Before school started my hubby and I chanced a quick getaway to one of our favorite spots (Fredericksburg) in Texas. I absolutely LOVE The Homestead and wanted to be within short walking distance to it and nearby restaurants, so we (well me) picked the Bella Notte. What a beautiful and convenient little place! Old wood floors, rock fireplace, simple and elegant. This place was decorated just for me! We recommend sitting on the front porch sipping your beverage of choice and eating ridiculously exquisite chocolates from Chocolat on west Main.

Recently stayed (last weekend) at the Bella Notte and, wow! What a difference a month makes! The owners recently remodeled both of the units downstairs in Bella Notte and gone are the frayed carpets, bad patio furniture, and mustiness. It's all new paint, new furniture, new linens, and new floor finishes.

We rented the whole house for a family thing and had a blast.

Apparently, from speaking to their service, their washing machine would leave rust spots on linens if they were left in the drum too long. I think this must have been what the previous guests saw - little brown spots. Well, that's all gone. We didn't see any and, trust me, we looked.

The remodel apparently changed their Abruzzi unit to a one bedroom (from a two bedroom) and created a sitting area with fireplace for Abruzzi where the second bedroom was. VERY nice furniture. It was a great place for us to hang out, since we had the run of the place.

I understand that they've also fired their old cleaning service (the ones who left the linens in the washer too long) and hired one who can actually SEE dust, because we didn't see any while we were there. And, again, we really looked.

Somewhere along the line, they also started adding soap to the baths and replaced all the patio furniture with nice stuff.

So this was an EXCELLENT LOCATION and a very nice stay right in the middle of it all in Fredericksburg. We had a very nice time and never had to get in the car once we parked in the off-street parking behind the house.

Judging by past reviews, this place has obviously gone into decline recently. Unfortunately, we picked up the keys, dumped our luggage and set off to explore the area. If we had taken a proper look at the accommodation, we would have checked out straight away and asked for our money back. Where to begin - the carpet beside the bed is frayed and just waiting for you to trop over it if you get up during the night, the floor round the edges of the room is thick with dust, the whole place smelt musty, the furniture at the back door is only fit for the bin, there was no soap in the bathroom (already complained about by other users), no wardrobe or drawer space to name but a few. Then, just when we were trying to convince ourselves we would just have to put up with it, we turned down the bed - there were marks that looked like either human blood or blood from fleas in the bed, ugh! We slept on top of the bed with our clothes on and moved out the next day. This house is not cheap and it is dirty and run down. It is a real pity, because it is a house that deserves care and is in a very good position for restaurants, shops and has its own parking.

We originally booked Toscana two nights and optioned for a third. Our first night we stumbled across the backyard toward music at the Auslander, and ended up staying all night listening to blues. The second night next-door Lincoln St. Wine Bar had a one-man-band-sounds-like-James-Taylor, and the third night we had a couple bottles of wine (bought on the "strip") and laid low in our suite. Secret - there is a fire pit we drug out of an adjacent barn and loaded with firewood - that was cool.

I've stayed in nicer luxury B&B's but for the money hands-down the is the best place on Main.