Although the Phineas Swann Inn & Spa is a Victorian structure built in 1880, it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA). Our website adheres to WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines for accessibility.

The Phineas Swann is open to accept guests, but with a number of guidelines and restrictions. Some of these rules are set by the state of Vermont, some the Phineas Swann has put in place to ensure your stay with us is healthy and safe.

Capacity: Currently we must limit our capacity to 25 total guests on property.

Health Certification: The state of Vermont requires each guest to fill out a Stay Safe Health Certification Form prior to their arrival for their stay. Out-of-state guests from counties with significant outbreaks must certify that they have been self-quarantined in their homes for 14 days, and then driving directly to our location.

Breakfast: Our dining rooms is available for breakfast, but guests also have the option of eating outside on our back decks, or in their suites.

Gatherings: Currently we ask guests to avoid any gatherings on property of more than 25 people, as per state restrictions. We anticipate this number will increase as the summer progresses.

Main House Check-In: We will make arrangements for self-check-in so guests won’t have to interact with staff upon arrival.

Training & Planning: We’ve always been fanatic about cleaning, but our staff has received additional detailed training, and been certified by the state to ensure your stay is sanitary and safe.

Some details:

Who Can Come?

Assuming you’re not showing any symptoms of COVID-19, as of Monday, June 15, guests from Vermont and from counties identified with fewer than 400 COVID cases per 100,000 people can stay with us without the need to quarantine in advance. You can see if your county is included in the list here.

If you’re coming from one of the higher-risk areas, the state requires that you quarantine in place for 14 days immediately prior to coming to stay with us. Vermont asks that you drive immediately from your place of quarantine to our door with no or as few stops as possible.

Reservations

We have shorted our window for cancellations from 30 days to 7 days to alleviate guest concerns. As always, we do not require a deposit in advance, preferring to charge you at check-out.

Prior to Arrival

Prior to arriving you will receive three emails from us: The first confirming your stay, the second asking you to fill out Vermont’s “Stay Safe Health Certification Form, and the third a final reminder a day before check-in. Please take the time to fill out the Stay Safe form and email it back to us before your arrival.

Remember: Please don’t come to visit if you experience any of these COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of your arrival:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle Pain
• Sore Throat
• New loss of taste or smell

If you’re not feeling well, give us a call to work with you and reschedule your visit.

Cleaning Procedures

Immaculate and clean rooms are a tradition here at the Phineas Swann, as many guest reviews note. We are following the cleaning recommendations by the CDC, the American Hotel & Lodging Association‘s Stay Safe Program, the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development, Vermont Inn and Bed & Breakfast Association, as well as our own protocols. Some of those enhanced procedures include:

• When possible, rooms are left empty for 24 hours after a guest leaves before it is cleaned
• All unnecessary linens have been removed from guest rooms.  (Please ask if you need extra pillows or blankets)
• All bed linens are laundered according to CDC guidelines
• Rooms are sanitized after cleaning with particular attention paid to high touch surfaces
• Rooms are locked after cleaning and sanitizing
• All snacks and drinks in rooms are now single-serve
• Throughout the remainder of the facility, we are decontaminating high touch surfaces such as counters, doorknobs and handrails frequently.
• During stays, we have suspended guest room cleaning/tidying during multiple night stays. Housekeeping/staff will not enter a guest room during a stay unless the guest makes a special request.

Our Team

While it’s been hard on our staff because we love being social with our guests, we’ve worked to make sure we give guests that friendly welcome while still adhering to physical distancing guidelines. Specifically:

• Our staff wears masks and gloves when near guests, during all cleaning operations, and while washing linens
• Staff will have their temperatures taken upon arrival each morning.  Staff will not be permitted to work if their temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees F
• Team has been trained and certified by the state on new safety rules.
• There is appropriate signage around the facility to remind everyone of these policies.
• Staff will wash hands regularly and often as dictated by the CDC.

Contactless Check-in/Check-Out

When you arrive, you’ll find an antique milk box on the front stoop by our front door. Inside, you’ll find an envelope with your name, and instructions on how to find your room or suite, and other useful information for your stay. You’ll find additional information in your Guest Guidebook in your room.

At the time of departure, we can charge your card on file so there’s no need for contact or for you to sign.