Allen House Victorian Inn

This is a beautiful house, filled with Victorian era artifacts, furniture and décor, and completely comfortable with large, soft beds, down comforters, a towel warmer for your bath, etc. But the real stand-​out is the hosts – they will do anything for a guest, and they sincerely seem to get pleasure from making you comfortable. I was only there three days and they did about six lovely things for me, from letting me choose my own room to driving me to the next town over to save me cab fare. I will always stay here when I’m in the area.

While visiting UMass Amherst on a last-​minute trip, luck Ied me to book a room at the Allen House, a Victorian inn just down the street from Emily Dickinson’s house and within a short walk from Amherst Center. I was traveling alone, and it was my first time visiting Amherst. The innkeepers Ann and Alan were so hospitable and kind that they seemed like surrogate parents.
Ann picked me up from the bus stop in Amherst Center and drove me to the inn, pointing out landmarks to orient me along the way. I stayed in the Oscar Wilde Peach Room, a beautifully furnished second-​floor room with its own bathroom and shower. I loved all the ornate little touches from the bedspreads to the wallpaper and tile. The bed was extremely comfortable with crisp white sheets – so inviting after my long day of travel. The free wifi also gave me a chance to catch up on all my correspondence. I stayed one night, and the inn was very affordable for this poor student!
I had to be on campus early the next morning, so Alan drove me to the Amherst Inn (which he and Ann also own) to save me time to enjoy the full breakfast they laid out. The delicious fresh-​cut fruit, orange juice, tea, eggs, sausages, and pancakes that Ann had prepared fortified me for the day. I wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy a second helping! The breakfast tables were elaborately set, and a few other very pleasant students and travelers joined me in the dining room.
Alan then went above and beyond by offering to drive me to campus so I wouldn’t be late for my class. He and Ann are both so good-​hearted. They welcomed me to Amherst with open arms, and I can’t wait to stay with them again and recommend their inn to friends and family who come to visit me during my time at UMass!

What a wonderful B&B! It’s an inviting and warm Victorian home, obviously restored with loving care and attention to detail. The hosts, Alan and Ann, make the home even more inviting and warm. They’re friendly and very easygoing. My daughter and I stayed in the Christopher Dresser Room, a jewelbox with comfy, lofty beds. Feather pillows and a feather comforter with crisp cotton sheets were so inviting after a long day of student orientation (I was dropping my daughter off at college in Amherst). At breakfast — a full spread of fruit, yogurt, cereal, homemade pancakes, sausages and pastries — we met several other parents and freshmen. The town of Amherst is an easy stroll away. But here’s the best part, and I“m not quite sure how they manage it: The inn is truly a Victorian treasure, but it isn’t fussy or like a museum. Thanks to Alan and Ann, it’s an incredibly easy and inviting home away from home. I’ve stayed here twice now and plan to return.

I called to make a reservation; the call went to a cell phone and the person answered. She asked that I call back in 20 minutes. I padded it a little and called her back in 25. She said she was still driving and was two minutes away; she would call me back in five. I gave her the rest of the day and she never called back. I guess they don’t want my business.
Three things that should have gone differently:
1) Your business phone shouldn’t go to someone’s cell phone. I don’t want to talk to someone who is doing something else, like driving. The phone number should go to a landline, and if you’re not there I can leave a message.
2) The first time I called you should have offered to call me back, rather than ask me to call back, and when you gave me a time to call you should have been ready for it.
3) Obviously you should have called me back when you said you would.
It’s really a shame. I was looking forward to staying here. But they seem to want to make it impossible. I’ll stay somewhere else.

Just had a wonderful visit to this Inn. The owners are just the sweetest people on the earth, so welcoming and helpful. The Inn is lovely, beds so comfortable, bathrooms updated. Breakfast was delicious. Within walking distance of town. Made our vacation!

Wonderful service, gorgeous cozy décor, and Allen is a great host. A world-​class B&B at an affordable price.

Spent a weekend here with my 10 best friends from UMass Class of ’81 and had a wonderful stay. Décor is historically authentic but there was nothing old and dusty about this gorgeously appointed B&B. Big rooms with comfortable beds and private baths had all the little touches that make B&Bs so special. The hosts were friendly and accommodating, even offering to light the fire pit in the big field behind the house at 1 in the morning after returning late from a trip down memory lane. We got to bed so late, the hosts offered to let us sleep in and serve breakfast a little later than scheduled and it was delicious! Eggs florentine with fresh fruit cup and generous amounts of coffee. We felt right at home and well looked after. There’s even talk of a repeat next year.