What's the atrraction about B&B's?
 

I've only stayed at a B&B one time and it was a horrible experience. I keep reading on this board people's love of B&B's and I have to ask Why? <BR> <BR>In my experience, the prices were not cheaper, the accomadations worse, and I had to be nice to strangers. <BR> <BR>We decided to stay at a "historic" home in a major north American city during our summer visit. The first floor of the home was the public space, the second floor for the owners (and their young baby who cried during the night) and the third floor servant quarters were for the guests. The room was obviously a storage place for the owners and we slept on a futon amid boxes of junk and a Frampton '77 poster on the wall. The other two rooms up there looked the same. Three rooms (six people) sharing one bathroom. Since it was a "historic" property, it didn't have air conditioning (owners had a window unit in their bedroom) or tv or phone in the room. Breakfast was standard stuff, nothing fancy. <BR> <BR>We left after one night for a real motel with airconditioning, telephones, and no screaming babies. I know it's not the babies fault, but we should have been forewarned about the baby. Never have any desire to return after the experience over 10 years ago. <BR> <BR>Yet others love the B&B experience. I know I shouldn't let one bad experience color a whole industry, but I have.

I'd buckle your seatbelt if I were you. You're about to get toasted!!

Icompletely agree- a b& b can be the worst or best experience in the world. <BR>The worst is when you are just a paying guest in someones home with very little amenities. I too hate to share a house with a family at a price. It is uncomfortable and is never worth the price. I have had a couple of bad experiences and have learned from them. <BR> <BR>Here is what I learned - <BR>Make sure you get a good recommendation - this site is the best. <BR>Make sure you have a private entrance and exit. <BR>Best of all possible - owners live off site. <BR> <BR>The reason I prefer b & bs to hotels is you can get more of a feel for the area you travel. The major reason is I cannot stand the smells in hotels and the closed in feeling (In 99% you cannot open a window). <BR> <BR>I think the best alternative are inns - mini hotels with the best of both worlds. examples - Bradford Inn in Branson, Woodstock/Kendron Inns in Vermont, Pleasant Hill in Marblehead, Baker/Doolittle House in Washington, D.C, etc.

Hi mmm: <BR>I agree that it can be great or horrible. The best advice I can give is to research everything and when your done do it again to be sure you did not miss anything. Shared bathrooms are not for everyone. En Suite is what you look for. Historic means no upgrades can be made hence a shared bathroom. <BR>I B&B'd my way through New England and it was wonderful!! Plenty of time and research went into it. <BR>I also like that there in an innkeeper on the premises, not a whole family. Being nice to strangers on my vacation is something I do like to do. Perhaps your bad experience made you feel that way. Breakfast shared with folks I will never see again is part if the charm of B & Bs. I have not met a stranger at breakfast whose company I dide mot enjoy!

<BR>Sorry my fingers slipped.... <BR>Make that company I did not enjoy!

Sounds like you had a bad experience; maybe you should try again? When they are good, B&Bs are one-of-a-kind properties with one-of-a-kind rooms, each decorated with a loving and discerning hand. The food can be wonderful, certainly a cut above the standard motel "continental breakfast." Fresh fruit salad, home-baked pastries and muffins, fresh-squeezed OJ, gourmet coffee. <BR> <BR>There was a B&B my husband and I frequented on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where we traveled frequently over a 2-3 year period of time. After a few visits, the owners got to know us and our preferences, and that personal touch made it all the more pleasant.

Hi mmm, <BR> <BR>I agree with the Julie and Annie. Your experience is a shame. I have never had such accomodations at a B&B. We do enjoy an occasional B&B stay depending on circumstances. We always check everything out ahead of time my advice would be to make certain of the following: <BR> <BR>

MMM, if you stayed at a bad hotel would you never stay at a hotel again? Of course not. Your comments based on ONE experience are just plain silly. I've stayed in B&Bs I enjoyed and some where I wouldn't return; however, that's the same as the many hotels I've visited.

