March 3 is the first wedding anniversary for me and Mrs. audilover. I’d like to surprise her by taking her somewhere nice (it’ll have to be the preceding or following weekend) for a romantic night away from home. We don’t have the time or money right now for a long trip (distance or duration), so I was thinking about a Saturday-night stay in a charming hotel room somewhere. Flowers, candles, music, Jacuzzi, etc.
Someone at work suggested that a B&B might be a nice place to spend a mini getaway, instead. I thought about this, and realized I know nothing whatsoever about these kinds of inns. I stay in normal hotel rooms a few days a month, so they’re no mystery. A B&B seems, at first thought, like it might be charming and cozy, but another part of me thinks about the fact that I’d really be more like a glorified houseguest (who pays a lot more money than i charge my relatives to gtay in my guest bedroom…although, I’m getting an idea here).
What is the atmosphere like in these places? Do you feel like you’re staying in somebody’s guest room, or is it not much different than a hotel feeling? For those of you who have stayed at a B&B, what did you think of it? Pros, cons? Are you looking forward to your next opportunity? The room rates seem to be high on average… twice the price for half the amenities. I assume that you’re paying for ambiance, and I wonder if it’s worth it.
Pardon my ignorance, but I’ve just always been a Hampton Inn kind of guy. Shacking up in an old Victorian mansion sounds cool and creepy all at the same time.
And while it’s unlikely, if anyone knows of any great little places to stay within a couple hours’ drive of Dayton, OH, that would be super, too.
Here you go audiolover - B&B’s close to you…just click on the state map. My wife and I love the cozy feeling of staying at a nice B&B. When you go you will get exactly what you see in the name…a nice room, and a nice breakfast. Be sure not to skimp on anything, let the largest room with the fire place and huge jacuzzi…you are only staying for one or two nights, so why not have the best nights you can. Of the ones on the site I provided, they are all rather reasonable. So choose one that has some redeeming qualities…large rooms, fire places, nice views tranquil settings. My wife and I go to the same B&B in Freeport, Maine every year. Large rooms, nice fire place and a jacuzzi you can essentially swim in. So enjoy and have fun;)
The atmosphere really depends on the place. Some are very similar to hotels, with completely separated rooms with individual bathrooms for each room, while others are just nice rooms in someone’s house. You should be able to find out what kind of place it is with a phone call or a website visit.
I’m with you in that when I go away I like my privacy and don’t want to feel like I’m just a houseguest, but I have stayed at a B&B before and plan on doing it again. We stayed at one during our honeymoon that was very nice - the rooms were basically little cottages on the property, then for meals and such if we wanted we could go to the main house and mingle with the other guests. Owners of B&B’s are usually very good at recommending things in the area, too.
B&B’s vary widely, but they are nice because they can be much more intimate and comfortable than a hotel. I find them much a much more romantic place than a hotel room which can be somewhat sterile. Usually they are nicely decorated and will have a homey feel. The breakfast can be everything to a fantastic buffet to some rolls and juice.
Some B&B’s are just a room of someone’s house that they are renting out. I personally stay away from those kind since I feel a little creepy staying in a room in someone’s house. I prefer B&B’s which are either a separate cottage or an entire historic house which has been converted into a B&B.
We’ve stayed in two–one in Door County, Wisconsin and one in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Neither one particularly close to Dayton, I know.) They were very different–one was a separate guest cottage where freshly-baked muffins were delivered outside our door at the time we designated; the other was part of a house with a community breakfast room. Both were lovely in their own way and so much more personalized than a regular hotel. I did think they were a bit more expensive than a regular hotel, but the extra attention was worth the price.
Hmmm. I wonder if we stayed in the same B&B in Christchurch (Orari).
Since you’re looking at a weekend, check the property policies on 1-night stays. Around these parts, a lot of places require 2 nights if you’re staying for the weekend.
I’ve stayed in a few B&Bs and they’ve ranged from private suites to sharing a bathroom with guests in another room. Some places serve afternoon teas or will set out snacks for you. The proprietor of the place we stayed at in Queenstown served pre-dinner wine and hors d’oeuvres. Even the husband enjoyed it and he’s very much a hotel kinda guy. But if you don’t feel social, you don’t have to. If you want breakfast brought to you room, I haven’t run across a place that won’t do it for you.
