We wanted something different to do for a few days. We went to this B&B in the Bella farm. We had the run of a very rustic building with a restaurant quality kitchen. The biggest difference from what we normally do is that there was no TV or WiFi. It turned out we survived, nay, thrived without either. We drove around the historic and beautiful countryside, enjoyed a vegetarian breakfast each morning. We were given a bottle of Proseco the first night along with a bottle of home made rose brandy made by the matriarch of the family, that acted like a sleeping potion that night. It was delicious brandy made woth rose and lavender. The alpacas were a delight and I actually go to pet some and get some real closeups of these gentle creatures. Our room was rustic as all getout and incredibly clean and cozy warm. The farm is convenient to wineries, restaurants, historic New Bedford and some real beautiful lakes and woodlands. Believe me, by the time we got finished traveling around western CT all day, we just aout had the energy to go to dinner at some of the dozens of reataurants in the area (reviewed elsewhere). We plan on going back in some warmer weather so we can introduce our parrot to the alpacas. The only thing we missed this trip were the pot bellied pigs, which evedently don't take too well to the cold February temperatures and the snow. read more

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My fiance and I just had a lovely stay at the Bella Alpaca Farm. Sal is very easy going and accommodating. He even let us shoot our engagement photos on the farm. The loft is very cozy and spacious. We've spent the weekend exploring Kent and Lake Waramaug. Coming home to alpacas every day and waking up to them each morning was a real treat I think our dog had more fun than we did! If you are expecting a 5 star hotel this place is not for you. It's a loft above a barn where the alpacas stay. This place is truly for someone who is low key and just wants to relax & enjoy nature. The bed is incredibly comfortable, the shower has hot water, the AC is pumping (in mid-July with a lot of humidity), and there are fresh towels when you arrive. Sal also has a recommendation for everything so be sure to ask him about his favorite local spots! One thing I wish we did was bring a cooler and beach towels. We went to Lake Waramaug for the day and we were not prepared. Otherwise our stay on the farm was unique and relaxing!! If you like exploring nature and love the company of different animals, highly recommend you visit Bella Alpaca. read more

I have always been the run of the mill kinda person. I love pizza, candy, and llamas? thats odd. I have always loved animals but then on a yearly trip to the zoo, I met my favorite animal. The llama. It's an odd pick of "whatsyourfavoriteanimal" question. Anyone who knows me truly knows this and it can be a pet peeve. I completely go into melt-down mode upon seeing anything llama related. My heart goes into flutter and I actually jump up and down. Review time... I had seen a Groupon for Bella Alpaca Groupon and was like what?! OMG!!! "I NEED to go." To spend time at a llama farm, sleep two nights (with yoga optional,) and spend less than $300 bucks? Yeah I am 100% buying. I called and spoke with owners, Sal and then Judy, to confirm reservations. Both were so helpful and friendly on the phone. The booking was for two people and being single, I asked my mom to accompany me. We drove a little under 2 hours from Long Island, to this beautiful part of Connecticut. It was technically the first day of Spring (3/20,) but you'd never know by the slow melting snow piles, ice covered boulders and beautiful tree lined, scenic routes. The drive alone was a dive into relaxation. It was a treat. We stopped in a little pie diner on the road for a bite, then headed to the farm before 3:00PM check-in. Sal greeted us at the gate and told us where to park and he'd show us our room for the next two nights. We drove up the large hilly driveway, parked in front of a large red barn and behold, there were the alpacas! I couldn't get out of the car fast enough to see these beauties! To our surprise our "Yoga Master Suite," was directly over the alpacas. Really? does it get better than this? Sal lead us up the wooden stairs up to our suite. The steps are a bit of a bear if you have your hands full. Otherwise, the little deck overlooking the aplacas' and beyond the trees, is just gorgeous. Were were led through the yoga studio which was really a yoga studio! I was really impressed even though I didn't plan on taking a class during our stay. The room off the yoga studio, was cozy and loft-like. It had a sitting room, large closet, sleeping area with a king size, pyramid shaped bed frame (which Sal crafted himself.) It was really amazing. We settled in, unpacked a bit and decided what we'd like to do on our trip. Sal said Kent was a close little town to check out and it was. Mom and I ventured to Kent and walked around. Then drove to eat then...? We are city people. We were out of the fast moving culture. It was weird. Mom was tired from the drive so we headed back to our room around 9:30PM. WOW! Streets are PITCH BLACK! It is wind-y and curvy getting back to the homestead! Brights are your friend. It was a chilly night and I noticed the alpacas must have been nestled in their barns for the night. The black sky and crisp air really takes you out of your element. It is really something you don't get back home. We enjoyed a bottle of wine, and slipped into bed. Both reading a book. I am sorry but, silence is deafing. Hearing your stomach digesting as the only distraction was weird. No TV, Internet is odd for people in 2014. At least for us. We drifted off to sleep for a good 9.5 hours which is unheard of for the two of us. We missed the breakfast but truthfully, we're not much of breakfast people anyway. We wanted to explore. We drove to the Tarryvile Museum, Bull Bridge, Lovers Leap, and our fav, Kent Falls Park. If I hiked, I'd be in heaven. The Kent falls waterfall is simply breathtaking. Went back to the homestead, saw the male and the lady alpacas, scoped out the store for souvenirs, and headed into town, grabbed dinner and a movie at the Lowes. It was a great day! We packed up to avoid getting in the way of the 9:30AM yoga class, and headed down to buy our souvenirs! Finally met Judy, got some cozy socks, a pillow and of course an alpaca fur wrapped loofa goat boy, soap made by Nico their son :) Great trip...verrrrrrrry different for two NY gals. Appreciate the hospitality and comfort of their home. read more

