rec.travel.bed+breakfast Frequently Asked Questions
version 1.1 * 9/6/2000
This FAQ is regularly posted to the above newsgroup and is maintained by InnSite.
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Some Important Questions:
What is the purpose of this group?
This is a newsgroup forum for bed and breakfast guests.
Expected topics of discussion include (but are not limited to):
- past and current B&B guest experiences
- referrals and recommendations
- suggestions to guests and innkeepers
- reviews of guidebooks and other B&B travel resources
- discussions on food, amenities, locations, recreation, pricing, licenses,
certifications, and discounts of B&Bs and country inns
- and just general collaboration and comradery.
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Is there a B&B out there for me?
There is a B&B out there for everyone. The beauty of the industry is its
incredible variety of sizes and shapes.
Just what exactly is a B&B anyway? What about a country inn?
There is no singular definition. Each innkeeper, traveller, association, travel
writer, zoning official and legislator makes up h/her own, depending upon the
need. What you'll find below is our attempt to delineate some differences and
define some similarities.
The B&B/country inn industry's overall goal, with regard to definitions,
should be to provide guidance and clarity for the potential inn guest.
National Definitions & Distinctions according to the Professional Association
of Innkeepers International
Homestay, host home
This type of establishment is an owner-occupied private home where the business
of paying guests is secondary to its use as a private residence. The hosts are
primarily interested in meeting new people and making some additional monies
while continuing their present employment or retirement. Frequently located
in residential areas, zoning or other government restrictions may prevent the
use of signs, public advertising, etc.
Usually between 1-4 rooms, these homes are often a member of, and usually
inspected by a reservation service organization (RSO) but are rarely required
to be licensed or inspected by local applicable governmental agencies. You
may be required to make reserevations only through an RSO. Breakfast is the
only meal served. In some instances, it may be an unhosted apartment where
breakfast is self-serve.
B&B, bed-and-breakfast
Formerly a single family dwelling in the 4- 5-room range, this owner-occupied
establishment has an equally mixed use as home and lodging with lodging superseding
home more often than not. It is located in a legally zoned area and meets all
the tax, fire, building and health requirements for this size and use of property.
This establishment advertises publicly and can legally post a sign. Like
the homestay or host home, because of its size, these B&Bs usually cannot
support a family unit, so the B&B is often one partner's job and the other
has outside income. Frequently the property is purchased specifically to be
a B&B, but many are converted family homes. Reservations are made directly
with the property.
Bed & breakfast inn
Generally small, owner-operated businesses providing the primary financial support
of the owner. Usually the owner lives on premises. The building's primary usage
is for business. Inns advertise, have business licenses, produce their own brochures,
comply with government ordinances, pay all appropriate taxes and post signs.
Breakfast is the only meal served and only to overnight guests. The inn may
host events such as weddings, small business meetings, etc.
Room numbers range from 5-20 with a small, but increasing number up to 30.
Reservations may be made directly with the property. Note: The distinction
between a "B&B" and a "B&B inn" is often not readily apparent to the guest,
except with regard to building usage.
Country inn
A business offering overnight lodging and meals where the owner is actively
involved in daily operations, often living on site. These establishments are,
in fact, bed-and-breakfast inns which serve at least one meal in addition to
breakfast, and operate as "restaurants" as well as overnight lodging accommodations.
Modified American plan (MAP) country inns serve dinner to overnight guests only,
and the cost of dinner and breakfast is generally included in the room rate.
A country inn with a full-service restaurant serves these additional meals to
the general public. To be a country inn, a property does not have to be located
in a rural area. Room numbers tend to range from 6 to 30.
To understand bed-and-breakfast/country inn in the context of other properties
that are confused with bed and breakfast, the following definitions are included:
Boutique inn, small luxury hotel
This group of properties, by name, are expensive and elaborately decorated.
They often provide hotel-like services with a personal touch from employees.
