How Do You Really Feel about B&Bs?
May 30th, 2008, 07:39 AM
#21
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I was a fan of B&B's until our 25th wedding anniversary: let me share the moment when the tide turned.
We had been taken out by old pals for the evening (dinner and a visit to the theatre to see Bob Newhart) DH and I returned to our very elegant, romantic, jacuzzi-en-suite, 4-poster bed B&B about 11pm.
Drats, the hosts had waited up for us. Good news, they had (kindly, we thought, knowing it was an occasion for us) put champagne on ice. It appeared they had started before us as there was evidence of empty wine glasses and they seemed to be, well, 'overly-refreshed'. They also looked to be in their night-clothes already, but dressing gowns are fine: its their house, right?
However, after opening the bottle and pouring generously, they just hung around and hung around...it got more and more creepy. Until finally, they made their move/suggestion: lets take this party somewhere more comfortable...
Yes, our hosts were leftovers from the 70's: good old-fashioned, slightly over-the-hill swingers.
Luckily, they didn't push it and were quite polite about our rejection (and firm locking of the door of our room when we did finally escape).
But the weirdest thing was their presence the next day at breakfast...all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, chatty and relaxed. And their 20'ish son was present too.
No, we do't care for B&B's...
We had been taken out by old pals for the evening (dinner and a visit to the theatre to see Bob Newhart) DH and I returned to our very elegant, romantic, jacuzzi-en-suite, 4-poster bed B&B about 11pm.
Drats, the hosts had waited up for us. Good news, they had (kindly, we thought, knowing it was an occasion for us) put champagne on ice. It appeared they had started before us as there was evidence of empty wine glasses and they seemed to be, well, 'overly-refreshed'. They also looked to be in their night-clothes already, but dressing gowns are fine: its their house, right?
However, after opening the bottle and pouring generously, they just hung around and hung around...it got more and more creepy. Until finally, they made their move/suggestion: lets take this party somewhere more comfortable...
Yes, our hosts were leftovers from the 70's: good old-fashioned, slightly over-the-hill swingers.
Luckily, they didn't push it and were quite polite about our rejection (and firm locking of the door of our room when we did finally escape).
But the weirdest thing was their presence the next day at breakfast...all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, chatty and relaxed. And their 20'ish son was present too.
No, we do't care for B&B's...
May 30th, 2008, 07:52 AM
#22
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This whole thread pleases me -- because I thought it was only me that didn't like B&Bs (whether a bedroom in someone's house or a house where all the rooms are rented out). Give me the anonymity of a hotel,a super-comfortable bed, and preferably with a coffee bar in the lobby where I can sit and read the morning paper in peace!
May 30th, 2008, 08:10 AM
#25
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Patrick, thanks for the info on the Moffat, I will try it. I do agree that B&Bs are differant than Inns. I refuse to stay in place with less than 6 rooms, otherwisw it feels like a staying in a strangers home. Some of the pics, I have looked at, look like homes in the suburbs around here...not my cup of tea. Anonymous, I have also liked the B&Bs in Europe esp Ireland and Wales and Scotland. Never had a communal table there. I just CAN NOT do a communal table for brkfst...I have bad hair, bad breath and usually a bad attitude(after a night of too much fun). LJ, that is a very creepy story, yikes!!!! LOL persimmondeb, that is so funny about looking longingly at the Hampton Inn 
.
.
May 30th, 2008, 08:13 AM
#26
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LJ, loved that story, we once stayed at a B&B where the owner walked around w/an oxygen tank, breakfast was frozen Pepperidge Farm croissants.
That being said, we also have a love/hate thing going. Have stayed at some really charming great ones and some creepy ones.
If there's a hotel in the area, I do prefer that, but sometimes when you stay in small towns, that's the only choice (Washington, Virginia comes to mind)
That being said, we also have a love/hate thing going. Have stayed at some really charming great ones and some creepy ones.
If there's a hotel in the area, I do prefer that, but sometimes when you stay in small towns, that's the only choice (Washington, Virginia comes to mind)
May 30th, 2008, 08:18 AM
#28
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When says the want to open a B & B I tell them:
Invite over the most annoying relatives you have for a week and cook and clean for them and tend to their every need. You must be perky and cheery in the morning and dicuss whateve they want to dicuss, and suffer all their indignities.
If at the end of that week you enjoyed yourself, then by all means open a B & B.
Invite over the most annoying relatives you have for a week and cook and clean for them and tend to their every need. You must be perky and cheery in the morning and dicuss whateve they want to dicuss, and suffer all their indignities.
