What Is So Great About A Bed & Breakfast?

[AKL_Megs]

I know that people who like them REALLY like them, but I just don't get them.

To me, it just seems... weird... you are in someone elses house, they serve you breakfast, and then you go home, right? Granted, they are usually really beautiful houses, the food is homemade and delicious, and the hospitality is wonderful. Still, I just don't get it.

If you've been to them and really enjoy them, please explain to me what you like about them!

 

[DVCLiz]

I know that people who like them REALLY like them, but I just don't get them.

To me, it just seems... weird... you are in someone elses house, they serve you breakfast, and then you go home, right? Granted, they are usually really beautiful houses, the food is homemade and delicious, and the hospitality is wonderful. Still, I just don't get it.

If you've been to them and really enjoy them, please explain to me what you like about them!

What is there not to get about beautiful homes, delicious food, and gracious hospitality?

B&Bs are small, personal service hotels. You aren't just showing up to stay in someone's guest room. They have a charm and personal touch that can't be duplicated in most hotels. People like the personal service, getting to know the owners, and basically having their every whim catered to.

Sounds good to me...

PS - You do know you can stay more than one day, right? You don't just show up, spend the night, eat breakfast and then leave unless you are only going to be in town for one night. I spent a lovely weekend in the mountains in a B&B and stayed two nights. During the day I had access to the common rooms of the house but I was busy doing activities in the town so I left mid morning and came "home" in time for dinner.

 

[ICF]

generally it's couples there w/o their kids....and they have beds....and even serve you breakfast.

What's not to like??!??!

 

[adkkev]

A B&B is personal ... usually you get a bit of the 'local flavor' when you stay at at B&B.

We stayed at a B&B in Anchorage several years ago, and our host had come to the US after the Hungarian revolution in 1956, and he told us all about how he learned how to speak English at the local movie theater in Cleveland (the owner noticed him coming there all the time & invited him to watch all the movies in the projection booth, for free) ... we asked about some local hikes and he took the time to tell about several options, what to look for, etc., and then tore a page out of his Alaska Gazeteer book for us to use (as long as we brought it back! which we did).

Breakfast gives you an opportunity to meet other folks who are travelling ... you'd be surprised what you learn when you sit down & chat with people over a delicious breakfast.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

When we go to Mackinaw Island it really makes you feel like you are a part of the place & went back in time. It is just a different feel to the stay. I guess you could say it is more relaxing & laid back.

 

[Frantasmic]

B&B places are for those who aren't a Tom Bodett kind of person.

 

[AKL_Megs]

B&B places are for those who aren't a Tom Bodett kind of person.

I think I am more of a Conrad Hilton kind of person!

 

[RadioNate]

Just in case anyone is looking for an Oregon Wine Country B&B this place is awesome.

http://www.youngberghill.com/

It is about a grown up getaway that is more personal than a hotel. It is fun to chat with other visitors about what they've done in the area.

 

[harleyquinn]

We did it once with another couple in Niagra-on-the-Lake and it was very weird. None of us liked it at all.

Maybe cuz it lacked all the good things you all are talking about? The family (2 kids and their parents) were very nice, but it felt so weird.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I think to some extent it depends on the type of person you are. If you are interested in meeting new people, learning about their personal experience with a place etc then B&Bs would likely be great.

DH and I found that we had a similar experience to harleyquinn, we felt ackward and uncomfortable. We are not particularily outgoing (find it hard to start or get into a conversation with a stranges) so that may have contributed.

 

[RadioFanatic]

It depends not only on the type of person you are but the type of person the owner of the b&b is. For example, my dh and I stayed at one where a gentleman ran it who had too many "rules" and did not make us feel welcome, even though the bedrooms were gorgeous. On the other hand, for the past three years, my girlfriends and I have stayed at the same b&b in the finger lakes wine country because the woman running it truly is just like grandma, taking care of our every need, making amazing meals and is truly a delight to be around (she even hangs out with us - at our insistence - she is not an invader). We love her because we are all moms who love to be taken care of by her for one weekend a year as opposed to our home lives, being the ones taking care of everything!

 

[2binak]

It depends not only on the type of person you are but the type of person the owner of the b&b is.

So true! We stayed in a B&B in Ireland for 3 nights. Every morning, after cooking our breakfast, the husband would sit in the dining room and chat with us about our plans for the day, the sights we had seen the day before, etc, while his wife took care of their young children in the back of the house. It was really nice to have that personal touch! Our last night in Ireland we stayed in a different B&B near the airport and the owner was hardly ever around. She checked us in and was off to tend to her high school-aged kids and the same thing happened the next morning. She served our breakfast and was off to tend to the kids again. It was much less personal, but it was a nice room, nice house and nice location so we were happy with it.