I don't think B&Bs are for everyone, and I own one! If you are expecting full business services or a restaurant on site, you should probably opt for a hotel since it would better fit your needs. But if you want that "home away from home" experience, a B&B may be for you. <BR> <BR>I take great pride in my place and try very hard to stay up-to-date on restaurants, attractions, happenings, etc. I want our guests to think it was the best vacation or business trip they ever had. Since our guests come back again and again, maybe we're succeeding. (Our prices are not cheaper than some hotels but I do think our accommodations are as nice or better and we've upgraded to include internet connections, in-room phones, expanded cable, etc.) <BR> <BR>As for having to be nice to strangers, what's wrong with that? That's what I LOVE about the business. (If you're not a morning person, B&Bs can be challenging!) In short, mmm, I'm very sorry you had a bad time. I hope you'll give B&Bs another chance. <BR> <BR>One other note: "historic" doesn't mean shared bath in all situations. My "historic" (late 1800s) home has private baths in each guest room...probably just depends on city codes and whether or not the owners can or choose to renovate. <BR> <BR>ps - that room mmm described doesn't sound very great, does it? Luckily, I don't think it's typical. <BR> <BR>

Part of the key here is M's single visit "10 years ago." I think bed and breakfasts have exploded during that time and most are really nice.

I have never been a fan of B&B's either. Look at it this way. I have many good friends scattered around the country and like to visit them. But rarely do I stay with them, even though some try to insist on it. I am simply not comfortable in another person's house. I don't like to feel that I'm intruding, making no noise at night, trying to slip into the bathroom in the middle of the night, should I flush the toilet and wake people up? I smell the coffee and feel obligated to get up for breakfast instead of waiting till I feel like getting up. I could go on. If I'm not comfortable in a good friend's house, how could I be comfortable in a total stranger's house? <BR>That's how I see a true B&B, staying in someone else's home. Now a small inn-- hopefully at least 10 or 12 rooms with a regular staff or innkeeper, that's another story. They can be great.

I've truly enjoyed most of the B&Bs I've stayed in. All have been very comfortable, and I enjoy the breakfast chat in the morning, the tea or wine usually offered in the late afternoon, and the host's personal knowledge about the area. I don't stay anywhere without a private bath, and have learned to ask about air-conditioning, but when I shut the door on my room I feel very private, and not like I'm intruding into someone's house. The last one we stayed in, a farmhouse in Illinois Amish country, had beautiful gardens, a pool, and our room included a king-sized fourposter bed, a fireplace and hot tub, a VCR, and was beautifully decorated. Breakfast was to order, at the hour we requested, and the bill ($110!) was left in our room in a beautiful card. <BR> <BR>We stayed in our first B&B 15+ years ago, and it was sort of creepy--lumpy bed, USED SOAP--but we started trying them again a few years ago and now would never stay anywhere else in many types of locations.

mmmmmm: I have to totally agree with you. I have stayed at several B&B's, all came highly recommended, and they are not for me. I don't like feeling like I am staying in someone else's home. Give me a resort experience over a B&B any day of the week!

Let me clarify "be nice to strangers." I'm not the idle chit-chat type of person. I would rather have a deeper conversation about clouds, Bermuda high's and Nor'easters than the general "how's the weather" forced pleasantries. I'm not a morning person either. I guess the feeling I got out of the experience was like staying with my great-aunt. <BR> <BR>At the time my then boyfriend and I were 24 and never taken a vacation without family. We were shocking everyone by traveling together without the bonds of marriage. Let's face it, we were a couple of dumb kids but we did salvage a good time from it, though the relationship did end a year or so later. <BR> <BR>Now that I'm a bit older and have just a little bit more money, I would like to try something fancy. The suggestion of a mini-inn was wonderful. <BR> <BR>Thanks helping me understand the "why" to staying at a B&B.

