A bed and breakfast inn is a definitely a good option if you are looking for a place to stay at during a romantic weekend, honeymoon getaway or when you just want to feel cared for and spoilt. These inns are in most cases very nice in that they often have a personal touch in more ways than the standard motels and hotels. The inns are well known to have one on one services and great breakfast. Having been hosted at various B&B inns throughout the country, I am yet to be disappointed as I have always enjoyed the brief stays at the inns. Some of these were very small and had only one or two rooms, while others were bigger. One thing that I can say for sure is that they all had one thing in common and that is there was a friendly and warm service from polite staff Who did everything possible to make my stay a great experience.
What to Expect
It is advisable to always ask questions related to room specifics such as the number of beds and room size when you are making reservations. At times, a “single” could refer to a twin bed single, or a room with one double bed. A “double” may refer to one double bed, or two twin beds.
The bathrooms may be anything from a small room with just a shower, toilet and sink to two separate rooms with a separate shower and toilet. In many cases, the reason for these often odd configurations is the fact that some inns are old homes turned inns and some did not have indoor plumbing and so these were just added as space was created. In some cases, you will find an inn with a shared bathroom facility and for those who do not like sharing; it could be worth the extra fee to have a room that has its own built in bathroom.
In most cases, you will not find telephone or television facilities in traditional bed and breakfast inns. Some usually have these facilities in a central area where they are accessible to all guests. In today’s technology driven world, this may not be much of an inconvenience as many people own smart phones and travel with their laptops.
Good Food
One of the advantages of staying at a bed and breakfast inn is the food. This is mainly because they will in most cases have very fresh food, from muffins, eggs and even fruits. The inns pride themselves in the fact that they are able to offer the freshest meals that are homemade in style. It is nevertheless important to ensure that the inn you are booking into offers your kind of preferred food, be it a full breakfast which may include bacon, eggs, pancakes or French toast or even a continental breakfast (cereal, coffee, pastries).
Other Considerations
You may need to ask questions about payment when booking, but most bed and breakfast inns will accept cash and any major credit card. There is always a chance that they may not accept checks or all credit cards, so it is always good to ask in advance.
Regarding cancellations and deposits, you will find that some inns do require at least a one night’s deposit. In some cases you could lose your deposit should you make a cancellation prior to your stay. Ensure that you are well advised on policies relating to this issue when making reservations. There is also a policy in some inns that may require you to make a booking of more than one night during the weekends.
It is always good to also ask about any age restrictions that may be in effect in case you are traveling with children. Some inns prefer having older children as guests as opposed to younger children who may be very noisy.
Pets: Most B&B’s will not tolerate pets, but a select few may be okay with some small and well behaved pets.
Smoking: Most bed and breakfast inns have policies against smoking while in their premises and will in some cases even charge guest credit cards an extra fee for cleaning incase in case they discover smoke in your room.