Many bed and breakfasts offer comfortable amenities, fine dining, and quiet accommodations that allow you to relax and let off some steam. But how many B&B’s offer a unique cultural experience that descends from long lines of family lineage and locally made antique furniture? Bocage Plantation offers all of the above and specializes in providing a B&B setting similar to that found in the manor originally.

Louis Arthur Colomb and his wife, Mathilde de Lauzon Thibaut, constructed Bocage between 1835 and 1837. The Colombs were a wealthy couple and belonged to a larger, influential family known as the Bringiers. The Bringiers owned several plantations along River Road and had a lot of political power in Louisiana during the first half of the 19th-century. They no doubt would have furnished Bocage elegantly with the finest antiques.

The current owner of Bocage, Marion Rundell, has furnished Bocage in much the same way, allowing you to take a step back in time. Sit in the parlor furniture, made the Meeks brothers in the 1840s and modeled after furniture found at Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi, and hold court just as the original owners would have. Relax in beds made by Prudent Mallard and Charles Lee, famous New Orleans furniture makers who supplied many plantation homes in Louisiana with exceptional furniture in the decades before the Civil War. Take in the view from the upper gallery, just as the Colombs did after a long day of work.

Bocage is unique because of it’s rich cultural heritage found throughout the house in the furniture, the architectural details, and the Creole influence that pervades the home. Although the plantation no longer produces sugar, remnants of its past still dot the landscape, taking the form of brick ruins. What you find at Bocage is a living heritage that is hard to find at many other bed and breakfasts. If you want to experience the comforts of plantation life in the antebellum, Bocage Plantation is the bed and breakfast for you.

Before you book a stay at a Baton Rouge bed and breakfast, you’ll probably look around online for any reviews from guests. Online review websites for hotels and bed and breakfasts have become very popular. Consumers are more informed than ever before, and by spending just a few minutes reading about the experiences of other guests, they can decide whether or not they want to book a stay at the bed and breakfast they’re considering.
But can you really trust what you find on these consumer review websites?
Most simply stated: yes and no.
Without a doubt, it’s always a good idea to do your research when booking a stay at a Baton Rouge bed and breakfast. The more information you have at your disposal, the less likely it is that you’ll stay at a place you aren’t satisfied with.
And for the most part, the online reviews left by past guests contain useful information that will help guide your decision. But there are some things you have to remember when reading these reviews.

• Don’t put too much stock into any single review—Rather than focusing your attention on any single review—whether positive or negative—you should consider all of the reviews together. Look for common themes throughout the reviews. If people seem to all be complaining or praising a specific thing about the bed and breakfast, that’s a sign that what they’re saying is probably true.
• Unhappy guests are far likelier to post reviews—It’s a known fact. Unhappy customers are much more vocal about their experiences than satisfied customers. That’s why many review websites tend to lean heavily toward negative comments. Keep this in mind when reading reviews. You may not be getting the full story.
• Competitors may try to trash another establishment’s reputation—They say all is fair in love and war, but sometimes, competing hotels and bed and breakfasts go too far. Some competitors have actually tried leaving false reviews for other establishments in order to drive customers away.

If you’re going to read reviews before booking, just remember the information in this article. Consider the source, use the information you have to make a sound decision, and always remember that you may not be getting both sides of the story.

Going on a trip is supposed to be fun, but too many times, we turn traveling into a stressful experience. That defeats the whole purpose of getting away and relaxing for a while. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of 5 tips to help you learn stress a little less when traveling.

1. Pack your bags early—Getting al packed up for your trip can be stressful. You have to make sure that you have everything you need, and you want to be certain you don’t forget to bring anything. If you wait until the last minute to start packing, you’re going to stress yourself out because you have to rush. Start packing for your trip earlier to avoid the stress.
2. Plan, but don’t over-plan—It’s always a good idea to have a plan for things you want to do on your trip. However, you have to be careful that you don’t over-plan. When you plan too much, you won’t have any flexibility to really enjoy your vacation. Instead, you’ll just be stressing out the whole time about sticking to the itinerary.
3. Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew—When making your plans, be realistic. Don’t try to do more on your trip than is really possible. You won’t be able to do it all, so focus on the important things and just try to enjoy what you can.
4. Don’t neglect your health—It’s natural to break your diet or stop exercising when you’re on vacation. There’s nothing wrong with letting loose, but you do have to still keep an eye on your health. Poor diet and lack of exercise can contribute to higher stress levels.
5. RELAX—You’re on vacation. Relax! Now isn’t the time to be stressing out. That’s part of why you’re on a vacation in the first place, so you can get away from the stress of your daily life. Don’t let the small things that go wrong overwhelm you. Keep it in perspective and enjoy your trip.

If you’re taking a trip to a Louisiana plantation, make sure you follow these simple tips to stay stress-free so you can enjoy your vacation.