The LaFarge Perry House is a beautiful, well-run property, with delicious made-to-order breakfasts, luxurious and comfortable amenities, and the perfect location in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Although that sounds like an excerpt from a travel guide, every word of it is true.

I visited Newport on my honeymoon late in April, and picked LaFarge Perry based on the room descriptions and the association with the Chanler Hotel (both are owned by the same people). I contacted Midge, the innkeeper, to ask for some special favors during the honeymoon. I asked for champagne, chocolate, fruit, and cheese on our arrival; Midge happily obliged and we had a delicious snack waiting for us. We were the only people staying in the inn that night, so she said we could look around the house at the other rooms, and we could even switch to another room later in our stay if we wanted (we didn't, we loved our room).

We had the Oliver Hazard Perry Room, which is the most "masculine" of the guest rooms. It was spacious (the biggest bed room of all the guest rooms, save for the Master Suite...more on that later), well-lit, had a working gas fireplace, a really comfy couch and chair, a pillow-top bed my wife and I could only describe as "luxurious...sooo luxurious", and cool paintings and nautical knick-knacks. The bathroom was nice-sized, with a combination shower/single-person jetted tub. I don't like huge bathrooms, and we don't really care for jacuzzis, so this was perfect. One thing that impressed me was the level of cleanliness. The room, along with the rest of the house, was immaculate. Even after we'd mess up the room, we'd come back in the afternoon and it would be put back together perfectly.

The other rooms looked nice as well. The master suite was very impressive. Way too big for two people, in my opinion, and a little too "romantic" (dual-head shower, jacuzzi for two) for a family trip. It seems best suited for two couples traveling together, especially if the couples enjoy getting "comfortable". The main bedroom and bathroom are downright cavernous. It would be great for entertaining (it had an in-room wet bar).

The other rooms were nice, but a bit too lacey for my taste. If that's what you like, LaFarge Perry has more than enough.

Breakfast at LaFarge Perry is top-notch, because Midge was a restaurant chef for 20 some-odd years before changing careers. Her brioche french toast was sinfully good, and the fresh baked blackcurrant scones and marmalade turnovers were delicious. The "afternoon tea" was self-serve, but she always left a plate of freshly baked coconut macaroons in the foyer. I could eat 10 of those a day and never grow tired of them.

Midge helped us with restaurant reservations; she seems to know a lot of the chefs and restaurant owners in Newport, so she made good recommendations and was able to arrange special treatment. I had a specific request for a dessert at the Spiced Pear, and she personally talked to their pastry chef!

Finally, the location: on a residential street off Bellevue with a nice semi-circle driveway. There wasn't much noise or traffic near the house, which made our stay feel even more private and intimate. We walked by other luxury B&Bs that are on Bellevue and Thames, and I can imagine that those don't feel quite as private, especially since the building entrance is right off the sidewalk. It took us about 3-5 minutes to walk to shops on Bellevue, and 10-15 minutes to walk to Thames street via Memorial Drive. The weather was nice, so the walking was not a problem.

Disclaimers and thoughts:
1.) Our stay was in late April, mid-week. I am assuming this is why we were the only people there. Once it gets busier in the summer, some of the things I said may not hold true. The treatment might not be as personalized, since the innkeeper might be busier; at the same time, afternoon tea might be more involved, since there would be presumably be more of an audience if the entire place was booked.
2.)We got a very good rate for a luxury B&B, but that rate might go up significantly in the peak season. Even so, if the rate doubled it would still be worth it.
3.)One of the reasons we had such a good time is that we simply wanted to: we didn't go in expecting every little thing to be perfect, so when we got everything we asked for, we were thrilled. My advice is to check out the website. They just put up new room descriptions and photos, and the pictures are very representative of the rooms. If you decide to stay here, you won't be disappointed.

Ok, so I may be biased as this is where I got engaged...but it was a beautiful spot and we really enjoyed it. The photos on their website do not do this B&B justice as far as the rooms go. We stayed in the "honeymoon suite" on the third floor. Although not a fan of brass beds, this was gorgeous and cozy. We had a large bathroom with stand up shower and a large jacuzzi, great for a glass of wine at the end of the day. The colors in the room were bright and cheery, but still very cozy. Outside the room and into the hallway was an entrance to a porch in the front of the house which overlooks the street.
The location was great, far enough from Thames Street that you don't hear all that noise, but definately close enough that you can walk down within a matter of minutes.
Although not quite the friendly service of some inns in Vermont, the service was sufficient. WHen we arrived, they appeared to be short staffed during that particular hour and we waited about 10 minutes while the staff person finished answering phones before we were shown to our room...but other than that, nothing bad to say.