If you have stayed at a B&B

[northernman]

Please tell me what you liked, and disliked most.

What would make you stay at a B&B the first time, and what bring you back.

Thanks for the help.

[ALStensby]

Crysti and I have only stayed at one B&B ever since most we've come across are a bit too "old ladyish" for our taste. Oddly enough, it's up in your neck of the woods...well, sort of. lol.

Last Fall, we toured the PNW for a couple weeks (Seattle, Victoria, Ucluelet & Vancouver). While out in Ucluelet, we stayed at Bostrom's B&B and it was nothing short of a GREAT time!

We stayed in the Trail Room for four nights. The area itself was very nice (MANY B&B in that area, just south of Tofino). The room was incredible all around and it's one of the most comfortable beds we've EVER slept in. The breakfast were great as well and both Gary and Judy were great host. There are three decks off their place currently and they're looking at adding another. The views are great as well! No real draw backs to it. Faily spendy, but well worth every penny to upgrade to the Trail Room IMO. Heck...even the drive out on 4 across Vancouver Island was awesome!

We're hoping to head back there some time in the next few years again. Here are some photos from that general area.

[ozyran440]

I really enjoyed my stay at a B&B in Connecticut with my wife on her birthday.

Likes: Pleasant, cozy atmosphere; warm, amiable people to talk with; excellent breakfast the morning after.

Dislikes: There was really nothing to do at the place we stayed at. It was like going to an expensive sleepover at someone else's house with a nice big breakfast the morning after. While this is true of any hotel, I can't say that I really enjoyed my stay any more than had I taken my wife camping.

[northernman]

Thanks for the feed back guys.
And the link to Adam, thats a nice looking place for sure.

I have stayed in B&B's hundreds of nights, but never owned one before.
And since we are opening a B&B soon, just want to try and get all the input we can to do it right.

[NCDave]

the first time I stayed at one, I was a little uncomfortable. it's odd to stay in someone else's house. However, I got past that.

Friendliness of the owners always brings me back.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by NCDave

the first time I stayed at one, I was a little uncomfortable. it's odd to stay in someone else's house. However, I got past that.

Friendliness of the owners always brings me back.

I think many people like their own entrance, and ours will have that.

Its actually a fully self contained suit, with a kitchen, living room area, huge bedroom, and large bathroom complete with tub and shower.

It has a door to totally close it off from the main house.

Also has access to the front deck which is HUGE and has a hot tub in it.

[NCDave]

I don't mind the house being open as far as getting to rooms. Sounds like yours is basically an apartment. not typical of the B&Bs I've been to.

When I stay at one, it's not because it's cheaper or more convenient. it's usually because there's some history and lure to staying in an old house.

[northernman]

A few extras we will offer is a place for motorcyclists to secure their bike(s) at night.

Its river front on a beautiful river, with a dock , and good fishing.

While a country style setting on nearly 30 acres, it is just a 2 mile drive into town to shop, eat and such.
We are just a 1 mile drive off a major HWY to, so I think its a good location.

On the deck we will have a BBQ that guests are welcome to use to.

The suite that is the B&B part is about 800 square feet, so guests should not feel crowded.

We are planning to offer just the room only, or room and breakfast if they choose for a small extra fee.

[NCDave]

Much tourism and such in town? I would think that type of traffic is what would drive your customer base, yes? Any other B&Bs in the area?

Sounds like a nice spot for some R&R time, for sure.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by NCDave

I don't mind the house being open as far as getting to rooms. Sounds like yours is basically an apartment. not typical of the B&Bs I've been to.

When I stay at one, it's not because it's cheaper or more convenient. it's usually because there's some history and lure to staying in an old house.

Thanks Dave.

The house we just bought had a large in law suite, we are turning it into the B&B part.

While the house is not old, or historic, the area itself has much to do.
If people like to hike, boat, fish, motorbike, and stuff like that, this is a prime location for them to visit.

[NCDave]

Make up a really great story about the property. It's gotta be haunted, right?

[DebbieW]

I stayed at the Brinley Victorian Inn in Newport twice. Brinley Victorian Inn, Bed and Breakfast, Newport, Rhode Island We always went by cage since it was before I had a motorcycle.

Here is what I liked:
1. Getting to know the owners. Very nice and pleasant to talk to. They are originally from England so the accent helped
2. Breakfast - the usual pastries but every day the husband would make a "hot" dish of some sort. It was a nice touch.
3. The porch - at the time I lived in Manhattan so being able to sit outside was great. We even got wine and cheese one night from a local recommended place (recommended by the owners) and had a feast on the porch.
4. Talking to the other guests. It was interesting.
5. Very clean. They provided soap and left Andes mints each day for us.
6. Each room had it's own lock.
7. Each room had it's own bathroom and shower. Very small but that wasn't an issue.

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing I can think of.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Much tourism and such in town? I would think that type of traffic is what would drive your customer base, yes? Any other B&Bs in the area?

Sounds like a nice spot for some R&R time, for sure.

The town is very tourism driven in summer, and some come to play hockey, ice fish and such in the winter to.

