Bed and breakfast - Bed and breakfast

A bed and breakfast (usually abbreviated as B&B) is a simple type of accommodation in a house or private residence with four to eleven rooms, offering cheap accommodation and breakfast. They are characterized by a familiar and homely atmosphere, so it is usual for B&B owners to live in the same property.

Local knowledge of the host family is often a great asset in ensuring a rewarding stay. There are usually a few rooms and the personal contact is much greater than in a hotel or motel. Sometimes the B&B is an old converted residence in which the owner's family acts as care staff. Bed and breakfast travel has a loyal following as many find that they get a "home away from home" experience, usually at a better value than a hotel or motel stay.

Mod cons

Today in developed countries the supply of bed and breakfasts Luxury has been elevated to a kind of art form. B & Bs compete primarily in two main respects, bed and breakfast. Therefore, in the best establishments of this type you can find the most luxurious bedding, for example with a handmade quilt or an antique bed. Breakfast can include the seasonal delicacies of the region or the host's special dish. The composition of the place could be a historical building with antique furniture, gardens and a swimming pool.

On the other hand, anyone can set up a spare room and offer breakfast, especially where accommodation is not regulated. In fact, some travelers might find a simple, clean and cheap room valuable and useful.

In addition to the basic Bed and breakfast, a wide range of services may be provided, such as cooking, craft or wellness workshops. Sometimes packages are offered for theater, golf, dinner, excursions or adventure cruises. The showers and bathrooms may be shared with other guests or, on the contrary, there may be one per room and can be accessed from it privately.

Choosing a B&B

An unusual B&B in what was once an elementary school in Scawby, United Kingdom. Most are in private homes.

When choosing some aspects to analyze are:

  • What are you going to get? While some B & Bs are luxurious, there is generally everything to choose from. Find out what you can expect from one. What bed sizes do you have? Are the pillows foam or feather? Is the bathroom shared with other guests? What will breakfast be? It is included in the price?
  • Location. Investigate the entire area first. Is the location convenient to area attractions? If you plan to use public transport, is it close? Is the neighborhood safe and visually pleasing?
  • Pets. Do the hosts have pets? It is not uncommon for there to be cats and dogs. Are guests' pets welcome?
  • Kids. If you have any children with you, make sure they are welcome. If you don't want to have children around you, make sure they are not allowed.
  • Are there smoking (or non-smoking) rooms? Is it a smoke-free environment?
  • Ask if your special dietary needs.
  • Are they required reservations in advance? What is your cancellation policy?
  • Which are the check-in and check-out times? Usually B & Bs have a stricter policy than a hotel. There will not be a 24-hour receptionist to verify that you enter at 02:00 if you are arriving quite late; In addition, breakfast is generally available only at certain times or by agreement.
  • Is there a minimum length of stay?

Understand

In general, a Bed & Breakfast is owned and managed by an individual. If you can't talk to someone you know who has visited the place, it's a good idea to pay them a visit first or call the owner. Ask about the property and the type of visitors it typically attracts. Some offer "specialties" such as horseback riding, dinners gourmet and weddings. Some serve seniors, sexual minorities, adults without children, cyclists, or other niche markets. A few employ novel architecture or adapt themselves to unusual locations such as decommissioned lighthouses, museum ships, working farms, or private islands reachable only by crossing with small boats. Don't be shy, ask your questions, they will appreciate the call and will probably provide information about the facilities and the area.

B&B offerings range from castles to cheap rooms near hunting or fishing grounds. All furniture, and sometimes sports equipment (either as a courtesy or at an additional cost) are the property of the property owner. In these days of digital photography, it is not uncommon for the homeowner to take a photographic inventory of the room prior to occupancy. Make sure that anything you remove from the room or property is in plain view before you leave, in order to avoid the value of the goods being charged to the cost of the stay. No one would want to have to pay an additional $ 350 for an 18th century ashtray.

While there are hundreds of bed and breakfast websites, their quality varies widely. Many of the best B & Bs have hardly any web presence as a simple directory listing, while others feature a selection of brand-new color photographs, an availability calendar with easy online reservations, a toll-free contact number, and information. easy to navigate. Unlike a large chain hotel, it is difficult to evaluate a local B&B based solely on a standardized list of services posted on a website. Each is unique in its own way as its owners, many of whom are passionate about what they do and can change the B&B experience. When available, the comments of other travelers will usually give a clearer picture, and a little "reading between the lines" will tell you a lot and help you make the most appropriate quality decision for your vacation or rest, to ensure that they are met. your expectations.

Regional differences

In some regions, breakfast is not always served. In other establishments a basic "continental breakfast" might be no more than coffee and pastries. Make sure you understand it when booking.

  • In Cuba These types of accommodation can be known as particular houses.
  • In France B & Bs are called chambres d'hôtes. These are legally required to serve breakfast. On the other hand, in gîte breakfast is not necessarily included in the rate; These are often rental cabins or self-catering holiday homes.
  • In Quebec B & Bs are mentioned as gîte du passant, gîte et déjeuner or coffee et couette. The denomination is different from the one used in France.
  • In Spain B & Bs are called guest houses.
  • In Netherlands the oldest pensions are those that are usually used for B & Bs.
  • In United States historically (1930 to 1960) the tourist home (tourist house) referred to the first establishments similar to B & Bs. These were initially a boarding house or short-stay residence in a private home, representing a low-cost alternative to hotels during the Great Depression and serving African-American travelers at a time when discrimination and segregation were widespread. racial.

Associations

Canada

In Canada There is no single national association, but most provinces have an association at the provincial level with various inclusion criteria:

  • Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association (Alberta)
  • British Columbia Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild (British columbia)
  • Saskatchewan Bed and Breakfast Association (Saskatchewan)
  • Bed and Breakfast Association of Manitoba (Manitoba)
  • Federation of Ontario Bed & Breakfast Accommodation (Ontario)
  • New Brunswick Bed and Breakfasts and Inns Association (New brunswick)
  • Bed & Breakfast and Country Inns Association of Prince Edward Island (Prince edward island)
  • Nova Scotia Bed and Breakfast Association (New Scotland)
  • Bed and Breakfast Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Bed and Breakfast Association of the Yukon (Yukon)

Quebec is divided into 17 administrative regions in which there are many associations at the regional level. In regions across Canada too there are more than a hundred local B&B associations.

There are specialized associations that are dedicated to specific interests such as agritourism, for example Terroir et Saveurs in Quebec.

The classification system more common Canada Select, although there are others at the provincial or regional level. There are several B&B directories such as bbcanada.com, publications from local or regional tourist offices, and a few printed books.

Spain

Several regions of Spain have their own associations and there are many commercial websites that offer reservation services and information on rural houses. Some country houses also offer self-catering accommodation.

United States

France

New Zealand

United Kingdom

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