If at the end of that week you enjoyed yourself, then by all means open a B & B.
May 30th, 2008, 08:20 AM
#29
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My sister-in-law always talks about opening a B&B. I think she pictures herself being a charming hostess in a cute little apron and baking nice muffins for breakfast. And that's about it, in her mind. 
May 30th, 2008, 09:01 AM
#30
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Oh, yea. I guess I didn't realize that some might misconstrue my recommendation for the Moffat Inn as being a B&B. It's clearly what I'd call an inn, yet some here in the past have talked about even larger operations being B&B's.
May 30th, 2008, 09:38 AM
#32
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I may be bashed, but I LOVE B&Bs and have stayed at numerous ones all around the country. When I'm traveling w/ my boys, they much prefer fancy resorts or at least hotels; although they have stayed at B&Bs w/ me. Their comments are usually, "Are we staying in our kind of place or your kind of place?" Over the years, unless I can find a cabin somewhere, we are usually in a hotel at least w/ them.
However, when I'm traveling solo, I always prefer a B&B, but I agree it may be an acquired taste. Breakfast is my social time plus I feel someone may notice if I'm not around more than a hotel. I love the hx and quirks of old houses, and owners of B&Bs are usually charming and interesting, a great resource of information, but agree they must be a particular kind of person. I'm a morning person so I'm one of the bright eyed people who want a communal table and want to talk to all the guests. I may spend 2 hrs drinking coffee and meeting new people - must be most of your worst nightmares (or morningmares!). I have learned what I prefer in B&Bs - 3+ rms but over 12 too many, communal tables, full breakfasts, front porch, and anything else is a special treat. All experiences haven't been great such as the host who talked ALL through breakfast about herself, rms w/ broken or poor AC and the hosts don't seem to care, the wrong reservation dates in GA, missed most of breakfast in AK due to early ferry, charging for my boys even when the rm slept 4-6 in UT, and wasps in VA - but they were friendly! I'm scheduled for B&Bs in SD, WY, and MT this summer so you may be safe from me!
It takes all kinds and I'll stay in the B&Bs and leave the hotels to most of you!
However, when I'm traveling solo, I always prefer a B&B, but I agree it may be an acquired taste. Breakfast is my social time plus I feel someone may notice if I'm not around more than a hotel. I love the hx and quirks of old houses, and owners of B&Bs are usually charming and interesting, a great resource of information, but agree they must be a particular kind of person. I'm a morning person so I'm one of the bright eyed people who want a communal table and want to talk to all the guests. I may spend 2 hrs drinking coffee and meeting new people - must be most of your worst nightmares (or morningmares!). I have learned what I prefer in B&Bs - 3+ rms but over 12 too many, communal tables, full breakfasts, front porch, and anything else is a special treat. All experiences haven't been great such as the host who talked ALL through breakfast about herself, rms w/ broken or poor AC and the hosts don't seem to care, the wrong reservation dates in GA, missed most of breakfast in AK due to early ferry, charging for my boys even when the rm slept 4-6 in UT, and wasps in VA - but they were friendly! I'm scheduled for B&Bs in SD, WY, and MT this summer so you may be safe from me!
It takes all kinds and I'll stay in the B&Bs and leave the hotels to most of you!
May 30th, 2008, 09:38 AM
#33
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Talked to DH, showed him the Colonel Butler Inn (BW) and he thinks it looks perfectly fine for what we need. It has 26 rooms, and to all intents and purposes, is a TRUE Inn IMO. It is about a 15 minute walk to Queen street. A little walk is good for us, yes? One of the B&Bs I looked at, was Simcoe manor, gorgeous.
May 30th, 2008, 09:53 AM
#34
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Capecodshanty and highflyer are correct. I have been at many different types of B&B', and only 2 out of the 7 I've stayed at are like the type you think of. Some are more like small inns, or have apartment type rooms with separate entrances or cottages. Out of the two traditional ones I mentioned, at one we had a separate entrance 2 bedroom apartment while the other four rooms were in the main house with the communal table. Oh and I forgot, on Maui we had a large unit with a kitchenette and dining table. While the rest of the rooms shared the communal areas. Though for all of us, there were breakfast fixings in the kitchen with no formal breakfast.
May 30th, 2008, 10:04 AM
#35
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I am in the group who has never stayed in one and am at this point not really interested. Most of our travel is with our kids (from birth to now almost adult) or for business - and they don't work well for either.
Call me strange, but I like the anonimity of large, even chain hotels. I do not want to make friends with the housekeeping staff, desk clerk or wait staff. I want everything to work - but I want it to be accomplished by invisible people.
