Bed and Breakfasts
 

I only vaguely knew what these were until I watched Borat.

I went to one the first time last Sunday. One of my dad's friends rented an area outside for his b-day party. Some of us took a tour inside, and I was totally fascinated. The rooms were very nice, I expected them to be sort of plain.

Has anyone ever stayed in a B&B? Did you like it better than staying in a nice hotel?

I love them-- it's much cozier and quieter than staying in a big hotel-- a much more personal experience with the staff than your typical Hilton or Marriott. And I think they are wonderful if you are having an event like a big party-- sometimes you can even get free rooms thrown in with your big affair. B&B's can be a lot more flexible to your needs b/c they're usually a small and family-run business. Plus, I think the rates are competitive to a typical hotel.

Then again, it depends on what you are looking for when you are on vacation.

Love them! Everywhere we traveled in Europe, we tried to stay in a B&B if we could. It was usually less expensive then a hotel, plus the rooms are cozier.
Stayed in one in Estes Park on our trip out to Colorado in May. VERY personalized service.

I can recommend the Crystal River Inn in San Marcos, TX very highly! The best part is breakfast - yummy!

We stay in these anytime we're out in the sticks. Very nice.

Beats the hell out of a tent (which is typically plan B).

A nice change from big hotels.

If you like to be up, washed and dressed by a certain time, be back for dinner at a certain time, have no food or pet allergies, and possibly share a bathroom with complete strangers, then you'd like Bed & Breakfasts. If you think you're going to save money at one, forget the idea immediately.

I've only stayed at one, and trust me, it will be the last time. The place was beautiful, the company pleasant - but it continually felt as if we were staying with old Aunt Effie and her 15 cats. We had to cross a wide hall and staircase every time we needed to use the bathroom, and there wasn't even a shower. As I said before, it wasn't as if we saved any money by staying there; I'd be willing to guess that we actually paid more.

Give me the impersonal but sanitary conditions of a good hotel over a B&B anytime!

Pamela Laniers B& B site is a great link to B & Bs throughout the country. You can sign up for their newsletter.

Aw, HC, you just had a bad experience. There are tons that are lovely!

We've stayed in a few and always get rooms with private baths - I don't do bathroom sharing with strangers!!! And each one is different in terms of meal times and such. Actually, every one I have stayed at have had specific meal times, but if you weren't going to be awake or there, you just let them know and they'd provide you with someting else - usually wrapped in the fridge with your name on it.

And it depends on the area and what's available if you will save money over a regular hotel.

I love B&Bs. We stayed in one near Snowshoe, West Virginia ( that was incredible. It's been 10 years, but I can still invision the wonderful food. I have also stayed in B&Bs in Evansville, Indiana and in San Francisco. My advice is to call and ask plenty of questions- such as are there pets, do you have to share a bathroom, what time is breakfast, are other meals offered, etc.
They aren't necessarily cheaper than a hotel, but sometimes they have better locations than similarly priced hotels.

I've never stayed in one here in the states, but I've stayed in the all over Europe. Depends on what country you are in, but I'd say for the most part they are less expensive than hotels and you get much more personable service.

This is also a good listing of nice B&Bs and "country inns".

http://www.selectregistry.com/

I stayed at one of the properties listed and it was a wonderful experience!

The one I went to, the rooms were quite expensive. Not a problem if it's worth it. Most of the rooms had a private bathroom, in fact some of them had whirlpools.

It looked very couple oriented (ex. mirrors over beds and heart-shaped hot tubs). So do you have to be a couple to rent a room out? I forgot to ask the tour guide that.

How clean are they compared to hotel rooms? This is my biggest concern. Many places look clean, but once you turn over the cover and look at the sheets it's a whole different story.

The ones I have stayed in have been very clean, and all had private bathrooms.

Mirrors over the beds? Heart shaped tubs? Sounds like a bad night at the no-tell motel to me.
Cleanliness depends on the B&B proprietors and cleaning staff if they have one. I've stayed in super clean ones, and some that could have used a bit more dusting.

I also stayed in them while I was traveling on my own...you don't have to be a couple.