Inns and Bed and Breakfasts – Are They For Everybody?

Here is a the answer to a question that I am often asked. Please welcome my guest author Cliff Calderwood.

Inns and Bed and Breakfasts – Are They For Everybody?
By: Cliff Calderwood

Inns are a delightful alternative to hotels and resorts. They can be just the right ticket for your vacation, providing you understand how they work and function.

Are they for everybody?

No, they're not. But here’s the answers to some basic questions to determine if it’s the type of accommodation that’ll work for you…

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INNS AND BED AND BREAKFASTS?

Let's start by clearing up any confusion on the differences between inns and bed and breakfasts. And it's not so much in the name as how they advertise themselves.

Firstly, there's no difference in accommodation. The charm of a bed and breakfast can be every bit as good as the personality of an inn. The difference is the prepared meals. A bed and breakfast is just that… expect a bed and a breakfast, but you're on your own for dinner. But at inns, they're set-up to provide dinner as well, although it's usually an option, and not included in the quoted price. The listing will be very clear if dinner is offered. But assume its just bed and breakfast if nothing is mentioned.

In many areas of the world inns and bed and breakfasts are also called guesthouses.

ARE THEY RIGHT FOR MY KIDS?

When an inn says kids are welcome, then you'd better believe they really mean they're kid friendly. Now there's nothing wrong with that (I have three myself), but don't expect too much piece and quiet and solitude.

You'll find a number of listings that put age restriction on children. For example they'll say something like: 12 or older, or above 6-years old. They're not being mean. It's just these places are also catering to a single or couple looking for a chance to unwind and free of noise and high activity. If you've got high-action kids then bed and breakfasts may not be ideal for your family.

WHAT SERVICE CAN I EXPECT?

Staying in inns is very different than staying at a hotel. You shouldn't expect a country inn to be like a Sheraton, with hordes of staff at your beck and call, and soundproof walls. Also, having a party and playing loud music after 11:00pm won't win you any brownie points with your host or the other guests.

Remember... the innkeeper or host is there to provide you, and other guests, with a unique experience in unique surroundings, but to do that they'll need your understanding.

WHAT’S THE USUAL CHECK-IN TIME?

Your host will go out of their way to greet you when you check-in. Usually when you reserve you’ll be told when their normal check-in period is. But most can accommodate you arrivals outside those hours.

But you need to let them know if you’ll be late so they can arrange for you to get into the house (yes, the doors are locked after a certain hour), and to your room. It’s one thing to show up at midnight at your hotel – they’re staffed round the clock - but it’s entirely another matter to roll-in after 11:00pm at an inn, and expect your host to get out of bed and greet you smiling.

CAN YOU NEGOTIATE PRICE?

You bet you can!

Just like hotels the room rate for inns is negotiable. The main difference is unlike a hotel, the person on the other end of a phone is usually the owner of the bed and breakfast, and they can make the decision on the spot. All you have to do is ask in a nice way.

Just remember the innkeeper may only have a few rooms to begin with anyway, and if your haggling over the last room then don't be offended if it’s no dice on a price reduction. But on the other hand one room of a four-room inn without a paying guest reduces a host's profit by 25%. So it's always worth asking for a reduction!

HOW MUCH CAN YOU REALLY SAVE?

Off-peak travel will save you a bundle.

Most inns can book their weekend's months in advance. But filling the rooms during the week, particularly off-season, is much more difficult. You'll get the best deals for bed and breakfasts traveling mid-week and out of season. Now contrast this with hotels that have the opposite problem, because they cater to the mid-week business traveler, but can't get people in rooms at the weekends.

I love staying in inns. They have a lot going for them. Inns are usually very affordable, offer tons more variety than a bland hotel roomArticle Search, and are a great way to meet fellow travelers or vacationers. You’ll find web sites devoted to inn and bed and breakfast listings now – so crank up Yahoo or Google and get searching… and saving!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of New-England-Vacations-Guide.com. This is adapted from a longer article on inns, and you can read the full article and get a free downloadable copy of his complete travel guide at http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com

Parkview Bed & Breakfast

This week I have a new renter on my blog. You can visit "Life My Way" by clicking on screenshot in right hand column. Bozette has a great blog, so stop by and visit her at "Life My Way". Since my renter is from Wisconsin, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about a Bed & Breakfast in that neck of the woods.