We stayed in the B&B's after 5 nights of hotels in England. The hotels were all nice, but the B&B's just had a special something about them. We had never stayed in a B&B before that trip, but now we wouldn't hesitate to stay in one.

 

[castleview]

No kids! We stayed at a B&B in Maine pre-kids and it was a nice cozy, quiet, experience. We got to stay in lovely old home a few blocks from downtown. It's nice to relax in the yard or the lounges also because there are less guests to deal with.

I've noticed that B&B employees/owners can be a little less PC and more honest when talking up what restaurants and attractions there are. You definitely get a local feel staying at a B&B. Of course, our B&B days are over for a few more years. It will be fun if we start doing them again.

 

[eeyore65]

I hate B&B's. I like to stay in houses and condos - but with just us and no owner on premise. It is just weird to me. It is like being a guest in someones home - but you don't know them!

 

[NMAmy]

I always thought I'd hate staying in one but when my FIL passed away, DH and I and all the adult grandchildren stayed at a B&B in the small town in Yorkshire where FIL was buried. (His cottage there was too small for all of us and somehow DH and I ended up being the ones to corral all the kids even though only one of them belonged to us! )

I really enjoyed it. The owners were pleasant but not intrusive. The rooms were beautiful with private baths and had a lot of extras I wasn't expecting like sherry, chocolates, an iron, and a hair dryer. And we had a fantastic breakfast that made all the "grownups" who had stayed at the cottage jealous. The next time we go back, we may stay there again.

I couldn't stand one where the owners wanted to hang out with the guests all the time, though.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think there is a lot of leeway in the whole B & B scene. In Cape May NJ they are operated more like a friendly Inn as opposed to a boarding house. I do like upscale B & B's but to have someone else's family on top of me like in a youth hostel or something, no way.

I wonder if there is a review spot for B & B's where you can hear about other people's experiences? Sort of like Trip Adviser but for the B & B crowd?

 

[janey99]

We did it once with another couple in Niagra-on-the-Lake and it was very weird. None of us liked it at all.

Maybe cuz it lacked all the good things you all are talking about? The family (2 kids and their parents) were very nice, but it felt so weird.

My MIL used to run a bed and breakfast in NOL. Contrary to what another poster said, a lot of times in NOL, it IS a couple or a family with an extra room who just says "We have this extra room - let's pretend we are a B&B!" People can also effectively circumvent citizenship and residency laws in Canada if they "run" a B&B

My MIL is a horror show - I can't imagine anyone staying with her and enjoying it. We stayed once and she complained the whole time that we were probably using a boatload of hot water, and then bought moldy strawberries for my three year old's breakfast (I'm sure you can find some nice ones in the bottom of the basket!).

Yeah, just the experience I'm looking for on a vacation!

Jane

 

[TerriP]

We stayed at a B&B in Shelburne, VT that we did not like at all. The owners were too "in our face" all the time. They were polite, but too nosey. I'm sure in their minds they were just making conversation, but when you want to know who/what/when/where/why of my vacation in Vermont, you're asking me too many questions!

Every September we stay at a B&B on Mackinac Island that we adore...Market Street Inn. The innkeeper, Ann, is so wonderful. This past year when we checked in she noticed that my DH made a bee-line for the cookie jar in the parlor only to discover the cookie jar hadn't been filled yet that day. Well, when we got back from a walk, we found a bag of cookies outside our door...just for us! It's things like that that keep us coming back every year. The food is delicious, the room is gorgeous (with a great Jacuzzi tub!) and meticulously clean, and the service is above and beyond. We love that B&B!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I stayed in one in London once. The room had a sink, but the bathroom/shower was down the hall. It wasn't a fancy place, more practical. They had breakfast in the basement. Actually, it wasn't too bad, and as I remember it was pretty cheap for London.

I would not make a B&B the focus/destination of a trip. I like my privacy.

 

[ChrizJen]

I've never stayed in one, so I'm not really qualified to answer, but I do get the "strangeness" factor that the OP talks about. I hate being a guest in someone's house. I always end up feeling awkward and uneasy. Sort of like I'm imposing. I've always seen B&B's in the same way, only even more awkward because you don't even know the people you're imposing on. Based on some of the responses, I'm obvioulsly a little off-base. But for now I think I'll stick with nice hotels for my lodging needs.