What’s the appeal of a bed and breakfast?

[Anonymous]

It really depends. I like them in historic areas of the country where other hotels are crazy expensive or not worth the money for 2 or 3 stars.

When I am there I don't count on being intimate with my spouse, but some have been delightful. One house was very memorable due to the history and how well cared for it was; and the owners were delightful and took so much interest in their guests and made us feel right at home. The food was delicious and homemade too.

[Anonymous]

We stayed in one where the hosts had an enormous antique doll collection. In every room, everywhere you looked, their dead little eyes staring at you…I have never been more creeped out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advantage 1: no kids allowed

Advantage 2: they are often in historic homes in rural areas where there are no chain hotels available. Sometimes there may be a special amenity - ie, waterfront on a bay or river with a spectacular view, good happy hour, etc.

Advantage 3: the hosts are almost always quirky. That can be entertaining....or really awkward.

We stayed at one pre-kids in southern MD on the bay. The home was a former plantation house and they really wanted to show us the former slave quarters. Kinda weird, not gonna lie. Gorgeous home, tho.

We've stayed at B&B's with kids.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the home-cooking is the big draw

[Anonymous]

Some people dislike the corporate coldness of a hotel. Me? I love it.

I hate antiques and doilies. I don't want to make friends with other travelers by god forbid having to sit at the same table. No need for personal touches.

[Anonymous]

I generally agree, after staying in one that was kind of awkward, but I have stayed in a couple of places that were described as “B&Bs” but that were really just very nice small inns. It’s pretty easy to tell from the web site which is which.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel the same way EXCEPT for the cabins at The Iris Inn. They are totally private and it's like having your own little oasis. I recommended them on the other B&B thread.

https://www.irisinn.com/accommodations/cabin/

That looks like a really awesome place!! But it’s not really a B&B.

[Anonymous]

The appeal is lower cost - and in Uk/Ireland there are fewer regular hotels.

[Anonymous]

I've done it twice and it was two times too many.

First place the host said if we wanted to take a shower then there was an additional charge! "Water costs me money, you know."

Second, I happened to be the only guest there and I was solo. The family was not friendly and I sat alone in their dining room while they ate in the kitchen. When I was leaving and was outside waiting for my cab, I looked through the window at the room I stayed in and the host was making up my bed - and wasn't changing the sheets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend who used to tell "B&B Horror Stories" -- hilarious. One involved him getting dive-bombed by the host's parrot multiple times. Something about his hair drove the bird crazy.

We stopped staying at B&Bs when DW decided to sleep in one morning and the host refused to serve breakfast to the other 9 guests until DW arrived. I literally had to wake her up, get her dressed and rush her down to the table. And the other guests were furious at DW, not the host, because they felt DW had been rude. Never again.

OMG

Tell me was it listed on the website at all that all guests dine together?

[Anonymous]

I love b&bs. Just stay at nice ones with good reviews and don’t have loud sex.

[Anonymous]

We stayed in a 3 bed B&B and took the whole house. That worked out. Hard no if other people had been staying there as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it really off putting. You can’t really have sex because you’re so close to your neighbor and see them in the morning and there’s basically no amenities I don’t feel like it offers anything. It’s like being an awkward houseguest in a stranger’s home.

+1
I stayed in one 20 years ago. Never again! I didn't get any sleep because the couple next door was having sex. Actually, it was the talk of morning breakfast. All of the other guests were talking about the couple and when they came down for breakfast all eyes were on them. It was so awkward, invasive, and disheartening. I felt bad for them because they were newlyweds. Some of the guests were visibly annoyed and made comments to them. I checked myself into a hotel for the remainder of my trip. As I was leaving, I saw that the couple was checking out as well. The husband was visibly upset, and the wife appeared sad. The couple who owned the B&B were apologizing to them because they complained about the bad treatment that they received from other guests.

A B&B basically has no privacy, the rooms are not that secured, and the decor felt like grandma's house or Little House on the Prairie. The breakfast was also horrible compared to a hotel. It was my first and last experience. People tend to romanticize them, but B&Bs are awful in so many ways.

I appreciate hotels. I like my privacy, peace, and amenities.

So you stayed in one, 20 years ago, and therefore are qualified to say they are all awful in many ways. lol.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been to some truly charming and expensive ones but they’re still creaky and old, so you can hear everything around you. Many of even the nicest ones in the DMV are on roads with a lot of loud trucks at all hours of the night. It’s loud. I often sleep like crap. You feel like you have to talk to the proprietor/other guests.

The Inn at Little Washington has been the only b&b-type place that wasn’t loud and I slept well but of course it’s very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel the same way EXCEPT for the cabins at The Iris Inn. They are totally private and it's like having your own little oasis. I recommended them on the other B&B thread.

https://www.irisinn.com/accommodations/cabin/

+1. I like the Iris Inn. I actually thought even the rooms there were well-insulated and private. It’s one of the few I like in this area.

Ones that are quirky/charming but I still got poor sleep because of noise from other guests or the road: the Goodstone and L’Auberge Provencale.