The Parkview Bed & Breakfast is located in Reedsburg, WI in the heart of the historic Park Street district. This Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1895 and features four guest rooms. The rates range from $75 - $98 per night according to their web site: Parkview Bed & Breakfast. There are activities near by such as biking trails, canoeing, state parks and of course a visit to one of the two cheese factories not far away.

If you know of other great Wisconin Bed & Breakfasts please leave a comment.

More Bed & Breakfast Tips

Here's a few more tips to make your Bed & Breakfast experience more enjoyable.

No Front Desk
Remember, unlike a hotel or motel, most Bed & Breakfasts do not have a front desk. In fact, there may be times when there isn't even anybody on-site to help you. So it's a good idea to let the inn-keeper know when you plan to arrive so they can be there to greet you and make you welcome.

Handicap Accessibility and Dietary Needs
Keep in mind that many Bed & Breakfasts are not handicap-accessible. Be sure to ask the inn-keeper about this if it is a concern. It's also a good idea to let them know about any special dietary needs you may have.

Not Very Many Rooms
Some Bed & Breakfasts may only have 3 or 4 rooms and often there is a shared bath. Don't forget to inquire about private baths if this is an issue for you. On the other hand, because there are just a few rooms that be to your advantage. Just think if an inn-keeper only has 4 rooms and there are three rooms empty when you call for a reservation, he may be in a negotiating mood; after all, 1 room equals 25% of their profit!

Get To Know Your Inn-Keeper
In my experience, all of the inn-keepers I have come across have been very friendly and helpful. They usually have a love of the area that they are located in and can be a wealth of information to you. Be sure to stay for 2 or 3 nights and you will have a chance to get to know your hosts and meet the other guests.

Please leave a comment and be sure to share your Bed & Breakfast stories with us. You can also send me an e-mail about your favorite Bed & Breakfast.

Valentine's Day is Almost Here

Do you need a fresh, new idea for a gift for Valentine's Day? Need to put some romance back in your relationship?

I posted about this before, but I'm sure some of you still haven't figured out what to do for Valentine's Day; so here it is again.

Instead of the usual dinner or box of chocalates try booking a romantic get-away at a Bed & Breakfast. No matter where you live, chances are you can find a quaint little Bed & Breakfast not far away. Use the directories in the right hand margin of this page to search in your area. Many of these Bed & Breakfasts will feature special Valentine's Day packages.

It works better if you keep this a secret and just wisk your partner away on Valentine's Day for a surprise. Of course you have to remember that this year the holiday falls in the middle of the week, so you may have to skip work for a day, but it shouldn't be too hard to convince you of that!

Most Bed & Breakfast owners are very friendly and willing to go the extra mile for you. When you are making the reservations, ask them about area restaurants or romantic things to do close by. They may even put flowers, champange or chocolate in the room for you too.

Most important of all is this. Remeber, Valentine's Day is all about the romance. Be sure to leave your laptop, pager, and cell phone at home!

Let me know if you try this and leave a comment here telling us all about it.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

#1 Two Years in a Row

So where is the best Bed & Breakfast? That's a matter of opinion and everyone has different tastes and expectations when it comes to Bed & Breakfasts, so it would be pretty hard to pick just one. However, The Woolverton Inn has been selected #1 overall Bed & Breakfast for two years in a row by BedandBreakfast.com.

Located in Stockton, New Jersey, The Woolverton Inn has 13-rooms and sits on 300 acres of secluded farmland and beautiful forests. It is just above the Delaware River and is only minutes from New Hope, Pennsylvania.

All of their rooms feature full country breakfast, afternoon refreshments and sweets, fresh flowers, featherbeds, central air-conditioning and much more!

Visit the Woolverton Inn website and check out what they have to offer.

Special Offers on Bed & Breakfasts

Are you looking for a special money saving offer for your next Bed & Breakfast experience? Here's a great link: BnB Finder Specials . Simply type in the kind of special offer you are searching for and the state and this search tool will give you a list to select from.

How about a "Murder Mystery" weekend? There are many Bed & Breakfasts that offer these.

Maybe you would like to stay in a Haunted Bed & Breakfast ? Well there is a list of those as well.

If you have had a great Bed & Breakfast experience, please share it here. Go ahead and leave a comment.

Bed and Breakfasts Links

Just a quick post to tell you about some other Bed and Breakfast sites you may find interesting.