On the other hand, I do like to meet people on vacation and have engaged in some wonderful conversations with locals in their businesses when business is very slow - and I suspect I would like meeting other travelers at a B&B. Perhaps as DH and I enter a new phase in our travels - without kids - we will try one, but only with a recommendation from a friend or here.
Call me strange, but I like the anonimity of large, even chain hotels. I do not want to make friends with the housekeeping staff, desk clerk or wait staff. I want everything to work - but I want it to be accomplished by invisible people.
On the other hand, I do like to meet people on vacation and have engaged in some wonderful conversations with locals in their businesses when business is very slow - and I suspect I would like meeting other travelers at a B&B. Perhaps as DH and I enter a new phase in our travels - without kids - we will try one, but only with a recommendation from a friend or here.
May 30th, 2008, 10:12 AM
#36
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gail said Call me strange, but I like the anonimity of large, even chain hotels. I do not want to make friends with the housekeeping staff, desk clerk or wait staff. I want everything to work - but I want it to be accomplished by invisible people.
LOL call me strange too!
LOL call me strange too!
May 30th, 2008, 10:15 AM
#37
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On the other hand, I do like to meet people on vacation and have engaged in some wonderful conversations with locals in their businesses when business is very slow - and I suspect I would like meeting other travelers at a B&B.
You don't have to stay at a B&B for that! We've met very interesting people lots of places - sharing a table at Katz' Deli in NY, sitting on a park bench, on a hike in Sedona --- and I still get to go "home" to my private anonymous accommodations
You don't have to stay at a B&B for that! We've met very interesting people lots of places - sharing a table at Katz' Deli in NY, sitting on a park bench, on a hike in Sedona --- and I still get to go "home" to my private anonymous accommodations
May 30th, 2008, 10:19 AM
#38
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I'm reminded of the only time we stayed in a really small B&B and the young couple (honeymooners?) pounded the mattress and the headboard against the wall half the night. At breakfast they looked amazingly frazzled but quite happy. It was hard to look them in the face, yet alone strike up a conversation. What should we say, "sleep well?" Sorry, the whole small B&B idea is much too up close and personal for me!
May 30th, 2008, 10:38 AM
#39
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You are all making me remember yet another fuzzy line between inn and B&B.....we were in St Ives England and a husband/wife team were the on-site owners as well as the main staff of the inn. Well, it was somewhat smaller but otherwise *exactly* like Fawlty Towers, right down to an old WWII veteran (very much like the colonel character on the show) who rambled on in the evening about how awful the French and Germans were!
Meanwhile the owner/wife was gracious and clearly into the whole thing and the husband--like Basil Fawlty--clearly considered the whole gig to be a real drag. He had to function as bartneder of the small bar that was set up in the brkfst room/lounge and he was certainly hospitality challenged. Except for his obvious distress at his lot in life, his thinly veiled hostility was downright laughable! We (DH, college-aged son, who was also familiar with the show and I) had a hard time keeping straight faces upon finding ourselves in such a life-imitating-art setting.
They did, however, just as in Fawlty Towers, have separate tables for brkfst, which for me is still the main thing that makes or breaks the B&B experience.
Meanwhile the owner/wife was gracious and clearly into the whole thing and the husband--like Basil Fawlty--clearly considered the whole gig to be a real drag. He had to function as bartneder of the small bar that was set up in the brkfst room/lounge and he was certainly hospitality challenged. Except for his obvious distress at his lot in life, his thinly veiled hostility was downright laughable! We (DH, college-aged son, who was also familiar with the show and I) had a hard time keeping straight faces upon finding ourselves in such a life-imitating-art setting.
They did, however, just as in Fawlty Towers, have separate tables for brkfst, which for me is still the main thing that makes or breaks the B&B experience.
May 30th, 2008, 10:49 AM
#40
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I like B&Bs and inns for the most part. I don't generally chat up the hosts or other guests, but I am polite and slightly sociable. I am not as much in need as the anonymity as other people seem to be.
I love old homes and buildings and find that the chintz and floral stuff is only common in some areas. I also get darned tired of chain hotels - travelling for work, too often I wake up and have to remember where the heck I am because every Marriott Courtyard looks the same - LOL. So, when on vacation, I like something unique.
I love old homes and buildings and find that the chintz and floral stuff is only common in some areas. I also get darned tired of chain hotels - travelling for work, too often I wake up and have to remember where the heck I am because every Marriott Courtyard looks the same - LOL. So, when on vacation, I like something unique.
