One day during our first (nine day) visit to New Zealand, my wife and I found ourselves looking for accommodation on the West Coast of the North Island, and ended up in New Plymouth, having found the listing for this place in a popular tourist guide.

Due to my own misanthropic quirks, I prefer to avoid B&B's and dread the obligatory chit-chat between host and guest. However, the hosts at 93 By the Sea, particularly the lady of the house, have an instinctive elegance and flexibile manner that made our one night stay here a highlight of the vacation.

First of all, we arrived at the front door without even extending the courtesy of a phone call in advance. That can be tough on a B&B, but our transgression was never mentioned as we were warmly welcomed into the home.

The accommodations are straightforward. There are two bedrooms, and a private bath across the hall. A comfortable common room with television and a selection of reading material, and... more