to none!"

Morris, IL

"Our visit to your B&B was exactly what we were looking for and needed! It was a quiet and
peaceful get-away. You pay such close attention to all of the 'little' details that make it so special!
A hotel could never offer such a feeling of welcome and hospitality!"

East Peoria, IL

Bed and Breakfasts as an Alternative to Motels, Hotels, and other Lodging Accommodations
and the contrast of Queen Anne's on 7th Street Bed & Breakfast to a motel

Queen Anne's on 7th Street has been host to many, many wonderful
guests. We have been hosts to first-timers and as well as seasoned B&B
guests. Each bed and breakfast has its own personality which is part of
the charm of a bed and breakfast experience.

If you are a first-timer, you may wonder why bed and
breakfasts seem to have higher rates than the local motels.
If you factor in the cost of your breakfast, arrival snacks and
drinks, often you will find that B & B's really are not more
costly. Also, the accommodations usually are cleaner, the
hosts friendlier, and the atmosphere more relaxing. Added
amenities such as video libraries, computer access,
refrigerators and microwaves, and personal touches such as
fresh flowers and bedside candies are often present. The
overall quality of a bed and breakfast is usually above that of
a standard motel.

Below is an on-line article with suggestions for bed and
breakfast guest etiquette and what to expect at a B & B in
contrast to a motel or hotel. Some suggestions have
comments pertaining specifically to Queen Anne's on 7th
Street so that guests understand our "personality."

Bed and Breakfast Etiquette
by Janette Higgins
www.bbontario.com

Things are sometimes a little different when you're staying in a bed and breakfast home,
rather than an inn or hotel. Here are some tips to ease the transition:

If you have special dietary requirements, ask whether they can be accommodated when you make your reservation. Queen
Anne's offers two breakfast choices, either a continental or gift certificates to order from the menu of a nearby
restaurant. Therefore, dietary requirements are usually met easily. See our Breakfast Page for an explanation why we
provide breakfast in these two ways.

Ask about cancellation and refund policies when you book. See Rooms page for Queen Anne's Policies.

Let your hosts know when you plan to arrive and call if it changes. B & B hosts plan their schedules around your arrival
time. Queen Anne's is very flexible with arrival times and do not require everyone's arrival at the same time as some B &
B's do. We do appreciate an approximate arrival time if available so that we can plan around that time span. We accept
late arrivals and understand that some travel situations are out of the guest's control.

If you don't have a reservation, try to phone before dropping in. Queen Anne's accepts walk-ins but a phone call is
preferred to be sure we have availability and so that we can prepare for guest arrival. We accept walk-ins until 9:00 PM.

Knock, don't just walk in the front door as I've seen some people do. Queen Anne's is large enough that we would not
hear you knock. Please ring our doorbell. We have the bell located so that we hear it in our private quarters but sleeping
guests will not hear it on the upper levels. At check-in, you will be given a key so that you can come and go as you please.

Remember you're paying for bed and breakfast. Plan to arrive no earlier than late afternoon, and leave by midmorning.
Queen Anne's accepts guests anytime after 3:00 PM. Check-out is by 11:00 AM.

Hosts need their privacy. Respect private areas of the home. Queen Anne's private areas are clearly marked. Guests have
use of the majority of the house without intrusion from the hosts. The hosts have their own quarters.

If you are sharing a bathroom you'll have to speed up your toilette - aim for 10-15 minutes. Each of the guest rooms at
Queen Anne's has a private attached bath, so take your time.

Keep showers short - there's not always a lot of hot water. At Queen Anne's, each of the private baths also has its own
private large water heater. A pump has also been installed to keep water pressure up when more than one bathroom is
being used.

Don't leave personal articles or towels behind in a shared bathroom (neither should your hosts).

Don't expect baby-sitting, laundry facilities or room in the fridge. Queen Anne's B & B is not appropriate for children
under 12 years old. We do have laundry facilities available and request a donation for its usage. There is no charge for
use of the iron and ironing board. There are three guest mini-fridges that guests are welcome to use for small items. One
of the refrigerators is for exclusive use for guests booking the Room with a Loft. The another refrigerator is shared by
the Blue Room and the Rose Room guests, and the 3rd for guests of the Ivory Room.

Show up for breakfast at the agreed upon time. Queen Anne's provides breakfast by means of a continental 'basket'
breakfast. It is set out late the evening before and some of the breakfast items are put into the refrigerator. Guests can
choose when they eat and where they eat. As an alternative, gift certificates are offered to a nearby restaurant for guests
wanting a cooked breakfast. By offering two breakfast choices, we have found that our guests love the freedom to
arrange their schedule to suite their needs. Early morning coffee is always provided and is fresh since each room has its
own coffee service. See our Breakfast page for further details.

Introduce yourself to the other guests if your host is busy. At Queen Anne's since guests are not required to sit at a dining
room table with each other for breakfast, introductions are not as necessary. As a guest, you may not even see the other
guests with everyone having their own agenda.

If you're staying more than one night, be aware that some hosts don't make beds because they feel like they're intruding on
your private space. So if you want your bed made up and towels changed, let them know. Queen Anne's adheres to this
policy. We do have a hamper in the hall for guests to remove wet towels from their rooms. Each room has an abundance
of towels.

Relax and enjoy what each bed and breakfast has to offer. You're a welcome guest in someone's home, and your hosts are
in the business because they enjoy the stimulation of interesting, warm and friendly people. Just like yourself.

Queen Anne's is very happy to have you as our guests.