I had a lovely stay here at the gatehouse with 3 other friends, two of whom were about to be married. We are all enthusiastic knitters and BIG fans of alpacas so this was just about the most perfect stay we could've ever imagined - not only did we get to (1) take a farm tour with Sal and Judy (2) visit a nearby nunnery for vespers (3) take a private beginner to intermediate yoga class with Judy, but they also recommended us to a local outdoor theater fundraiser where there was food, crafts, and some of the BEST pizza from Sal's italian food truck! The Gatehouse was lovely and homey, with a cozy sitting room filled with comfy couches and books perfect for talking over wine. The Gatehouse is quiet, secluded, and is surrounded with flowers and a little brook running about 20 ft away. The living room had some spiders but that's to be expected with centuries-old woodframe homes. No Wi-Fi and cell reception is a bit spotty, but with all the nearby things to entertain ourselves we didn't miss either of those things at all. Breakfast was usually a fresh fruit/berries, homemade baked banana bread, eggs, coffee/tea and juice. read more

Had the MOST wonderful time at Bella Alpaca Farm. Stayed in the gorgeous, all wood loft room. It was so nice waking up to the happy sounds of the Alpacas right outside our window while they went about their morning routine. Getting to spend time with them and the two Pot Bellies, Chicho(sp?) and Lily. One of the best experiences ever. If you are in need of a peaceful getaway filled with lots of happy feelings I suggest you pay a visit here. They have Yoga as well, although we were too beat from our White Water Canoe adventure just down the way. I can't wait to go back and rent the Gate House with some friends in the future! read more

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Decided to take my mother on a little mother/son bonding trip nearby in CT, after seeing the recent Living Social Deal. My mother really enjoys her trips that include the foliage, animals, and farm life. It seemed like an ideal little getaway, so I called ahead and spoke to Sal to confirm availability for a Tues/Wed stay. I was happy to hear that we'd be the only ones staying on those days and made the reservation. I'm sure that we received a little extra attention due to the fact that we were the only ones there on a Tuesday/Wednesday. From start to finish, Sal, Judy and their family really gave an effort to make our experience as pleasant as possible. I actually rarely post online reviews, but decided to create an (Trip Advisor)account to share a positive review for them. (And now on Yelp too). My mother and I felt as if we were taken in like family. My mother was giddy to get out there and meet the alpacas once we arrived and Sal was nice enough to show us the farm areas right away. We received a lot of time with the Alpacas overall. The Master Suite was kept very nice and with a nice rustic/Native American vibe to it. The entire grounds had a meditative theme and feeling to it. The wood pellet stove found on the first floor living room was a nice touch and kept the entire place fairly warm. But not warm enough for your toes, so.... There's a little gift shop where they sell Alpaca socks and other items. It appears as if my mother figured she'd knock out half of her Christmas shopping in that little store. Buying the socks early in the trip allowed us to test the socks out for the next day or so. They basically felt like slippers, so comfortable. The breakfasts that were provided both mornings were very well done. Sal's previous profession as a chef certainly showed. Also, Sal provided us with some great advice on places to go out in the town for dinner, lunch, and other activities such as going to the nearby Abbey to hear the vespers. Again, right up my mother's alley. We went to two dinner spots and one lunch spot that Sal recommended and all three were wonderful (All of which rival the quality of NYC food and a bit cheaper). We even stumbled on the local bar where they had live music. Ok, anything negative to say??? Here goes.. Cell phone coverage/internet access is a little difficult in the guest house and in that general area overall, so plan on dealing with a bit of that. Also, I guess I should have expected it, but the mystery taxes weren't included in the price of the Living Social deal, so that was a little shocker at the end. But overall, with the great time we had, it was all worth it! read more