I'm with you mmm. We had our first and last B&B experiences just a few years ago. Here's a tale from the BEST one that we experienced (it went downhill from there at the other B&Bs): <BR> <BR>The first place was in a beautiful part of town, old historic home, nicely refurished by two couples who lived in houses behind the B&B. We felt obligated to join the social chat with the owners and other guests in the living room before going out for the evening, and discovered that the owners were using that opportunity to promote the restaurants and businesses of their chamber of commerce friends. We had already chosen an inexpensive pizza place and planned to visit a planetarium for the evening (inexpensive yet interesting to us) and when they asked about our plans and we mentioned them, they tried their best to steer us to the businesses they were recommending, even handing us flyers and brochures. Just a big sales pitch. <BR> <BR>The owners then asked all the guests what time they would like breakfast the next morning, and everyone (except us) chose 7 am! Not exactly my idea of a vacation schedule. I for one do not enjoy being up early, dressed, sleepy, sitting at a dining table and being served a huge indigestible meal while expected to make small talk with strangers. Of course, we finished with breakfast by 8:00 and nothing opened until 10:00, so had two hours of down time. Great. <BR> <BR>The last straw came during the final evening, when we discovered that we were the only guests in the B&B (it was mid-November)and we decided to use the billiard table in the game room, which the hosts had offered for guest use. We played until 10:30 pm, even thought the "official" quiet time was 10:00 (another irritant) because we knew the hosts were at their homes and there was no one else on the premises. The next morning the hosts made sure to tell us that they heard us playing billiards well past 10:00 pm, as if they were scolding camp counselors and we were bratty campers who had broken curfew! <BR> <BR>And just to get this off my chest as well, at the second B&B one of our fellow guests was a well-known photographer who was selling her books as she traveled. She and the B&B owner spent the entire breakfast time promoting her books, then merely asked us what we would like her to write on the inscription when she signed her book for us, which she expected us to purchase, of course. A hard sell at the breakfast table. And of course, the B&B owner also made sure to promote all of her friends' local businesses as well. We were staying in an area of spectacular natural beauty and had no intention whatsoever of spending our time shopping, but this owner was relentless in her promotion. I absolutely fumed at paying money to be a "captive customer" yet again. <BR> <BR>My accommodation dollars will be spent where I can receive privacy and be on my own schedule, and not be subjected to sales pitches or scoldings. And mmm is right about the price, B&Bs are just as, if not more, expensive than hotel rooms. It seems they best serve those who own them and those who have something to sell to unsuspecting guests.

Ricki, sounds like you went to the Used Car Lot of B&Bs! My experiences have been the opposite. <BR> <BR>By the way, if you want "promoters" talk to your local hotel concierge. I know many in our city they ONLY recommend the restaurants that pay commissions and/or provide freebies. Ditto for just about every hotel employee.

We have stayed at number of B&B's and have really enjoyed all of them. I think the trick is to really to some homework before deciding. We have never stayed in a B&B that we had to share a bathroom at - an I don't think I would like that. Also, We have only stayed at B&B's that have extensive web pages that let you carefully look at the rooms of the B&B - especially the one we plan to rent. IMHO I think a little larger (8 or more rooms) B&B makes me feel more comfortable. A little larger B&B pretty much guarantees that you won't be the only guest in the place. (however, that did happen once when we visited a Historic Inn B&B in Virginia - The owners were so pleasant and they stayed in a separate house - that the experience really was pretty special!) <BR> <BR>I hope you will consider giving it another shot - you might really like B&B's! Have fun!

I suspect part of your "bad" experience was due to your age; I don't think I would have been comfortable in a B&B at that point of my life either. But, some of the reasons I travel are to meet other people, to get a real feel for the area, and to share tips with the other guests. I have found that in all the B&Bs I have used. We used only B&Bs in a 10 day trip thru Maine and New Hampshire - all were interesting, except for the one where I discovered there was no outlet for my hair dryer anywhere in the room or bath as I stood with dripping hair in early October! But, there were memorable ones - the Pomegranate in Portland, ME - ahh, what a gorgeous place; the owners gave us their concert tickets as we walked in the door because they couldn't use them that night. The Crystal Mesa Farm outside Sante Fe - 2,000 acres of open land and a house with such artifacts I felt as if I was in a museum - and the owners lived in their own house down the road. I don't stay for financial savings, but for the more personal feeling. Give it another chance. Then, if it is not for you, hit the Sheratons of the world.

Well, if our experience at one B&B had been unique, I may have chalked it up to just a bad experience. I only described two B&Bs, but we stayed at a total of five during that one trip, in three different states, and had the same experiences at each. The B&Bs we chose were far from a "used car lot" either in price or location. <BR> <BR>We do not stay at the types of hotels that have bellboys and concierges, so as a result, I have never, ever been subjected to sales pitches from any hotel staff. Pointing fingers at high end hotels and saying "well, they do it too" is no excuse, in my opinion. <BR> <BR>

