Co-Owner of the Bluemont Bed and Breakfast in Luray, Virginia
It has taken me longer to write this diary entry than I thought it would. So many things to think about and so many decisions to make. After 15 years of dreaming, searching and planning... our dream has become a reality.
So for those of you who are concerned about the many issues of finding, buying, and opening a B&B, keep the faith! I know my prayers were answered just at a time when I was at a really low point and thought it would not happen.
It's been several weeks now since we greeted our first guests. I couldn't let my husband do it alone, so I made the trip south to be there with him. He did, however, take care of the first couple one day by himself. And I love him for that! In fact, as I write this on a holiday weekend, he is in Virginia with a full house and doing it all by himself. He is one in a million, believe me!
We were both exhausted after that first week and I can only imagine how he'll feel Tuesday morning after all the guests have gone after doing everything without my help. He made the comment one morning as he was making breakfast that he's in training under my eye.
I was putting garnishes on the plates -- those little touches men don't normally think about. He said, "You know what, we make a good pair!" I knew that 20 years ago when I met him. I really think he knew that, too.
Our first week in business, we had seven guests for five nights. Both of us wanted everything to be perfect, or at least as close as we could get.
Our first couple were newlyweds, not on what they called their honeymoon, but just wanting to get away for a few relaxing days. Since they had only been married a week, I say it was their honeymoon!
They were a very sweet young couple and of course I "gushed" all over them telling them they were our first guests. My husband, more reserved, said he didn't want them to know that because maybe they'd think we didn't know what we were doing! Too bad -- they know, and I tried to impress how special that made them to us. After three days we got to know them pretty well -- they wanted our company and conversation -- so we were happy to get to know them better. They promised to come back and bring some of their family members the next time.
The second couple was celebrating an anniversary, and the wife wanted to surprise her husband at the last minute. They had never stayed at a B&B before, so they were probably feeling as much apprehension as we were.
Even though they called at the last minute and we had to wait past our bedtime, I recalled my first stay at a B&B and told my husband we had to make this "special" for them and to forget how we were feeling. They wanted to make their own beds and even asked if they had to bring their own linens. I told them not to worry, to relax and enjoy the weekend and feel like they are visiting family and friends. They too left satisfied and promised to come back again with friends.
We have now decided we will not take last minute guests. :-) We thought we had covered all our bases as we planned, but we know we will face situations that we did not plan for and will try to work out our policies as we go. We want to be fair to guests, but we also know that we have a life as well.
Our other guests were folks who had traveled from New Jersey to attend a graduation. They got stuck in traffic on the interstate, were running late for a graduation party and had to leave very early the next morning for the ceremony.
This made it hard on them and we tried to be as flexible as we could in helping them get situated quickly and then assuring them we would have breakfast for them early. In all the confusion, a jewelry box (of all things) was left behind. I quickly made a call to their home answering machine, so that when they got back home they wouldn't panic. I had them call regarding how they wanted me to ship back to them.
I'm trying to make a practice of taking photos of our guests so that I can print the pictures out and give the guests a copy or send them a copy when I send them a little 'thank you' note about a week or so after they leave. I think it's important to acknowledge the guest's stay and a short note shows we really did care about them -- and hopefully will encourage them to visit again. I hope we don't get so busy that I can't do this. I've always been a person who sends thank you's and I think I'll be able to continue to do so.
So... no major disasters after the first guests -- YEAH!!
We breathed a sigh of relief and slept in late on Monday morning. That felt great! We didn't think it was possible to be so tired. But I think we were both on such an adrenaline high the whole weekend that we didn't realize how much we were doing.
We both came to the conclusion this was just like a "new job" and once we got the hang of it we would develop routines and schedules and it would all just seem like a normal day.
During this first week, we also had our inspection from the B&B Association. That was stressful, but good.
We got tips from an "old hand" and she confirmed how we were feeling was normal. She was very pleased with our B&B and we're pleased to now be members of the association. I believe strongly in membership and will work with them to help as much as I can. I think that's part of being a professional innkeeper, just like being a member of any other professional organization.
Of course, we're still not done with all our remodeling, landscaping, decorating, and the final move but things are progressing. I kind of look at these first few months as training time that we wouldn't have had if I had been able to move with my husband six months ago.
But once I am there permanently, we can set schedules, divide up more tasks and hopefully be able to enjoy our new home, business and guests even more.
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NOTE: Since this feature was originally posted, Eleanor and her husband ran the Bluemont Bed and Breakfast for several years before retiring.