Five stars for everything at this place. My partner and I went to Bella Alpacas for our anniversary and it was a great escape from New York City, which was exactly what we wanted. We were told we weren't going to have a TV or Wi-Fi, but we never even cared because we were so taken away by the beauty of the farm (very modern in spite of being "rustic"), the free bottle of wine and the beauty of the surrounding areas. It's amazing that it's such a short trip from the city. We stayed on a Sunday night (November) and were able to have one whole cabin to ourselves and had wine by the fireplace. It may be busy on weekends, but shouldn't be so bad. The B&B is nestled away in a cute town with access to antique shops, wineries and hiking trails. We recommend going a few minutes away into Kent to the hiking trails and beautiful waterfall, it's really makes it a complete trip. Sal has great suggestions and is very knowledgeable about the area. Sal and his family take very good care of the alpacas, the grounds and each other. We were treated like old friends. We'll definitely be back. read more

Just spent the weekend at Bella Alpacas with my fiancee and best friends for the BEST bachelor/ette party! Sal and Judy are incredibly kind and run a beautiful farm, and the weekend was relaxed and joyful ^__^ We stayed in the gate house, which was built in the 1800s and was a stop on the underground rail road. The beds were SO comfortable and the accommodation is well kept, has a great living room for hanging out, and the bathroom is huge! The breakfasts were small, but locally sourced for the most part, and delicious. One morning we took a yoga class from Judy-- she is a very encouraging and helpful teacher, helping us to do inversions. Also, her studio with its view of the woods is lovely! Afterwards, she was kind enough to take us to visit her barn cats, who were so cute and friendly. The farm store is well stocked and the yarn sold there (made from the alpacas on the farm, I believe) is great quality. The alpacas on this farm are by far the most friendly I've encountered. If you get the chance to feed them, DO! You won't regret it!!! The alpacas will eat excitedly but gently from your hands, and will surround you in the most delightful manner possible. They are so soft and I just want to have a couple around to re-experience the joy of feeding them every day. They also have two adorable friendly pig sows :) If you stay here, be sure to check out the local food festival; the food was unbelievably good! I hope to be back soon! read more

