Virginia has a vast array of accommodations, from rock-bottom roadside motels to some of the nation's finest resorts. Every national chain is present here, from low-end Super 8 all the way up to luxury-laden Ritz-Carlton. So whether you spend a pittance or a bundle depends on your budget and tastes. You can enjoy "champagne tastes on a beer budget" -- if you plan carefully and possess a little knowledge of how the hotel industry works.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation publishes a directory of all the state's accommodations.
Bed & Breakfasts
Unfortunately I only mention a few standouts among Virginia's 200-plus bed-and-breakfasts. Most of them are excellent properties adorned with antiques or quality reproductions, luxurious touches like fresh flowers and top-drawer linens and toiletries, and gourmet breakfasts. Some even add whirlpool tubs to their bathrooms. All these niceties come with a price, so most bed-and-breakfasts aren't inexpensive. Nor are they for everyone, since you'll be sharing a home with strangers -- with whom you might have to make small talk over breakfast. On the other hand, you don't have to go out for breakfast, and the hosts are usually fonts of current local information. In fact, B&B owners told me about many of the restaurants I recommend in this guide.
Many belong to the Bed & Breakfast Association of Virginia, P.O. Box 1077, Standardsville, VA 22973 (tel. 888/660-2228 or 540/672-6700; www.bbav.org). BBAV publishes an annual directory of its members and lists them on its website. The association inspects and approves the establishments it promotes, so you are unlikely to stay in a dump.
Regional associations with useful websites include the Alexandria & Arlington Bed & Breakfast Network, P.O. Box 25319, Arlington, VA 22202 (tel. 888/549-3415 or 703/549-3415; www.aabbn.com); the Hunt Country's Loudoun County Bed & Breakfast Guild (tel. 866/771-2597; www.loudounbandb.com); Charlottesville's Guesthouses Reservation Service, Inc. (tel. 434/979-7264; www.va-guesthouses.com); Bed and Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley (www.bbhsv.org); and Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast Network (www.bandbwilliamsburg.com).
Most local visitor centers include bed-and-breakfasts on their websites or will send you a list of those in their area.