If your primary concern is ammenities, don’t bother with a B&B. A B&B is not the best choice for someone who is going for the biggest bang for the buck. They tend to be expensive. They don’t provide around-the-clock guest services. They probably won’t have a gym or swimming pool and may not have cable TV (or TV at all, for that matter).
What they do (or should, if they’re doing it correctly) is provide is personal service in what is often a unique and/or historic setting.
On the last night of our honeymoon, my wife and I stayed at a very nice bed and breakfast in Vermont. It’s a beautiful, restored 19th century farmhouse run by a very friendly husband, wife, and daughter team. The room we stayed in was a very nicely decorated, normal sized bedroom (that did have it’s own private bathroom) and we also had access to a large living room/family room area and a portion of the kitchen (to get drinks, store things in a fridge, etc.)
What was most unique about the experience was the social aspect. The hosts served wine and hors d’oeuvres in the early evening and the dining room is arranged so that you can easily visit with the other guests (or keep to yourself if you prefer) during breakfast. There were several other couples staying there and we spent several hours in the evening sipping wine and chatting on the porch with people from all over.
Would I want to stay at a bed and breakfast every time I went on vacation? No. Sometimes, all you want is a place to sleep after a busy day of touristy stuff. But for a change of pace it was wonderful. It was charming and romantic and much more relaxing than a typical hotel stay.
I stayed in a few when I was a lad tramping through the UK and a couple here in the US. In Monticello, UT and someplace in NH.
The Utah one was cool because everyone sat around a big table for the big hearty breakfast and talked about what they were going to do that day and pumped the hostess for information. The NH one was nice, but the tables were all separate, so it was more like a restaurant. Either place, you couldn’t beat the food.
One issue came up in a Bed and breakfasty inn we stayed at in Bermuda. The floors were wood and sound kind of traveled around the house and when it came time to be intimate with the missus, well, the sound kind of traveled around the house and it really cramped my style.
So if you want to get wild with yer lady and do a jacuzzi and steam and whatnot you might be better off at a spa resort type place if you’re of the shy persuasion. Room service breakfast is pretty nice, too.
I’ve only been to one that was near Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The room was very nice. This place had rooms in the main building which were like being a houseguest and them rooms in another building farther back which were more intimate, we stayed in the farther building.
The breakfast wasn’t that great and we actually skipped it the second day. We did this for two reasons. 1. The breakfast stopped serving at 9 and we didn’t really feel like getting up, getting showered and dressed to be there for breakfast and 2. The guy who owned it considered himself an expert on local history and spent the entire time telling the whole room about it. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he didn’t point to people and ask them questions about the area. I didn’t pay all that money to feel stupid.
Anyway, personal rant. The room really was nice and the area was beautiful.
I grew up a Ho Joe guy too. My wife changed that though. We always stay at B&B if there is an option. Ive had forgetable experiances but never a ‘bad’ one. Most of the people who run B&B’s tend to be very friendly and often go above and beyond.
lno and I went to a really nifty little B&B a few weeks ago to escape post-wedding maddness.
It was GREAT. We actually had rented their “cabin” which wasn’t attached to the main house. The thing was basically a HOUSE - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms! - with a fully equipped kitchen, woodburning fireplace. It was WONDERFUL.
The main house had very large rooms with private bathrooms (w/ whirlpool tubs!) and fireplaces n’ such. The atmosphere was charming and quiet. The food was excellent, the innkeepers were a lot of fun! They also had some 500 acres of land to trek around in snowshoes so we had a blast. Two of our dogs also came along and loved it. Their cost per night was no more than a middle to high end hotel, and the B&B construction was totally new. (http://www.woodlandtrails.net)
It all depends what you’re after. B&Bs can be really romantic and relaxing, if you pick the right one and you pick one that’s not necessarily on the beaten path, out in the countryside. They’re certainly more cozy and romantic than chain-run hotels, that’s for sure. Innkeepers will “mingle” with you when you’re up for breakfast, but they also can keep a low profile and you’ll barely know they’re there. They usually are, however, REALLY interesting people and it’s fun to sit down and chat with them a while.
This the only part about B&Bs that I don’t like. I don’t enjoy chit-chatting with strangers, especially before or during my morning caffiene fix. Most especially when I’m on a special weekend with my honey.
On the other hand, it would be tremendously rude to ignore the other couple seated at your breakfast table, so chit-chat it is. However, if you dig the socialization or you don’t mind ignoring the other guests, go for it.