Newfoundland B & B Policy
 

Perhaps some readers would be kind enough to submit an opinion on a policy I encountered during a recent visit. My wife & I recently returned from our fourth extended visit to Newfoundland & Labrador. We stayed one night at a B&B which required guests to remove their shoes upon checking in. This was the first time I had been required to do this and felt that it was a bit of an imposition and was a hassle going to and from our car for luggage. This was not a private home, rather six units on one level much like a small motel except that breakfast was served. When questioning the owner I was advised that this policy is widespread in Nefoundland B&Bs and that I should be sensitive to cultural differences.
Have others found this to be the case?

As a frequent bandb vsitor,I've found this to be the case in a number of ocassions, not limited to Newfoundland. In each instance, the warmth and hospitality of the hosts more than made up for the inconvenience. I believe that staying in someone's home requires a different level of mutual consideration than at a generic hotel/motel.

The term bandb is broadly defined; if where you stayed was a motel "in disguise", with little personal interaction between you, the hosts and other guests, I guess I'd be a bit put out.

I have stayed a more than a few B&Bs, including ones in Newfoundland, and have never heard of a no shoes policy.

I have stayed at B&B's where there is a no shoe policy and quite understood it.
I'm used to always taking off my shoes when entering someone's home, so I didn't think twice about it. It made me realize that they cared about keeping their places nice.
If it was a motel type place, then no, I would not understand it.

Perhaps it's a regional thing, but people always take their shoes off in my neck of the woods in Canada. (ONtario, not Newfoundland.)

Dear George, The policy represents a cultural thing in Newfoundland as people entering your home would remove their shoes so should you its just a question of repecting your hosts. I have asked around from old school newfoundlanders and this is the answer i had recieved, basically the place you were staying is home . hope this helps

I have encountered this policy in B&Bs in Hawaii and Britain. Does not bother me at all and keeps the place cleaner.