Why you should plan your next trip to a bed and breakfast
Kick up your feet with a bed and breakfast stay—a sincere home away from home with plenty of perks.
A good night’s rest, an adventure planned for the day, and a home-cooked breakfast ready in the morning—what else could you need? Though the battle between hotels and vacation rentals continues, there’s a fairly overlooked contender when it comes to the best way to vacation—the classic B&B. Few stays hold more charm or value than a bed and breakfast, where you can enjoy the same comfort and accommodations as your typical hotel, but with the added benefit of a more personalized experience, a feel for the local culture, and excellent sightseeing recommendations from the B&B owners. (Plus your most important meal of the day is already taken care of.)
What are the main takeaways from the bed and breakfast vs. short-term rental debate? We’re so glad you asked.
A bed and breakfast stay doesn’t compromise on quality compared to a chain hotel’s comforts—you’ll still have plenty of room for your luggage, a clean, cozy bed, and whatever room arrangements you might need. You can skip the impersonal hotel desk and generic cookie-cutter rooms for charming and unique suites in a (often historical) family home.
With a family-style stay comes the family treatment, which often means perks and amenities that boutique hotels short-change you for. Along with a home-cooked breakfast in the morning, most bed and breakfasts offer free WiFi, parking, laundry services, snacks, DVD libraries, and board games. Since B&B’s are smaller-scale and individually-operated, you can enjoy more personalized attention and seamless customer service. The owners are typically on-site and easier to contact if you’re in need of an extra towel or an answer to your questions. Roll out of bed in the morning, dig into a stack of pancakes, and make the most of your vacation.
Staying at a B&B is the best way to get to know somewhere new if you’ve never traveled there before. Since bed and breakfasts are frequently located conveniently to a downtown area or the coastline, you’ll be in a great starting point for exploring. B&B owners make for excellent tour guides when it comes to tips on what to see and where to eat, and for getting a general feel for the area’s local culture. (They might even have discounts for activities and attractions in town.) Get the inside scoop on hidden gem trails, an opinion on the best restaurant for a late-night dinner, or which sightseeing tour company to skip.
Pair your travel plans with a home base as memorable as your itinerary activities. Unlike hotels, bed and breakfasts are individually owned and differ from one to the next, boasting different histories, decor, and even themed suites. Treat yourself to a stay that feels like home away from home—a personalized experience that adds to your story, rather than forgetting which hotel chain you visited as soon as you leave.
