OldGuyTraveler

I will be traveling from the US to Mid-England in July and want to experience B&B lodging. Most of the small B&B's do not take credit/debit cards (which I can understand). This is not a problem once I am in England as I will just withdraw cash from an ATM. The problem is how to give them a deposit to hold the room. Any suggestions?

jamikins

I have found the wisest thing to do is ask the b&b for options. Many will take debit and credit cards, and the ones that don't should have options for you to get the deposit to them.

jamikins

Haha sorry, should say easiest thing to do, not wisest but my iPad autocorrected a spelling mistake!

annhig

oldguy - Inns and B&Bs are rather different, though confusingly many inns or pubs do offer B&B.

the vast majority of inns/pubs will take debit/credit cards, and some are very nice places to stay. however if your taste tends more to the traditional B&B, asking the ones you like for what they suggest is the best option, as jamikins suggests.

MmePerdu

Oldguy, after many trips to the UK, often walking and staying at small B&B's in the countryside I don't recall ever being denied a reservation because of lack of a deposit. When they ask for a check I reply that I'm coming from the US and they invariably say, in that case, we understand and will hold the room for you. I follow up with a call a day or 2 prior which they appreciate. I'll go further and say if they don't take credit cards or accept a reservation with a credit card in lieu of a deposit and also won't hold the room considering the distance you're coming then it likely isn't a place you want to stay. A bit of trust goes a long way, in both directions.

nytraveler

Yes - typically inns and B&Bs are differnt.

An inn is usually much larger, operated professionally and will almost certainly take credit cards. Usually has attached restaurant and bar/pub.

Many B&Bs are very small - often only 3 or 4 rooms - and usually family run and offer only breakfast - and very often located out in the country or suburban areas rather than in town centers.

What we have in the US are primarily inns - with not much in the way of B&Bs - usually do to laws required for renting out any sort of rooms commercially.

janisj

I've only once (in over 70 b&b stays in the UK) ever had a deposit required. And that was a special case during a popular festival.

annhig

nyt - there are lots of pubs in the UK which just have a few rooms, so in that way are a bit of a cross between the two.

flanneruk

Have you actually had any difficulty getting bookings accepted, or are you just assuming you might?

If a B&B needs a deposit, it'll virtually always take credit cards. If it doesn't take cards (and that's widespread) I've never found one that asked for a deposit.

Obviously these days, a B&B could in theory ask for an electronic deposit payment. But, FWIW, I've never found one doing so.

"Inn" in English is just an archaic (and never used by real people) word for a pub, and has nothing to do with hotels: no idea if it's got some other odd meaning in obscure dialects. All pubs doing B&B take cards.

nytraveler

Inn is an american usage - but it usually refers to a small hotel (run either by family or professionally) but they usually are larger - at least 15 or 20 rooms and generally serve dinner as well as breakfast - and are very often upscale/expensive - vs B&Bs - basic and cheap.

janisj

Nytraveler: that is the problem w/ all of us living in different regions/states/countries. In other parts of the States a B&B would most definitely not be down market/cheap. On the CA coast for example the typical B&B would be the most expensive accommodations other than perhaps a 5* Four Seasons-resort.