Top 10 Pet Peeves at Bed and Breakfasts
Wednesday April 8, 2009
I absolutely love staying at bed and breakfasts -- they're far superior to the cookie-cutter rooms found at most hotels. Still, I'm not blind to the fact that there are some drawbacks. Innkeepers, take note... Here's my list of the 10 most annoying things sometimes found at bed and breakfasts.
Comments
As Innkeepers we understand the concerns and peeves that guests have and we attempt to meet the levels of expectations you have sited in this article. One observation that we have that may be valid is continental breakfast vs full breakfast. In our city we are not authorized to prepare cooked food by health department code (a few folks do, but that is not the rule). So based on that you would miss a wonderful experience if you chose a B&B by breakfast alone. There’s a lot one can do with an extensive continental breakfast and with so much to do in an urban tourism town, an extended hot prepared breakfast is of less focus. Sightseeing and tours begin early for some,others are just tip toeing in from late night fun. Hope your readers will consider our unique situation and come on down to New Orleans anyway. We are back and the city is better than ever. And breakfast? Well after you have dined in our world famous restaurants and listened to our Jazz, you won’t be missing eggs over easy in the morning…visit our New Orleans Blog for more information and questions answered about the Crescent City.
regarding the rule about not eating in the rooms~ that we will never change! Sorry but…a lot of care and thought has put into the rooms, for one, and two, we don’t want stains, odors or stains. Look at it this way~ if you eat breakfast in the room and leave a stain or ooze hot sticky syrup on the comforter or rug, think about the next person checking in after you - we don’t have much time to properly rid a stain. That is why there is a dining room, a fabulous porch, and common areas. If you want to eat in your room, stay home!!!
Bed and Breakfast are all unique and I would suggest the writer carefully review the Website for what is provided. Some B&B’s are way out in the country and can’t provide the Technology B&B’s in the city can. Some cater to Business travelers and have all of their needs. ALL are different, some farm houses where all is shared (bathrooms) and so on and others have separate facilities. But do remember, most are very old or historic houses and many towns and cities limit what you can do with renovations.SO you need to realize what you need, and then find a B&B that has what YOU want. I have a 7-10 AM full breakfast hour and snacks out all day, 3 rooms have private baths and 2 share, pick what you like per pricing. Refrigerators in the rooms? Not likely, for any B&B’s the rooms are not apartments, even many or your high end (expensive) hotels don’t provide those. Food in a room not only creates a mess, especiallly with children but draws bugs from crumbs in places you would never expect. I don’t eat in my bedroom at home. I provide a beautiful Dining room for late night eating and a kitchen all my Guests may use.So…for all of the “Pet Peeves” just make a phone call and question before you reserve, it is as simple as that!
B&B’s are by definition unusual and to expect all the accoutrements of a big city hotel might miss the point and enjoyment. Guests actually come to get away from much of this. Do respect privacy needs…it is no problem to provide in suite breakfast, small fridges, microwave and coffee maker, etc and private bathrooms and entries are mandatory. In 14 years of operating On the Sea we have had few messes and easily cleaned up. Operators vary in personality and one is likely to experience all types but mostly people that love people and are gregarious. Guests arrive expecting a relief to regular life and are easily made happy. My husband and I joke that “we are selling happiness” and have had only one guest that didn’t “buy”. They probably brought their sadness with them. As well, don’t forget when you are collecting pet peeves, you get what you pay for. As well, in any service industry, if you don’t deliver the market corrects the problem and you are out of business.