Bed and breakfasts

A bed and breakfast (often abbreviated to Bed & Breakfast, B and B, BnB or BB) is an lodging type that really just modernizes the age-old, world-wide training of travellers staying at a private residence or boarding house, often with a full breakfast included.

The host family's local knowledge is often a tremendous asset in ensuring a rewarding stay. Typically there are just a few rooms and personal contact is much greater than in a hotel or motel setting. Sometimes the Bed & Breakfast is a converted old stately residence with the owner's family acting as staff. Bed and breakfast travelling has a loyal following as many find that they get a "home away from home" experience, often with better value than with hotel or motel stays.

Amenities

In developed countries today, providing deluxe bed and breakfasts has been raised to a sort of art-form. At the top end, Bed & Breakfasts obviously compete mainly on two main things: bedding and breakfast. Accordingly, at the finest such establishments one is apt to find the most luxurious bedding, maybe a handmade quilt or an antique bed. Breakfast may include seasonal delights of the region or the host's speciality dish. The setting might be an historic old building with antique furnishings, manicured grounds and a swimming pool.

On the other hand, almost anyone can set up a spare room and provide a breakfast. Especially where lodging is not regulated, anything is feasible. Indeed, some travellers might find an affordable basic, clean room and bed to be the best value for them. Many of the same advantages could apply—such as convenient location and good hosts sharing knowledge of the locale.

A wide range of amenities may be provided. Bed & Breakfasts may offer workshops on cooking, crafts, or wellness. Packages for theatre, golf, dinner, tours or adventure tours are sometimes offered.

Showers and WC's may be shared with other guests or "en-suite"—directly accessed from the room and private.

Choosing a bed and breakfast

The Old School, Scawby - - 518357 - An unusual Bed & Breakfast in a former primary school in Scawby in the United Kingdom - most are in private homes.

Some considerations when choosing are:

What are you getting? While many Bed & Breakfasts are luxurious and they range all the way to sub-bargain. Find out what you can expect. What bed sizes are available? Are the pillows foam or down? Is the bathroom shared? What is the breakfast selection like and is it included in the price?

Location, location, location. Research the area first is the location convenient to the attractions of the area? If you will be using public transportation, is it nearby? Is the neighbourhood safe and aesthetically pleasing?

Pets. Do the hosts have pets? Dogs and cats are not uncommon. Are guest pets welcome?

Children. If you are bringing any, make sure they are welcome. If you don't want any around, make sure they are not.

Non-smoking (or smoking) rooms?Is it a smoke free environment?

Ask if your special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Are advance reservations required? What is the cancellation policy?

What are the check-in/check-out times? Typically Bed & Breakfasts have a stricter policy than a hotel. There won't be a 24-hour desk clerk to check you in at 02:00 if you are running badly late; breakfast is also only available at set times or by agreement.

Is there a minimum stay?

Bed and breakfasts Halal Travel Guide

Usually, a Bed & Breakfast is owned and managed by an individual. If you cannot speak to someone you know who has visited there, visit first, or a call to the owner would be a good idea. Ask about the property and the kind of visitor they normally attract. Some offer "specialities", like horse back riding, gourmet dining and weddings. Some cater to older people, travel|sexual minorities, childfree adults, bicyclists, or other niche markets. A few employ novelty architecture or adapt themselves to unusual locations such as decommissioned lighthouses, museum ships, working farms or private islands reachable only by cruising on small craft. Don't be shy, ask your questions; they will appreciate your call and likely send you information on their facility and the area.

Offerings for Bed & Breakfasts vary from castles to affordable rooms close to fishing or hunting camps. All of the furnishings and at times, sport equipment provided (as a courtesy or for an extra charge), are the property of the lodging owner. In these times of digital photography, it is not uncommon for the owner to photographically inventory the room prior to your occupancy. Make sure anything you remove from the room or property is in plain sight before leaving. This will prevent the items being billed to your credit card. You do not want to pay $350 for that cute 18th century ashtray.

