B & Bs

[window]

We're travelling to do some visiting and the Mrs decided it might be fun to stay at a B & B, which we've never done in 30 years of togetherness. Thoughts? I suppose the experience fun factor might depend on the establishment. I was curious about etiquette, gratuity, and any things a rookie should be on the lookout for or ask about. Thanks in advance.

[KevMcNJ]

Theres a nice one on New Hampshire

[comfortably numb]

I will be of no help.
We stayed at one in Santa Barbara and were awakened multiple times by racoons in the crawl space.
When we mentioned this to our hosts the next morning they just smiled and said something to the effect that yes, they can be a problem.
That was the last time.

[comfortably numb]

There's a nice one on New Hampshire

"You stump jumping syrup sucker."

[Neshaminy]

B&Bs are so amazingly different, some the owners live in the building, some they live on the property, some they live elsewhere....private bathrooms are a must as well as a great room of some type where you can socialize in the evening as to be there by yourself is nice once in a while, but it gets a bit old being the lone souls in the building all the time. Unless that's the goal . You meet some fascinating personalities as well as are able to get some insight should someone have visited where you're going in the next few days and visa versa.....and some of the owners' breakfasts can be works of art.....it it definitely something we like to do occasionally, but a steady diet is social overload......and don't get one with a small local pub on the first floor playing live music till midnight......sometimes you just want to sleep.

[Snow61]

I've stayed in a few and Neshaminy is right. A private bathroom is a must and some of the breakfasts are a work of art. But as he said each one is different. Now a days, most will have a website so check them out. Most provide some type of breakfast, whether it's a buffet or delivered to your room and a social hour before dinner with appetizers and cocktails. I've stayed in luxury B&Bs and rustic B&Bs. Enjoyed them both. There's a warmth to them that you don't get in a Hotel/Motel.

[Hardscrabble]

Theres a nice one on New Hampshire

That one ain't real...it was all a dream Bob had before he woke up back in his Chicago condo laying in bed with Suzanne Pleshette...

[Truth Detector]

Bed & Breakfasts....or, as I refer to them...SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE!!!!

I have stayed in many over the years and I have no doubt that they are perfect for the right person. I'm just not the right person.

The first one I stayed in was in northern Indiana. It was a very large old farmhouse that had been very nicely updated. A little too much fluff for me but it was nice. My biggest pet peeve was the absence of a TV in my bedroom. I asked the owners and they said that I was welcome to watch TV in the family room with them. Next thing I know I'm sitting on the couch with the dad & his two sons (younger than 10) while the mom was getting us a bowl of ice cream. These folks were incredibly nice and a very attractive family but it was just creepy. It was almost like a dream.

I dunno. Not for me.

[Snow61]

True, most B & Bs do not have a TV in your room. A B & B is a place to reconnect with your spouse or just shed the everyday stress of the real world and reconnect with your inner peace.

If you're in a room with a private balcony looking out over a spectacular view, have a fire place, sky lights above your bed, a two person jacuzzi tub, luxury linens, plush surrounding and you go looking for a TV, you're kind of missing the point.

[Truth Detector]

If you're in a room with a private balcony looking out over a spectacular view, have a fire place, sky lights above your bed, a two person jacuzzi tub, luxury linens, plush surrounding and you go looking for a TV, you're kind of missing the point.

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

Uh, I did mention that I was in a northern Indiana farm house, right?

[Snow61]

Uh, I did mention that I was in a northern Indiana farm house, right?

You were staying with the Amish? They aren't suppose to have TVs. They must have been a rebellious Amish family.

Please note: if you're Amish and are offended by this post you have my apologies. You shouldn't be on the internet anyway.

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

I'll admit it, I'm stumped. I just don't know what to say about that.

[DavidM]

My wife and I have stayed at many B&B’s. I tend to like the older more historic places. We’ve been very lucky in that we’ve always had great experiences at the places we stayed. Have always had the privacy we needed and met so really nice folks too!

https://www.stoneycreekfarm.com/

Very close to the Antietam Battlefield. History of the farm dates back to the 1790. Easy access to Harpers Ferry.

http://www.carriageinn.com/

The Carriage Inn was our first B&B stay. Slept in the Carriage House Suite.

http://www.bramptoninn.com/

It’s an old plantation house on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. One of the best B&B I’ve ever stayed at! Chestertown is a great place to visit during your stay.

http://www.deepcreekinns.com/

Lake Pointe Inn a great winter B&B with Skiing at Wisp very close by. It’s right on Deep Creek Lake. I loved the great big stone fire place. Nice place to enjoy a glass of wine after a day on the slopes!

http://www.huntingfield.com/

Inn at Huntingfield Creek another great Maryland eastern shore destination. The inn sites on 70 acres right on the Chesapeake Bay.

http://goodstone.com/

It’s located in Middleburg Va., Wine and Horse country, very quiet and private. We stayed in The French Farm Cottage, we had the place to ourselves the weekend we were there.