Its a fairly small town, but has 4 other B&B's already.

They seem to be busy much of the year.

The thing I notice about the other B&B's in the area, is they only offer small rooms, not much more than just a bedroom really.
To me that would not be very comfy if I had family along on the trip, more just for 1 person, or a couple.
And they are on just a city style lot, not where a person could really wander the yard if they so choose, and none are waterfront, and if it was me, I would always take waterfront over a city street view.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Make up a really great story about the property. It's gotta be haunted, right?

Place some headstones around the yard, and tell people the original folks to find and settle in the area built their homestead here, and died here......and sometimes haunt it at night.....now we are planning.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by DebbieW

I stayed at the Brinley Victorian Inn in Newport twice. Brinley Victorian Inn, Bed and Breakfast, Newport, Rhode Island We always went by cage since it was before I had a motorcycle.

Here is what I liked:
1. Getting to know the owners. Very nice and pleasant to talk to. They are originally from England so the accent helped
2. Breakfast - the usual pastries but every day the husband would make a "hot" dish of some sort. It was a nice touch.
3. The porch - at the time I lived in Manhattan so being able to sit outside was great. We even got wine and cheese one night from a local recommended place (recommended by the owners) and had a feast on the porch.
4. Talking to the other guests. It was interesting.
5. Very clean. They provided soap and left Andes mints each day for us.
6. Each room had it's own lock.
7. Each room had it's own bathroom and shower. Very small but that wasn't an issue.

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing I can think of.

Thanks Debbie.

Trust me ours will be clean, as I am a clean freak.

[Idaho]

I've stayed at a few B&B's. First time was because they (business meeting) could not find anywhere else for the wife and I to stay. Nice place, I guess about what I would expect...it was clean the breakfast was ok. Second time was with a girl friend, at a different place. It was also nice, clean and an ok breakfast. I don't go to those places to sit around and chat with the other guests so for me it is pretty much just another place to sleep, except less noise and more comfortable. Third time was in B.C. Canada and it was above the gas station I stopped at. I can't remember the name of the little town, but it was next to the Fraser River and the salmon were spawning...cool to watch. Anyway it was small but nice and she even did my laundry for me which was really nice of her...part of an interesting vacation.

[CTRider]

Over in Ireland, B&B's are pretty much the only place to stay in unless you're in a large town - and even then, they're much cheaper than hotels.

The best ones we stayed at were walking distance to town so we didn't have to park on the street to go to a pub. A few had WiFi and internet access included. The most pleasant ones were run by women or couples. The ones that we liked the least were run by men, who tended to be less friendly.

A few stretched the definition of "breakfast" by only offering cereal, juice and coffee. The others offered that plus a choice of eggs, along with toast and "bacon" (read: ham). Many offered the option for the "Irish Breakfast", which is a fried egg, bacon, sausage, black and white pudding (white sausage and blood sausage), a slice of tomato and fried bread.

The better places we stayed at had little electric kettles in the rooms to heat up water for tea, hot chocolate or instant coffee. The worst ones didn't even have TVs in the room to watch the weather forecast for the following day.

One place only offered new towels every other day. Everywhere else changed the daily.

[Kawi-girl]

When I stayed in one, it was because they had a "special event" planned.

We were celebrating and so this place had a "special evening diner planned" for the Sat night. That night was a multi-course meal. a dozen guest to eat together, and apparently we were all there for one type of celebration or another, so it was a fun filled night!

They also had a spa in the basement, so you could do the pampering too.

The rooms were clean, in an older house, so there were A LOT of steps up to the rooms. They were decorated a little "high end" but nice, with a private bath. Owners were friendly, but brisk, it was a multi level hotel to them, yet operated like a B & B...very interesting place.

[CTRider]

I should probably add:

Some of the B&B's we enjoyed the most were the ones with multiple guests staying there. Since breakfast was at a set time, it meant we all got together in the morning and we able to chat about where we were from.

We met some interesting people that way.

[northernman]

Originally Posted by CTRider

Over in Ireland, B&B's are pretty much the only place to stay in unless you're in a large town - and even then, they're much cheaper than hotels.

The best ones we stayed at were walking distance to town so we didn't have to park on the street to go to a pub. A few had WiFi and internet access included. The most pleasant ones were run by women or couples. The ones that we liked the least were run by men, who tended to be less friendly.

A few stretched the definition of "breakfast" by only offering cereal, juice and coffee. The others offered that plus a choice of eggs, along with toast and "bacon" (read: ham). Many offered the option for the "Irish Breakfast", which is a fried egg, bacon, sausage, black and white pudding (white sausage and blood sausage), a slice of tomato and fried bread.

The better places we stayed at had little electric kettles in the rooms to heat up water for tea, hot chocolate or instant coffee. The worst ones didn't even have TVs in the room to watch the weather forecast for the following day.

One place only offered new towels every other day. Everywhere else changed the daily.

Wow seems some are not very good hosts.

I would offer a choice of say 4 things for breakfast, and the guests choose the one they want, and the time they want it the night before.

And we will for sure of internet, and TV in the suite.

And all the fresh towels a guest may want.