The size ranges from 15-50 rooms. The owner may be involved in daily operation,
but generally a manager is responsible to a corporation. Meal service is usually
breakfast only, but in some instances very high-quality dinner and/or lunch
service and room service are also provided.
Bed-and-breakfast hotel
These are 30+-room historic properties offering breakfast that can only be considered
hotels. Only the historic structure, and perhaps some decorating components
and breakfast provide the B&B feel.
Although all of the above categories view themselves as providing these
below-listed characteristics, in reality, the larger the property -- and particularly
if the owner is not actively involved in daily operations and guest interaction
-- the property moves rapidly into the "hotel" perception in the minds of
the traveller.
- Generous hospitality and personal attention to guests
- Architecturally interesting or historic structure
- Owner involvement in business
- Clean and comfortable ambiance and surroundings
- Individually decorated rooms
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What is an RSO?
A reservation service organization is in business to match guests and B&B/country
inns. RSOs represent a variety of properties -- although most are private
homes -- and usually cover a specific geographic area. Guests call one telephone
number, usually toll-free, to make reservations. The property pays the RSO
directly for their services; guests do not pay a fee. Often, particularly
in urban areas, this matching of guest and innkeeper gives you an opportunity
to stay at a property otherwise not available.
What questions should I ask when I call a B&B?
Travelling the B&B way is a wonderful way to see the world and achieve the sense
of place for where you are. You'll talk with owners who know and love where
they live. They know the greatest local place to eat; the gallery or shop you
must not miss; the best jogging trail, etc. It can be the greatest of serendipitous
experiences. And because each is unique, complete with its own wonder, you want
to know if this is the right place for you.
Some of these questions are only important as they relate to a specific
geographic area (there's rarely ever a need for air conditioning in Mendocino,
California).
- The area. What is there to do and how far from the inn is it?
- Do they accept pets? How about children?
- What is their cancellation policy?
- Do they take credit cards?
- Is it air conditioned?
- Telephone in the room? Someplace in the inn where it can be used in private?
- Is smoking allowed?
- Can they accommodate special dietary needs, i.e. no-dairy, low-sodium
- Can you get breakfast in your room?
- Do they provide an early breakfast if you must depart before the scheduled
breakfast time?
- Any special discounts, i.e. AARP, AAA?
- What type of breakfast is served, i.e. continental, full?
- Is there a parlour or common room will you'll have a chance to chat with
other guests?
- What bed sizes does the inn have, i.e. double, queen, king?
- Do they have private baths? (If not, how many rooms share a bath?)
- Can they accommodate an early arrival? How about a late checkout?
- Is the property accessible? How about hearing or visual aids?
- Where is the parking area for your car? Is there a charge?
- What kind of fireplaces do they have, i.e. real wood, gas-burning?
- Is There a two-night minimum?
Innkeepers want you to have a great stay. If it is important to you, ask
-- before you commit.
Are people with alternative lifestyles (gay, unmarried, mixed race couples)
welcome at B&Bs? What can I do if a B&B won't accept me for such reasons?
Most B&Bs accommodate alternative lifestyles; however, some homestay hosts
would rather not accept into their homes guests whose lifestyles conflict with
the hosts' values. While such actions may or may not violate local laws, a major
part of the charm of many homestays, personal interaction with the hosts, would
be lost. If this is a concern for you, please discuss the issue before you make
a reservation.
Where can I find out about more B&Bs on the World Wide Web?
There are a number of B&B directories and guidebooks available on the Web. Some
of these are listed on the "B&B Directories on the WWW" page at: http://www.paii.org/directories.html
InnCrawler is a search engine that searches all of the B&B directories on
the Web all at once. It is located at: http://www.inncrawler.com
Where can I get archives of past postings to the newsgroup?
You can access searchable archives of rec.travel.bed+breakfast at http://www.innsite.com/rtbb/
Are there any legal notices or restrictions for this discussion forum that
I should know about?
Yes, please read our Discussion Forums / Chat Room
Agreement at http://www.innsite.com/legalchatroom.html
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