What a perfect getaway! We can't wait to go back!! My boyfriend and I found the Bella Alpaca farm through a Living Social deal. I have a tricky work schedule and the correspondence with Sal was quick and helpful. We arrived way later than expected due to NYC traffic. Sal & his beautiful wife were there to greet us with open arms and a warm and welcoming home away from home. We stayed in the cabin above the kitchen. It was so cozy, relaxing and quiet. It definitely brought me back to my camping days in Mammoth. The bed was so comfortable, I worried I would sleep the entire stay away. There were additional blankets in the huge closets in addition to the adorable room heater that looks like a tiny fireplace. We had read that there had been a complaint about the heat, and we worried that we would freeze, but we were more than comfortable. We came to find that whoever complained never turned on the heat! The wine provided was wonderful & we took advantage of the downstairs living space during the evening, cozying up on the couch with good books and a warm fireplace. There was always fresh apples, coffee and whatnots that we could help ourselves to. The alpaca store is so charming and I wanted to get everything! Breakfast was sweet! We mingled with one other couple and shared our experiences with the surrounding towns. We were given choices and enjoyed Sal's cooking expertise. He made eggs and sweet breads (we're gluten free, but it looked and smelled fantastic). We filled up on more fruit and hit the alpaca farm! The alpacas are a whole experience. They're so gentle and curious. We had the honor of having Sal take us out for an introduction. We learned a ton!!! It was incredible to hear about each individual alpaca.. Their name, history, daily life, health, personality. The relationship the family has with their furry kids is admirable and inspiring. We were very lucky to get the tour with Sal. I don't know about you, but if there's two things I love in the world it's small vintage towns and chocolate. We drove to a handful of surrounding towns, parked our car & walked around enjoying the small boutiques & friendly townspeople. Kent was one of our favorite little spots. There is a quaint bookstore where locals have written reviews/recommendations on index cards! The soup shop is incredible!! Kent Coffee & Chocolate Shop was AMAZING. The owners and employees were super cool and really knowledgable about their in house confections. Better yet, they had gluten free options! The chocolate covered Oreos, biscotti & truffles were out of this world. We took our goods down to New Milford and saw a movie in the adorable movie theater. We enjoyed quite a few GF options around the area (Green Granary, Maggie McFly's, Salsa, The Sweet Spot, Mama Cheese Bread, Ponchos & Gringo's (who treated us like family)). We even had an opportunity to take yoga with Sal's wife, Judy! She's unreal. If you're a yogi; go! So passionate & wise. I have numerous injuries and she was able to work with me and bring so much ease & breathe into my practice. She was even able to get my boyfriend up in a handstand! A definite highlight. The family brings such a sense of peace and ease. You feel like a community if you allow yourself to. It's a beautiful, quiet, natural getaway from the city. A sweet oasis. We loved learning about the culture, background and nature of their lifestyle. They are true renaissance folks with hearts of gold. It makes for a soothing atmosphere. We could speak with them for hours. It was cold, so we didn't have a chance to hike, do a wine tour, enjoy farmers markets or venture too far out, But we can't wait to come back in the warmer weather! Until then, I'm enjoying my healing lavender salve that we bought from Sal & Judy's son. read more

Alpacas were adorable and the loft was very spacious, clean, and had everything we needed. Owners were also super nice and gave great recommendations on things to do in the area. We brought our dog for the stay and he was equally curious of the alpacas as they were of him! So cute to see them interact together. Plenty of restaurants in the area (we ate at Yokohama and The Cookouse). During the day we went to Kent Falls State Park which was beautiful, then went to White Silo Winery both were dog friendly. It was a perfect little getaway. read more

Pros: -The owner, Sal, clearly cares about his alpacas very much. -The place is a nice getaway from NYC. Cons: -We didn't get to interact with the alpacas very much. They should give people some home-made treats so the experience is a bit more interactive. -The Loft had a very pungent alpaca urine scent. -Amenities are poor for the high price they charge. -I understand it's supposed to be a rustic/alpaca farm experience but certain, in my opinion, necessities were lacking. We couldn't find dish soap (only bar soap) in the kitchen, which was odd considering they prepare breakfast/food items for their guests. read more

We had an amazing stay at Bella Alpacas. Our room was the yoga room - it was extremely clean and spacious. Hugging D'Artagnan the alpaca was definitely the highlight of our weekend !!!! There is so much to do in the area- and Salvatore was super helpful with guiding us with the best things to see. The yoga class was also perfect. We are already planning the next trip back.. read more

The experience was not worth the money. I really wanted to like this place, but found myself continually disappointed. The owners were nice, but they didn't offer any guided chance to interact with the alpacas. The breakfast wasn't fresh and just consisted of some slightly stale pastries and fruit bought at the supermarket. Our room was poorly lit and had a random 2" step up in the middle that my husband and I stubbed our toe on at least 10 times. There is little to do in the surrounding area beyond hiking so if the weather is bad (as it was in our case), you will have nothing to do. Lastly, there were a couple things I just found disgusting that I wanted to mention. The owners apparently think it is hygienic to leave the same bar of soap in between guests. I for one was not going to use the same bar of soap that god knows how many strangers had used before me (luckily I brought my own body wash with me). They also require everyone to take off their shoes before entering the eating area/ entry area to our room. This would have been fine if the floor was meticulously kept clean, but the weekend I was there it was rainy and muddy outside. The bottoms of my feet were dirty and brown every time I left my room to go downstairs. Overall, I would not recommend this place. read more