News for the Traveler

Butternut Farm in Glastonbury, Conn., may be the smallest inn in America. When its two guest rooms are occupied, the ''no vacancy'' sign is out. In addition, the farm is one of the finest restorations of a pre-Revolutionary home.

The two guest rooms are vastly different. One is furnished with a double pencil-post canopy bed and a 1790 wingback chair beside the cozy fireplace. The other is less formal, with two low hired-man's beds.

Breakfast in the sunny pantry consists of juice, muffins, and several kinds of homemade preserves. The rate for bed and breakfast is $23 for one, $26 for two. Reservations must be booked well in advance. Write Butternut Farm, 1654 Main Street, Glastonbury, Conn. 06033.

Caneel Bay, a resort on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, has made some changes that managers hope will enhance their guests' visits. The most significant is a return to a full American plan, meaning that breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be included in the room rate. They anticipate that this will reduce extra charges for the guest, and reduce and control the number of day visitors to the resort. Day visitors will be served at the Sugar Mill area only.

Another new policy is to limit reservations for families to those with children over 10 years of age. Due to the open-air room and quiet environment, it became increasingly difficult to handle children who frequently disturbed other guests.

Among improvements to the resort this year, the tennis courts have been resurfaced, and many guest rooms are being refurbished.

Toll-free reservations may be made by calling 1-800-223-7637 outside of New York State; 1-800-442-8198 within New York State; and 586-4459 in New York City.