Here is a link to bnbonline , this is a great website and they have a list of Bed and Breakfasts that are offering specials for Valentine's Day. You can select a state and view all the special packages.

OK...I know there are a lot of readers from the UK so here is a link for you. Bed and Breakfasts - UK . This site has a clickable map that you can search.

Here's one that includes the US and Canada. Better Bed and Breakfasts.

If any of you have had a great Bed and Breakfast experience please share it with us here by leaving a comment.

Romantic Valentine's Day Get- Away

Here's a GREAT idea if you can't think of a gift for Valentine's Day. Plan a romantic get-away to a cozy Bed and Breakfast. The good news is Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year; that means there will be less traffic as you drive and you may even get a bargain on the rates because it's not a weekend.

Many Bed & Breakfasts will offer special Valentine's Day packages which may include flowers and candy in the room or dinner for two at a local restaurant. Check with the Innkeeper and ask about specials; if they don't offer flowers and candy they will probably be happy to arrange it for you. Most Innkeepers I have met were all very helpful and happy to go the extra mile for their guests.

VERY IMPORTANT

In order to have the full effect...you need to plan this on your own and keep it a complete surprise until you arrive at your destination!

Also remember, most Bed & Breakfasts require a two-night stay for the best rates, so plan on taking a day or two off from work.

Remember, this is a ROMANTIC holiday...so leave your laptop at home and turn off your pager and cell phone. It's all about romance.

Try to arrange to do something completely new on this trip. Perhaps horseback riding, or a relaxing day at the spa together. Again, the Innkeeper should be able to suggest some things like this in the area.

Here is a Worldwide Directory of Bed & Breakfasts.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day; and if use this idea, be sure to come back and comment about it here.

Kitchen Fun with Donna & Friends

This may seem a little off topic for a Bed & Breakfast blog, but not really. Food goes hand in hand with Bed & Breakfasts and many B & Bs are know for their food and have their own cook books.

Here at Blog Explosion, we have a great feature where we can rent space on our blog for a week in return for credits.

This week I have a tenant that you simply must visit; Kitchen Fun with Donna & Friends. This is absolutely the sharpest design I have seen yet for a blog and it is full of wonderful recipes. Be sure to stop by and tell them that Mike sent you from Bed & Breakfast Experiences.

While you are there check out their recipes, I'm sure you can find something that you will want to try out. I saw a Coconut Cream Pie recipe there that I am dying to sample.

Click on the screen shot of Kitchen Fun in my right hand margin to visit their site. You will be glad that you did!

Money Saving Tips

Here are some good tips for saving money on your Bed & Breakfast Experiences.

1. Travel off-season : Go to the beach in the winter or a ski area in the summer. There are still many activities that you can enjoy and there will be no crowds and lower rates.
2. Take advantage of special rates: Many Bed & Breakfasts offer special rates for midweek stays or multiple nights.
3. Stay in a neighboring town: If you are going to a tourist attraction, don't stay in that town, look around in a neighboring town and the rates will be much less. It's worth making a short drive to save 10-50% on your Bed & Breakfast.
4. Plan Ahead: Don't wait till the last minute to make reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and stay fully booked.
   
5. Do the opposite: Remember the city B&Bs will be busiest during the week with business travelers and the country B&Bs are busiest on the weekends. So to avoid the crowds, stay in the country during the week and the city on the weekend.

I hope you find these tips useful, please mention this blog to your friends and if you know of a great Bed & Breakfast that you would like to see featured here, leave a comment or send me an email.

The Angel of the Sea

When I first started this blog it was my intention to write about the beautiful Bed & Breakfasts of North Carolina, since that is where I live. However, there are so many wonderful Bed & Breakfasts all around the world, I have found that I simply cannot limit my blog to only North Carolina.

The Angel of the Sea Bed & Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey with its ocean-view setting is a charming, award-winning Inn and one of the most recognized Victorian homes in the United States.

This Bed & Breakfast was recommended to me by one of my blog readers, Jillian. She said: "My husband and I have stayed there several times. It's wonderful! A beautiful, refurbished Victorian mansion with wrap-around decks overlooking the ocean.....high tea at 4:00 every day, wine and cheese at 6; yummy breakfast in the morning. It's been rated one of the top 3 B&Bs in the USA, and I know why!" Click Here to visit Jillian's blog.

