"Who can resist the intimate appeal of being a pampered guest in someone's home?" - OR - "Who in their riht mind would pay the the "intimacy" of boarding with strangers?"

If you've ever stayed in a B&B, you are sure to identify one way or the other and thoroughly enjoy very funny article exploring opposite polar opinions of what could be the same place. Published in Dallas Morning News Travel Section on Sunday, November 24, 2002. See archives of DMN. Well worth the trouble. Let me know if you read it.

I'm a hate'em guy. It's hard enough to have adequate sanitation with so-called "professional" food service workers in restaurants. There's nothing worse than risking a vacation eating at someone's house who has no clue about food handling.

The worst one I call "Winnie" from "Winnie the Pooh." As we spoke one breakfast she took the spoon from the breakfast honey pot and put it in her mouth. No big deal, I like to lick the honey spoon myself. But then she went back for more, twice. Yuck!

This stupid thread topic tends to show up again too often. Give it a rest. Love 'em? Stay at 'em! Don't like them? Don't stay!

Hey KK..I think you forgot the third K on your name. Nice attitude. Btw I'm a leave 'em guy. Give me a big bathroom and cable,I'm fine.

I am uncomfortable in even a relative or friend's house. I wake up early and keep thinking, "should I get up" "do I hear someone"? So if I'm not comfortable in a friend's house, why would I be comfortable in a total stranger's house?
On the other hand I love small inns -- so long as it isn't actually someone's home. Then I can feel like a paying guest, not just an overnight intruder who is paying for the privelege of interupting their routine.

I agree with Patrick in that I prefer smallish inns (or smallish boutique hotels), both to escape the cloying intimacy of tiny B&B's and the cold clamor of big chain hotels. I also like room service!

I also say LEAVE EM!
I like to remain more anonymous. I don't like people knowing when I am coming or going. I like to sleep late and eat breakfast at noon. Served in bed, of course. I don't like to chit chat with strangers. To me, there is no appeal to staying in a bed and breakfast.