My husband and I had the pleasure of a stay at the Belmont for seven nights. Shelly and Ken were our marvelous hosts. During my visit, I learned a few things. 1. Not all Bed and Breakfast establishments are created equivalent. While most B&b you stay in the main house, sharing quarters with the hosts, this is not the same for Belmont. We had the pleasure of occupying the Carriage house. The Carriage house is set off a bit from the main house, with a private entry. I always feel bad about coming home at 9:00 at night. However, this makes it easy to slip in quietly and not feel like you're going to wake up the house. 2. Chocolate fairies exist. Okay, let me explain; well, maybe I am going to keep this one to myself and let you find out ;) Just take my word for it; they really do exist. 3. Nothing beats the feeling of soft clean sheets. I'm uncertain what thread count is going on here or if Shelly has a sheep out back. She is sheering and spinning herself, but you'll enjoy the feeling of soft, crisp, clean sheets daily. 4. The saying goes, arrive as a guest, depart as a friend, or, in some cases, a second family. During our stay, my husband and I had daily meaningful conversations with Shelly and Ken. It sure is nice to find like-minded folks. We talked for hours, sharing stories. We laughed and even cried some. If you just happen to book when Shelly's sister Ms. Lori is in town, don't miss an opportunity to have a cup of coffee and fellowship with her. My only regret is I did not have the chance to hug her neck before she flew home. 5. Just because you have a food allergy does not mean you will be left out. I was fully prepared to forge my own way. However, that was not necessary at all. Daily, Shelly or Ken prepared me a lovely gluten-free breakfast. 6. Let's touch on the cleaning for a moment. If you find dust, let me know. I sure could not. Daily, Shelly came in while we were out and turned down our room. She turned on the fans (if they were off), closed the blinds, and changed out our linens. The only recommendation I would give is to offer black washcloths for ladies to remove their makeup. Shelly does offer cotton balls, but they do not always work. Regardless, I always travel with my own makeup towel to guarantee I do not mess up their towels, so this did not bother me. Don't let the neighborhood driving in scare you away. Just around the corner is serenity waiting for you. -A. Woodby (Pic below Gluten-free waffles )…
Ken and Shelly display Midwestern hospitality on a high level. Why would you stay at some corporate run hotel or a perhaps “iffy” Airbnb when there is such wonderful, welcoming, gem like this to experience? Their diligent care for this historical home and surrounding gardens; the homey, spotless rooms full of lovingly refinished turn of the century furnishings and appointments and — the super tasty, beautifully plated, hot breakfast in the main house with other guests you get to chat with checks more boxes than I knew I had! This is my third say here over the last couple of years and it has been the same every time and has turned into a home away from home as I’ve made trips back to the “homeland” to see family (I grew up here, but now live in Southern California). Every Bed and Breakfast place I’ll stay at will always be compared to Belmont Hill.…
I much prefer a small inn or B&B to a soulless hotel if I can find one, and was so happy to find Belmont Hill. Ken & Shelly have turned the carriage house of an historic home into cozy, welcoming spaces, with modern amenities like free WIFI and satellite TV. The buildings are on substantial grounds, which must be delightful in the warm weather. Breakfast was awesome! Delicious food and plenty of it, and I enjoyed chatting with the other guests, and hearing the history of the house from K&S. (Not an issue for me, but they did ask if I had any dietary restrictions, so I'm sure those can be accommodated if you let them know.) Belmont Hill is in a residential area, a bit of Victoriana near, but separated from, '70s ranch-style homes. So if you are looking to be "where the action" is, it probably isn't for you. But if you are looking for friendly people, good food, a comfortable room, and a relaxing "no pressure" atmosphere, Belmont Hill is definitely the place to come.…
We stayed at this lovely bed and breakfast on a whim when driving through Cedar Rapids. The accommodations were amazing, the rooms were fascistic and clean, and the owners were genuine and attentive. Our favorite part of the stay was the beautiful Christmas decorations that made us feel like we were in a Christmas wonderland. Also, on a side note the homemade breakfast was top notch and served family style with other guests. Truly a one of a kind experiences.
As far as we know, this is the only B&B in Cedar Rapids. Even so, there is no slack by Ken and Shelly. The place is beautiful, charming, clean, and serene. The breakfast is very nice and delicious. Enjoyed meeting and chatting with K&S who were helpful and good communicators.
Loved the history, hospitality and care. Such a great stay! The hosts were super flexible with my travel schedule and very welcoming. So enjoyed meeting the others over a lovely breakfast as well. Would love to come again!
This is an absolutely amazing bed and breakfast. We stayed there for 4 nights and every morning we were welcomed with an absolutely delicious gourmet breakfast with a wonderful selection of fruits and an unprecedented plate decoration! It is all about presentation! But the food tasted wonderfully. We stayed in the large suite and the two beds were very comfortable - every afternoon we had a few chocolate pieces to enjoy, too! The whole home is sparkling clean - no dust, the towels are so soft! In general, I cannot wait to be back. My 9-year old daughter was treated like a little princess by the owners and she cannot wait to be back, too.
If you visit the website for Belmont Hill B&B, you will see that the innkeepers Ken and Shelley are proud to be owner operated with no employees, and therefore ensure that the rooms are fastidiously clean and sanitized. We can attest that is not hyperbole in any sense. This place is spotless. The grounds are beautiful as are the rooms. The breakfasts are first rate and served in a lovely dining room. The location is perfect. You feel like you are in another world, yet downtown Cedar Rapids is just a 10 minute drive away. Stay here and you will be so happy, there is nothing negative to say at all. Ken and Shelly are gracious and engaging hosts, but never intrusive, just perfect!
I've stayed in B&B's from coast to coast and this is without a doubt the very best. Clean, quiet, superb food and hospitality. I drove an hour out of my way to stay here and it was absolutely worth it.
My husband and I enjoyed an overnight weekend stay at Belmont Hill. The clean and cozy carriage house room was perfect for us. The king bed was comfortable and the room was very quiet. We really enjoyed the beautiful and well maintained grounds. We sat outside in a swing on the property on Saturday night, and then the next morning we enjoyed a delicious freshly-made breakfast at a little bistro table outside. Ken and Shelley are fabulous hosts. We enjoyed our chats with them and learning about the property. Their little Yorkies are so cute! Thank you, Ken and Shelley, for your awesome hospitality!
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