Visit The Angel of the Sea Bed & Breakfast website and you will see the beauty of the rooms that await your stay. Be sure to call 4-6 months in advance because this Bed & Breakfast enjoys 100% occupancy most of the year.

If you know of a great Bed & Breakfast please leave a comment or send me an e-mail: cmmdtp@gmail.com .

Tips for Finding a Bed & Breakfast

Selecting a Bed & Breakfast to stay at is a little different than choosing a Hotel or Motel. Unlike the Hotel and Motel chains where every one is the same wherever you may go; each Bed & Breakfast is unique. A little pre-planning is necessary before heading off on vacation. Here are a few tips to help you with your Bed & Breakfast experience.

Bed & Breakfasts offer personalized services and home-like atmosphere but the amenities offered will vary from Inn to Inn. It is important to make a list of what is important to you and when you call for reservations be sure to ask questions.

• Call ahead for reservations. Most Bed & Breakfasts only have a few rooms and they fill up quickly.
• Be sure to ask if there is a private bath or if you will have to share a bathroom with other guests.
• Ask about smoking policies.
• Are the rooms airconditioned?
• Are children and/or pets allowed?
• Is breakfast included? What does the breakfast menu consist of?
• How far is it from local attractions?
• What is their policies on cancelations?
• Is dining available at the Bed & Breakfast for meals other than breakfast?

These are just a few of the questions you should keep in mind when planning your stay. Once you stay at a Bed & Breakfast, you will never want to go back to a Hotel or Motel again!

If you have other tips or would like to recommend a GREAT Bed & Breakfast please leave a comment.

The Biltmore House at Christmas

OK...so this isn't exactly a Bed & Breakfast, but it is so beautiful I just had to write about it. If you have never been to The Biltmore House before, you need to make plans to visit. One of the best times of the year to go there is at Christmas. There are candlelight tours from Nov. 4 - Dec. 31 which will take your breath away!

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Biltmore Estates is an amazing work of art. Built by George Vanderbilt over 100 years ago, it has acres of gardens, and managed forests.

There is much to do as you visit the vineyards, winery, farm village; or spend some time rafting, horse back riding, shopping or just enjoying the amazing architectural wonders. You can hike or bike as you enjoy the 8,000-acres that is The Biltmore Estate. Did I mention shopping? And don't worry, if you work up an appetite there are plenty of dining choices also; from a simple fresh-baked pastry or gormet ice cream to a full meal. There is even an Inn on the grounds.

If you can't make it in time for the Christmas tour...that's ok. No matter what time of year you visit The Biltmore House you are in for a special treat. There are rose gardens, and azaleas, shrub gardens and much more. Visit The Biltmore House Website for a calendar of events.

Breathtaking beauty is the best way to describe the 250 rooms and 65 fireplaces that make up the Biltmore House. An indoor pool and bowling alley are all part of the wonderful estate. There are pricless works of arts and antiques everywhere you look. America's largest home should be a must see as you plan your next vacation.

The Inn at Ragged Gardens

Here is another great Bed & Breakfast to stay at in the mountains of North Carolina. The Inn at Ragged Gardens is a warm, antique-filled, beautiful place to visit. The Hyatt family has restored this turn-of-the-century home in downtown Blowing Rock and your stay there will be memorable.

Every time we have tried to stay there it has been completely booked. So make your reservations well in advance. Some good friends of ours have stayed there and told us that they really loved it. We have taken a tour of the rooms and hopefully will get to stay there on our next trip to Blowing Rock. You can get a nice look at this lovely Bed & Breakfast on their website: The Inn at Ragged Gardens .

This charming Inn sits on an acre of enchanting gardens and their gourmet breakfast includes the use of herbs and flowers organically grown in their own gardens.

To find more information about Blowing Rock visit their website: Information on Blowing Rock, NC . If you know of a great Bed & Breakfast please share it and leave a comment.

Another Great Bed & Breakfast

Here is another great Bed & Breakfast located right on the waterfront in Manteo, North Carolina. The Tranquil House Inn is our favorite place to stay when we go to the Outer Banks. It's not far from Nagshead, and it is home of the 1587 Restaurant, with world-class chefs! What a wonderful dining experience, the food there is outstanding!