Sorry, Yak, statements like yours make my blood boil!!! A concierge is there to help guest with any needs they may have, as generally the city is unfamiliar to them. If you've done your homework before arriving, then you probably know where you want to go anyway so never bother to speak with the concierge. Great. If you haven't, and there is no one in the hotel to ask, what do you do, let your fingers do the walking and trust your luck??? <BR> <BR>Staff has books of available restaurants in all categories and price ranges. Trainees are tested on their knowledge of the city and available sights for one reason only, to give the guests the best possible service. It was also a requirement in our hotel in Savannah for the staff to actually do some of the tours and visit sites, so they could give their firsthand impressions of them. We paid for them to do this, this was not free and/or promotional. No one was paying for inclusion and your implications that they are (all of them, everywhere...I'm sure there are exceptions) is insulting. In your cynicism, I guess you find it impossible to believe that anyone in business can have altruistic motives. DH drums service service service into his staff. It's his mantra. He has one motive: to make the guest's stay so pleasant that he will want to return and stay with us again whether he's traveling for business or pleasure.

I hope all the negative Nancys here will stay away from the nice B&Bs out there. More room for me!

CM, you make some very good points as usual. Tip or commission or not, a concierge won't send folks to bad places because it reflects poorly on him/her. Ditto for a B&B owner in my opinion. My reputation is worth far more than a few bucks. <BR> <BR>CM, who is DH? He sounds like my kinda guy...service service service!

From what I read and understood here, people who don't enjoy B&Bs have an issue with the lack of privacy in particular, which I can certainly understand. <BR> <BR>As far as the steering and sales, when you go to a hotel concierge, you understand the exact nature of that person's position -- he/she is there to provide information (kickbacks or no kickbacks) and if you don't want to research it yourself, YOU have the option of going to THEM. A B&B owner who tries to sell their guests on local shopping or dining opportunities during breakfast or chat time is not providing a service, particularly when the guests did not ask for it and are not receptive to it. They are engaging in some heavy, unsolicited and unwanted promotion, and I can understand the resentment a guest would feel.

John, Sorry, DH is BB lingo for "dear husband". :&gt;

I'm amazed - though I'm sure there are bad B&Bs out there, I've never stayed in one, and I've stayed in zillions. It's a much nicer way to travel. I've never had experiences even close to what have been described, and would always stay in a B&B over a hotel. <BR> <BR>That said, there certainly is less privacy in some B&Bs. They lack the anonymity of motels, which is both good and bad.

Being an extremely extraverted person, I find nothing appealing about a hotel or motel. If you want privacy go to a deserted island. At a hotel you are just another face. It stinks. After doing extensive research for a B&B, I find them personable, warm, very informative, & in the morning I don't have to go looking for a place to eat. Also, I get to meet new people from all over the world. And a lot of times when I come back after doing my "touring", I can relax on the porch with a good book, go soak in a hot tub, get to know the owners, etc. I can't get comfortable being stuck in a room, or a stuffy & noisy lobby. And I've found the security at most hotels (upscale or not) leave a lot to be desired. And lastly, coming back to a B&B at the end of the day & finding desserts & drinks waiting for you is great.

I didn't read all replies so I'm not sure if someone already said what I have to say. But in my experience with B & Bs, it seems that the more rooms it has the more of an "inn" or hotel feel it has as opposed to feeling like you're staying in someone elses home in one of their guest bedrooms. I like places that have about 10 rooms because you are not so obvious. <BR> <BR>I've never met anyone at breakfast that I didn't like either. I've gleaned valuable information from other guests as to area attractions. <BR> <BR>Make sure you find out whether or not each room has its own bathroom, many of them do, especially the bigger ones. Some places will even deliver breakfast to your room to eat in private. Some places also have wine and snacks in the evening included in the price which is something you rarely get at hotels.

In my own experience, B&Bs are more for people who are concerned about their own image and status rather than in actually experiencing a place. They bring their nicest clothes on vacation and spend lots of time window shopping and eating at expensive restaurants downtown. We call them the Ahwahnee Types in our family. Those are the types of people who go to Yosemite, wear all their fabulous clothes and jewels, and spend all their time strolling and gazing at the great outdoors from the environs of the Ahwahnee Hotel. Heaven forbid they should actually put foot outside. Might smudge a designer shoe. <BR> <BR>We don't expect or want to spend a lot of time in our room, so all the frilly amenities of a B&B are just extras that we don't need. I'd rather have a phone and T.V. in the room than snacks and wine in the afternoon. We always travel with a cooler and bring our own food...we only eat out once a day, if that. We eat our own food for breakfast, then go out and see all the sights all day. We also tend to visit National Parks and outdoorsy places, so when we return from a full day's activity, like hiking, we're dirty and tired. And I don't want to get gussied up after a long day just to sit in someone's parlor and sip wine. If we wanted that, we could go out to a bar or cafe or just buy a bottle of wine at a local store. Nor do I want some "extrovert" yammering in my ear during breakfast or any other time. Yeesh. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