[Ren Butler]

I loved Ghent House in Ghent, Kentucky, overlooking the Ohio River. It was one of the closest places to Kentucky Speedway, back when that place still mattered to IndyCar. I believe a few crew members stayed in the same building as us that race weekend, but they ate and left before we even woke up.

It was right across from Vevay, IN, which apparently had a festival that weekend. To our surprise, they set off fireworks from our side of the river -- which we watched from our balcony. Amazing.

Too bad it was with the first wife though. Otherwise, it is a good memory.

[Ren Butler]

BTW, I agree that there is a HUGE disparity between B&Bs -- just like any hotel. I've been to good ones, and not-so-good ones. Do lots of research.

I've also found that the proprietors will give you as much privacy as you desire.

[BigWheelHawaii]

Bed & Breakfasts....or, as I refer to them...SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE!!!!

I have stayed in many over the years and I have no doubt that they are perfect for the right person. I'm just not the right person.

The first one I stayed in was in northern Indiana. It was a very large old farmhouse that had been very nicely updated. A little too much fluff for me but it was nice. My biggest pet peeve was the absence of a TV in my bedroom. I asked the owners and they said that I was welcome to watch TV in the family room with them. Next thing I know I'm sitting on the couch with the dad & his two sons (younger than 10) while the mom was getting us a bowl of ice cream. These folks were incredibly nice and a very attractive family but it was just creepy. It was almost like a dream.

I dunno. Not for me.

Aloha Truthie,,,,

I Got One For You,,,

I Spent a Couple of Days Here,,, Great Place,,,

Great Breakfast,,,
Always on Time,,,
But I Never Got Any Ice Cream,,,

Big


[IMG][/IMG]

[Truth Detector]

[comfortably numb]

Geese on the walls...

[lutesk]

Aloha Truthie,,,,

I Got One For You,,,

I Spent a Couple of Days Here,,, Great Place,,,

Great Breakfast,,,
Always on Time,,,
But I Never Got Any Ice Cream,,,

Big


[IMG][/IMG]

Hey Big, have you ever given yourself a bingo award? If not, that post deserves you one.

[cdnojibwedude]

The North Shore of Minnesota is beautiful this time of year. Beautiful drive up Minnesota 61 north of Duluth to the Canadian border.

[fasteddy]

Wife and I have stayed at many B&Bs over the years, we love it. We have met some VERY interesting people, and of course some not so interesting. But that's the fun of it. There are some places called B&Bs that really aren't, IMO, but that doesn't necessarily make them bad places to stay. Breakfasts vary from excellent to pretty good, only recall one really bad one, in Bloomington IN. We stayed at a B&B in Clear Lake IA, and at breakfast my wife was going on and on (she talks alot) about what great B&B it was. Finally a woman at the table tells us they were there to consider buying the place, and my wife just talked them into doing so! We went back a year or so later and there they were. This a good website: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/

[Jamski]

Highly recommend the Kintner House in Corydon. Shell and I spent our honeymoon there twenty years ago and it's still gorgeous. Just off the square in a perfectly lovely and historic town, several excellent antique stores, a couple of terrific book stores, and just a few hundred feet away you've got Butt Drugs.

I mean, what more could you want in a romantic weekend?

[Snow61]

, and just a few hundred feet away you've got Butt Drugs.

Gotta love a Drug store that has it's own fan T-Shirts.

[Jamski]

Gotta love a Drug store that has it's own fan T-Shirts.

And a great soda fountain!

[Gomer Simpson]

Bed & Breakfasts....or, as I refer to them...SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE!!!!

Exactly how I feel about it. Not just somebody else's house, but some stranger's house. The whole thing seems a little creepy, to me. I'll stick with my sterile hotel rooms.

[Frank Capua]

B&Bs were always something I figured that I could save for when I got too old to have fun any more and would be amused by folksy stuff. I'm only 60 so say maybe in another 30 - 40 years if they are still around I might consider it.

Having said that every summer when I come up for the 500 I stay at my Mom's, a Sister or two and maybe a night or two at a friends house if we partied too much for me to drive back to the west-side the night before... so I've had the B&B experience even if I've never stayed at an actual B&B.

BTW I rate Mom's the best because of the food served there.

[window]

Thanks. We'll go, take our chances and I'll let ya know. I need to see if they have WiFi, otherwise I'll have to make my race picks two races in advance. Not that it matters, but..

[Snow61]

Did some of you check out the links DavidM posted. Those place are absolutely beautiful. Pure luxury and some of them even have TVs.

The ones I've been to have been on the West Coast. Two of my favorites.

http://www.whalewatchinn.com/default.asp In Medocino County, CA

http://www.sevenupguestranch.com/rooms.htm Located in Fairplay, CA in the Sierra NV foothills. New ownership since the last time we were there.

[mattndallas]

First trip to Ireland for golf, did only B&B's...it was a highlight when I had either a room with a TV, or better yet, my own bathroom. VERY hit or miss, but acceptable.

Last time we opted for "independent-owned hotels, near the towne centre(s)". Still quaint and stuff, but more of the "small hotel" feel that most are probably looking for.

TD is right, some of those rustic B&B's in Ireland are like sleeping in someone else's house....VERY weird getting used to.