We have stayed there a couple of different times and really enjoyed it. My favorite thing about The Tranquil House Inn is the wine and cheese they serve in the afternoon on the back porch overlooking the water. It is so peaceful and refreshing to sit there and chat with the other guests as you nibble on cheese and drink some good wine.

Here is the link to their website: The Tranquil House Inn.

Manteo is a quaint little town and a great place for a walking tour and it's just a short ride to Nagshead, Kitty Hawk and other tourist attractions.

While you are there be sure to check out The Lost Colony, a musical theater under the stars, about the first English Colony here in NC that vanished without a trace! Here is website for The Lost Colony.

If you have a favorite Bed & Breakfast please leave a comment.

More About Bed & Breakfasts

Here is some more information about Bed & Breakfasts. This will be a continuing series of posts about the Bed & Breakfast Experience. Here are a few useful links:

Click Here to Locate a Bed & Breakfast - Directory for U.S. and Canada

10 Tips for First Time for First Time Bed & Breakfast Guests - Tips

Directory of World Wide Bed & Breakfasts - World Wide Directory

What every good Bed & Breakfast host should offer:

• Friendly service and a great breakfast
• Tips on where to go in the area to sightsee or to get a good meal
• Historical information about the Inn or the surrounding area
• Some hosts offer recipes they use in the Inn
• A list of area churches and service times
  
• Good conversation

We stayed at a The Inn On Main Street several years ago in Weaverville, North Carolina and without fail every year we get a friendly email from the owner thanking us for staying there and inviting us to come and visit again. That's a real nice touch.

Our stay there was wonderful. The Inn Keepers, Nancy and Dan, came out to great us as we arrived and were very warm and friendly. They showed us around their Bed & Breakfast and were very good hosts. We asked them where a good place to eat dinner was and they gave us several choices.

The Inn On Main Street was just a 15 minute drive away from The Biltmore House where we planned to visit the following day. Nancy and Dan told us the best way to go and also had some brochures available for us. After a day of walking around The Biltmore Estate and the streets of Asheville, it was great to come back to the quaint town of Weaverville and relax on the porch with the other guests at The Inn On Main Street.

The next morning we had a wonderful home cooked breakfast of frittatas, made-from-scratch muffins and fruit. We really didn't want to leave this wonderful place, but our weekend was over and we had to return to reality. We look forward to returning there again for another relaxing weekend sometime soon.

The Bed & Breakfast Experience

The next time you are traveling, instead of the same old boring hotel or motel room, treat yourself to The Bed & Breakfast Experience. You will love it! My wife and I always stay at a Bed & Breakfast rather than a Hotel or Motel; it is a world of difference and a refreshing experience.

Pictured here is "The Inn On Main Street " in Weaverville, NC. We stayed there when we went to visit The Biltmore House, just a short drive from this wonderful Bed & Breakfast. (Coming soon a review of our stay there.)

What is a Bed & Breakfast?

Typically, a Bed & Breakfast is a privately owned home, which offers a place to stay for the night and a home-cooked breakfast in the morning. Thus the term, Bed & Breakfast. Usually the homes are older, historic homes and may only have 3 or 4 rooms available. Sometimes family members or other guests share the bathroom; however, many of the newer ones have private bathrooms now.

Bed & Breakfasts are usually very quiet and many will not accommodate children under 12, so if you have young children this may not be for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a nice romantic getaway...leave the kids at home and enjoy!

If it's a romantic inn that you are looking for go to: I Love Inns for a list of the top ten romantic Bed & Breakfasts in 2005.

Bed & Breakfasts have been around just about forever. Monasteries used to serve as Bed & Breakfasts and some still do. People in Europe and England have been staying at Bed & Breakfasts for centuries. Here in the United States, we can trace the Bed & Breakdfasts back to the days of Pioneers. Then during the Great Depression many families opened up their homes as "Boarding Houses" to earn extra money.

After Hotel and Motel chains starting popping up everywhere, the Bed & Breakfast kind of faded away. If you know where to look, you can still find a great Bed & Breakfast just about anywhere you plan to go, here or abroad! Once you have experienced the home-cooked breakfast and genuine hsopitality of the inn-keepers in a quaint little Bed & Breakfast, you will never want to stat at a Hotel or Motel Again!

Coming soon: Our favorite North Carolina Bed & Breakfasts

If you know of a great Bed & Breakfast, please leave a comment and share it with us.