We've stayed at hundreds of B&Bs in the US and Canada and have had good experiences in 98% of them (maybe 99%). I always do lots of research for our trips and find out quite a lot about the B&Bs and area before I book anywhere. We have never had any problem with the way a B&B looks or is decorated. The only (and RARE) problems we have had were in 3 different B&Bs with the hosts....twice with the husband of the main host (the woman) and once with a host couple. In all cases it seemed to have been a problem of host burn-out...too many years of too many guests can make some hosts crabby. I think once a B&B host is unhappy with their job, they should sell the place and get out of the business. 98% of the hosts were very nice though and clearly still having fun running their B&B. <BR> <BR> We prefer B&Bs where the hosts live in the house as then they are around if you have questions. We have never heard any children or noise from any host or their families. I love to stay in B&Bs as they are so much more "homey" and warm than stark impersonal hotels or motels. I feel much more like I am at home than in some cookie cutter hotel room. I greatly prefer B&Bs where you eat breakfast in your room or at separate tables......I am not too fond of the group table for all people in the B&B, but most of the time if we have that it's okay. I leave the breakfast earlier than my husband and go have my last coffee outside in peace. The only negative IMO to B&Bs is that most do not allow pets so we have to leave our pets at home with a housesitter which I don't like to do. I wish many more B&Bs allowed well behaved pets. When we find one that does we often go back there repeatedly. <BR> <BR>One comment about a reply above.......that was quite a laugh I got from this AOL. Com person right above my post. I have never window shopped in my life (I despise shopping of any sort), I never wear fancy clothes at B&Bs (or anywhere), I could give 2 cents for any status or image and our #1 activity on ALL our trips is hiking which we are out doing most of the day, everyday (cold nor rain never stop us). When we aren't doing that we are rafting or biking or swimming etc etc. And we stay in B&Bs a lot..so that shoots down your silly stereotype in flames. When we come back from 12+ mile hike, sitting in a hot tub with a glass of wine that our B&B host carries out to us is quite nice...lots better than Motel 6 with the TV blaring and a cooler full of cheap wine coolers.

Folks, folks, this is a decent topic that is silly to get in a family squabble over. Reminds me of argument my kids once had: "I hate basketball." "You should like basketball, it's a great game." "It's a great game, but I don't like it." "Well, you're wrong..." <BR> <BR>The essence of the problem here is that the term "B&B" covers such a wide range of accommodations -- from a back room in a person's house to a small but very elegant inn. Trashing the "kind of people" who stay in B&B's -- OR the kind of people who don't -- is unnecessary and doesn't really add a thing to the discussion. <BR> <BR>I stayed in a "personal home" B&B on a vacation in a rural part of the country I'd never visited before. I was at leisure and open to learning about the people and the area. I lucked out and was in a great home with a great person and fantastic cook who prepared a different, gourmet breakfast every morning. But I admit that making conversation at breakfast became a bit of a burden after a day or two. And I realized that I didn't always want to have to deal with other people's idea of breakfast hours, night lights, shower temperature, etc. I might do that again if I were on a very, very tight budget, or traveling overseas or particularly interested in getting local connections for some reason (a mag. article or some such). <BR> <BR>On the other hand, I truly adore the "small inn" type of B&B. I've discovered that I can tell you exactly where the bed, the TV, the closet, and the bathroom are in every last Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Doubletree Inn, etc. Nothing hammers in the sense that you are just another member of the traveling herd like walking into one of those places after a long day. And having completely forgotten what room I was in one night because one hotel looked exactly like the last, I now dread paying big bucks for same-old, same-old. <BR>With a "small inn" B&B, no two rooms are alike (although they do all seem to subscribe to the same Martha-Steward/Laura Ashley school of decorating), no two hallways are alike, and there are often wonderful surprises like fireplaces that work or little balconies with an unexpected view. The desk people are often particularly helpful because they only have to deal with 20 or 40 guests. And there is usually a long enough period allowed to get to breakfast that I don't feel tied to anyone's schedule. On the other hand, if I want to, there are usually some interesting people in the breakfast people to talk to. I've met a semi-famous British playwright, a German journalist, and various other people NOT in town for market research or the Shriner's convention (with all due respect). <BR> <BR>Particularly in cities where hotel costs are through the roof -- Boston, NY, San Fran. -- I am thrilled to find a _recommended_ B&B of this sort, thanks to contributors here. I just wish fewer people feel the way I do, though, because these small hotels have now been discovered and have gotten seriously pricey. When I first "discovered" the Newbury Guest House in Boston, a room was $65 and parking was $10/day (a bargain all by itself in Boston). It's now at least double that, and it's always booked up when I call. <BR> <BR>So if you don't like B&B's, don't stay in one. But don't decide everyone else is nuts based on limited experience. No one would have enjoyed the bad experiences some of you had. But I've also had horrendous experiences in hotel chains -- parties, ice makers that sounded like howitzers, stifling heat or polar chill, ptomaine from the food, and the occasional fire down the hall. <BR> <BR>