While there are hundreds of area bed and breakfast websites and their quality varies widely. Many fine Bed & Breakfasts have no web presence beyond a simple directory listing, while others offer a selection of flattering colour photographs, an availability calendar with easy on-line reservations, a toll-free telephone service and ample easy-to-navigate information. Unlike a large chain hotel, a locally-owned Bed & Breakfast is difficult to assess based solely on a standardised list of amenities from a website. Each is as individual as its owners, many of whom are passionate about what they do and can make or break the Bed & Breakfast experience. Where available, comments from other travellers will make the picture clearer. A little “reading between the lines” will tell you a great deal and help you make the right quality choices for your vacation or break to ensure that your expectations are fully met.

Regional differences

In some areas breakfast is not always served. In other establishments, a bare-bones "continental breakfast" may be little more than coffee and pastries. Be sure to understand when booking.

In Cuba these types of lodgings may be referred to as a [[casa particular.

In France Bed & Breakfasts are called chambres d'hôtes. These are legally required to serve breakfast. France#Bed & Breakfasts and Gîtes|Gîte, on the other hand, does not imply that breakfast is included in the tariff; it often refers to rental cottages or self-catering holiday homes.

In Québec Bed & Breakfasts are variously called gîte du passant, gîte et déjeuner and café et couette; terminology differs from that used in France.

In Spain Bed & Breakfasts are called casas rurales.

In The Netherlands and the more old-fashioned pension may be used for a Bed & Breakfast.

In the United States historically (1930s–1960s), "tourist home" referred to early Bed & Breakfast-like establishments. Initially a short-stay rooming or boarding house in a private home and these represented an affordable alternative to hotels during the Great Depression and New Deal|Great Depression and served African-American travellers through an perioid of racial segregation and widespread discrimination.

Associations

Canada

There is no single national association, but most provinces have some form of provincial-level association with varying criteria for inclusion:

Alberta Bed and Breakfast Association:
British Columbia Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild:
Saskatchewan Bed and Breakfast Association:
Bed and Breakfast of Manitoba:
Federation of Ontario Bed & Breakfast Accommodation:
New Brunswick Bed and Breakfasts and Inns Association: ccommodation.com
Bed & Breakfast and Country Inns Association of Prince Edward Island:
Nova Scotia Bed and Breakfast Association:
Bed and Breakfast Association of Newfoundland and Labrador: (no website)
Bed and Breakfast Association of the Yukon: org

Québec is divided into 17 administrative regions, with many associations at the regional level. In regions across Canada and there are also more than a hundred local Bed & Breakfast associations: _associations.cfm

Specialist associations serve specific interests such as agrotourism; Terroir et Saveurs in Québec is one example:

The most common rating systems|rating system is Canada Select (canadaselect.com), although others exist provincially or regionally. Various directories of Bed & Breakfasts or lodgings are available, including bbcanada.com's website, publications from local or regional tourism bureaus and a few printed books.

France

Gîtes de France, 59 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75 439 PARIS Cedex 09, ☎ +33 1-49 70 75 75, fax : +33 1-42 81 28 53.
Fleurs de Soleil, BP 76332 22106 DINAN Cedex, Tel.: +33 951 677 980, contact :

New Zealand

Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand 7 Paraone Street, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 3013, New Zealand - ☎ +64 6-844 9630

Spain

Several regions in Spain have their own associations and there are many commercial websites offering booking services and information about casas rurales. Some casas rurales also offer self-catering lodging.

Asturias Asociación Regional de Casas de Aldea, c/Nueve de Mayo, nº 14, 1º Dcha. Oficina F, 33002 Oviedo, ☎ +34 985 227 067. Email:
Basque Country fault.aspx?lang=en-US Nekazalturismoa (Agrotourism), Edificio Kursaal, Avda. Zurriola 1, 20002 Donostia-San Sebastian, ☎ +34 902 130 031. Email:
Galicia Federación Galega de Turismo Rural, Rúa do Gozo, 18. San Marcos. 15820 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ☎ +34 981 569 306. Email:

United Kingdom

Bed and Breakfast Association c/o The Pheasants Bed & Breakfast, 24 Greenhill, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4EW, United Kingdom - ☎ +44 1935-81 52 52 +44 1935-81 29 38

USA

Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) 207 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 - ☎ +1-856-310-1102 +1-800-468-7244 +1-856-310-1105

Select Registry 501 East Michigan Av, PO Box 150, Marshall, MI 49068 - ☎ +1 269 789-0393 +1-800-344-5244 +1 269 789-0970

Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association , +1-888-575-1610 +1 616 575-0270

New Mexico Bed and Breakfast Association +1-800-661-6649