Answers to questions about TV, children, pets, etc.

Do you serve a a full breakfast or merely a continental breakfast, and when is it served?
We offer a full breakfast, served daily from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM to give your a great start to you day. We will attempt to accommodate special dietary needs if given advanced notice.

Are there nice restaurants in the area?
Yes, there are restaurants just across the Village Green from the Inn, several others in town and quite a few others within a 9 to 12 mile drive. We have the local restaurants' menus in our Menu Book here at the Inn for your perusal and restaurant selection, so that you can select the restaurant that best suits your dining expectations. We would be happy make suggestions to you based on our and our prior guests' experiences.

If you desire, we will gladly make dining reservations for you. Reservations are recommended during holiday and peak travel times. If you will be arriving in Chester after 8:30 PM, we suggest you stop for dinner during your trip, since most restaurants in this area stop seating at this time.

I understand that certain cell phones do not get sufficient signal strength in some of Vermont's mountainous areas. Is there a way for me to make calls and for friends and family to be able to call me and/or leave me messages at the Inn?

There is a phone is every guest room and we offer our guests free local and long distance calling (to anywhere in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan).

All our guest room telephones also have voice mail for incoming calls. The phone number for incoming calls for guests is (802) 875-6532. Your extension number is the same as your room number, which you will receive with your room confirmation.

If someone calls you via the guest line while your are out, the caller will be transferred to your voice mail. So, please give the guest incoming phone number (802) 875-6532 and your room number to anyone who may need to reach you while you are at the Inn.

If I bring my laptop, will I be able to connect to the Internet and retrieve my e-mail?

Yes. We have both free wireless (WiFi) connectivity and dial-up computer ports in every guest room.

Do you tack on a "gratuity charge" to your stated prices, as some businesses do?
We would not do that to our potential guests. The word 'gratuity' comes from the Latin word 'gratuitus' which means "voluntary," something "given freely, voluntarily or beyond obligation, usually for a service for which the giver is particularly pleased or satisfied." So, by definition, a 'gratuity' can not be forced on anyone for anything. Paying a gratuity to the provider of a service should always be the choice of the giver, based on the quality of the service received.

A forced additional charge is, in reality, a 'surcharge' and should be called such. A business that charges a gratuity might be trying to distract an unsuspecting potential customer or guest from realizing that the cost of the service is actually higher than stated. Our price for accommodations are stated as a single number, the actual cost.

Do we accept a gratuity if given freely by a guest who is pleased with the service we have rendered? Yes, but our delight comes from knowing that our careful and attentive service has caused a guest to feel that we have gone "above and beyond" what was expected.

Do any of your rooms accommodate more than two people?
Yes. Room # 7 can accommodate 3 people, and Room #5 can accommodate 4 persons. There is a small additional nightly charge for the third and/or fourth persons. See our Rooms and Rates page.

Do you allow children to stay at the Inn?
The Chester House is an inn where mostly adults come for a peaceful and relaxing getaway. People come to our B&B to get away from noise and distractions. We do, however, allow children 10 years pf age or older to stay with observant parents at the Inn, as long as they do not cause any disruption for our other guests.

If your children are rambunctious or noisy, we ask that you consider another place for your lodging. The walls at the Chester House are not made of cinderblock. The floors are not concrete. A other guest could be taking a nap at almost any time. Some guests go to bed early; some like to sleep late in the morning. So children must be made aware before they arrive here that other guests will not appreciate yelling, running indoors, or bounding down the stairs.

Parents who bring children to the Chester House must carefully monitor their children's behavior. We have many valuable and fragile antiques throughout the Inn, and parents will be held responsible for any breakage or damage caused by their children.

If a child causes a disruption at the Inn, his/her family will be asked to depart. The innkeepers will assist the family in finding alternative lodging.

Are the guest rooms air-conditioned?
Yes all our guest rooms are air-conditioned in the warmer weather.

May I smoke at the Inn?
Vermont law prohibits smoking in a building used for public accommodations. Guests may, however, smoke on the front porch, on the side deck or anywhere outside.

Do the rooms have TV?
No, they don't. There is, however, a television in the Keeping Room for our guests' use.

We chose not to put TVs in the rooms because someone might be staying in the room next to you who is hard of hearing, has trouble sleeping, and turns up the volume very loud when watching TV into the very late hours. You would not be happy.

Can I bring my dog to the Inn?
The Inn is a special place of relaxation for our guests, and some guests might be afraid of dogs, allergic to them or awakened by a barking dog. Keeping in mind the other guests who might be staying here, we feel it is better to exclude animals from the Inn.

May I bring candles to the Inn for "atmosphere"?

Due to fire regulations and to protect the Inn and all its guests, we ask that you not bring candles into the guest rooms.