Michelle, I got a great kick out of Pam's post as well, because if you'll notice mine is the one above hers to which I believe some of her comments refer. I hate to window shop too, and the last time I went to a B&B my husband & I wore jeans to breakfast. We went to a B&B because we left our 2 young kids at home for a rare anniversary trip together. We thought it would be nice to stay in a B&B since we didn't have our kids with us. <BR> <BR>We do plenty of traveling when we bring our own cooler of stuff and eat cereal bars and bags of cheerios for breakfast. <BR> <BR>The place we stayed in happened to have a better location to the attractions we wanted to see than any other hotel or motel. We spent most of the time we weren't in the room outside and hiking. <BR> <BR>The wine was a nice treat for our rare "adult" oriented weekend. Anybody can buy their own wine anytime they want and haul it around, but since we flew into this particular destination, it was one less thing to bother with. Oh, and the wine sure tasted good after our hike. We went straight to the wine and snacks, sweaty and in jeans and hiking shoes. No one cared. <BR> <BR>B&Bs aren't for everyone all the time, but for us it was a nice treat in a great location without kids. Who would someone staying in a B&B be showing status to? We were thousands of miles from home, no one knew us there - who would we possibly be trying to impress? <BR> <BR>Everyone has there own idea of what makes good vacations for them. And no one way is better or worse, more right or more wrong than another.

In the Neal Sanders thread about vacation homes, it came out that some are vacation home people and others are not. I think it applies here. <BR> <BR>I always felt like an intruder in someone's home when I've stayed at a B&B. Yes, I do realize I was customer, but it's still the feeling I get. So now I stay at hotels. I LIKE the fact I know I'm getting the same amenities as every other hotel in the chain. At least it's one thing I can depend on. <BR> <BR>To John, the B&B owner, do you take vacations at other B&B's or at hotels? Are you open 7 nights a week or only on certain days? I'm just curious how a B&B operates.

For me B&Bs are where we go when we want to get away from it all and have a romantic evening. We tend not to stay in them generally - ony for special occasions. Otherwise we stay at a Super 8 type place or we camp because we would rather spend our money on other things besides accomodations. But, to each their own. We always research the B&Bs before we stay at them even calling the owners with questions.

Very interesting thread and one that my friends and I have discussed just recently. I can really see the attraction of a B&B if you are a truly extraverted personality or for many other reasons- like wanting to get a first hand review or exposure to the local color/ culture. But there are very many people who are NOT B&B people. One couple we love (long time friends) are not able to get by the <BR>points mentioned in all the above posts- like privacy, apparent dress codes, breakfast timing etc. But we are NOT snooty and don't own a designer anything- but love a great B&B on a very special occasion. NOTHING is like <BR>a unique and personal viewing of a historic place in the evening with a glass of wine in hand and a genial host as your tour guide. Saying that, we only stay at a B&B after HUGE amounts of research and usually first hand experience from a frequent user. We are super friendly people and I have to admit that most people are not as talky as we are. They truly don't want to be "bothered" by anyone else on their vacation. Don't know if it is still doing business but stayed at a wonderful B&B near South Haven, Michigan called Pebble House. Made the whole trip a life-long memory. Don't think the most ***** hotel in the area could have come close and cost about <BR>$125 a night. We got our own little summer house complete with hammocks, that we used. Gardens and cottages, main house all with furniture etc. over 100 years old. Host was delightful. Don't think most middle class Americans can deal with conversation instead of tv anymore, for some reason. Have never had anyone try to sell us anything in a B&B. Don't forget that it takes being a friend, to make friends.

Hi x, <BR>When I travel, I sometimes use hotels and sometimes use B&Bs. I'm not an "all or nothing" guy. Also, some cities simply don't have very good B&B selections while others (New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah, Key West) are FULL of high quality inns. <BR> <BR>My particular B&B is open 7 days a week, 350 or so days a year. We rarely have "empty" days but it does happen every now and then. <BR> <BR>Again, I love the people I meet and I want them to enjoy their visit to our city even if it's for an awful business trip! (smile)

Please allow me to set a few things straight here about B&B's. There are a wide range of B&B's in existence. You CAN have privacy if you want it. You CAN have a separate eating area from the rest of the guests there if you so desire. And NO, we do not wear designer clothes & in the evening sit around trying to impress one another while imbibing ourselves with wine(I've never seen alcohol at a B&B). And we could care less about image, status, & going window shopping (BORING!!!). ALL the people that I've ever encountered at a B&B were down-to-earth, simplistic, mostly middle class, & are just looking for a comfortable homey atmosphere with people similiar to them to share the experience with, along with a just a touch of luxury to add to the visit. Some B&B's do allow children, but most do not prefer pets. I do however like the B&B's that have a pet or two on the premises.

I think Pam's post says more about her than it does about people who use B&Bs. I for one don't fall into her stereotype, and most of the people I know who frequent B&Bs don't either. Pam needs to deal with her inferiority complex. <BR> <BR>That said, I do tend to prefer small "B&B Inns", as several posters above have mentioned. They do a nice mix of privacy and interaction - you can be as isolated as you wish. <BR> <BR>And for cheap - I prefer Motel 6 - it's usually cheapest <BR> <BR>

Living in Detroit, we often vacation in Canada which is right across the river. We have done bed and breakfasts in Stratford and Toronto, all the way up to P.E.I. This thread got me thinking about our B&B experiences. I remember more negative ones than positive. There was the time the plumbing woke everyone up when I flushed. Then I tiptoed upstairs and got in bed with my husband and the bed collapsed in a heap! The "gourmet" breakfast that looked like last week's warmed-over hash, served by a hostess with pink foam curlers in her hair and whose potbelly peeked out from under her tight t-shirt (I am NOT making this up). Then there was the time on P.E.I. when we paid $110 to stay in the last available room - a tiny cluttered bedroom, complete with a crocheted doll toilet paper cover, the bed slanted down at the head, and baby diapers on the stairs. Granted, that one was our fault, we didn't plan ahead. On the plus side, if you are sincerely interested in people and getting the feel of an area this is definitely for you.

MMM and Maggi bring back memories of the one trip my dear husband and I took to a B&B. We thought we were going to have a romantic getaway away from all the cares of the world. We picked an "adults only" place that would not accept pets (hubby has cat allergies). <BR> <BR>Well, the policies were for the guests only. The owner's child was in the middle of a tantrum when we arrived and my husband almost immediately said, "there's a cat here" as he was swelling up and turning red. Hubby went outside as I tried to explain we couldn't stay there because of the cat. Owner didn't understand why we didn't like fluffy (gee, a nearly dead guest???) and refused to not charge us for evening. I asked why it wasn't mentioned about house child since children weren't allow and about the cat too. At that point all I cared about was my husband's health and said something to the effect of keep the stinking money, my husband's life is more important. <BR> <BR>After the two hour drive back home, we did enjoy quiet time together since everyone thought we were away.

Though this is very unscientific, many people here have had bad expericences with B&B's. The people who responded with favorable experiences state they did HUGE amounts of research. That might be fine for a honeymoon or something, but my guess is most people on vacation don't want to worry about accomadations in addition to everything else. <BR> <BR>What does it take (besides local zoning and an advertising budget) to operate a B&B? What should the B&B disliking public look for if we ever decide to change our minds and stay the night at a B&B?