My husband and I just returned from a road trip. On our way home we spent the night in Arroyo Grande, CA at House of Another Tyme B&B, a restored Victorian aptly named for its large collection of clocks. At breakfast, we enjoyed swapping favorite vacation spots with another couple visiting from Washington. They were also retired and enjoyed taking road trips around the U.S.
It got me thinking about who stays at bed and breakfasts. We’ve met couples of all ages, mostly friendly and outgoing. If you like hearing other people’s stories, you’ll love the camaraderie that usually develops around the breakfast table. Once my husband and I met a couple at breakfast who lived around the corner from us. We’ve been friends ever since.
There’s been a resurgence of B&Bs over the past 20 years. You can find them in nearly every major city as well as small towns. B&Bs are lodging options where the owner lives on the premises. The host provides breakfast and offers guests personal services that can include directions, restaurant reservations and suggestions for local entertainment and sightseeing.
While we find them charming, many people avoid them, preferring the privacy and predictability of standard hotel accommodations. Many B&Bs promote themselves as romantic getaways, encouraging you to leave technology behind and skip the television as well. The experience can be like staying in a friends’ home where the innkeepers welcome you to their home.
They can be tiny and homey with just a few rooms available, or farms, log cabins, and even lighthouses. Variety is part of the thrill and surprises you’ll find at B&Bs, although the Internet now offers much more information and photos to help you decide.
We’ve had some memorable experiences in our several decades of staying at B&Bs—some positive and some not.
On one of our stays, the owner gave us the use of her entire home that included a rock sculpture shower overlooking the ocean. At another, the innkeeper resembled Anthony Perkins from the Bates Motel in Psycho. Our room had a shared bathroom but our neighbors wouldn’t let us use it, so we had to use an outdoor toilet.
If you’re interested in learning more about bed and breakfasts, check out this informative website.
Our positive experiences with B&Bs far outweigh the negative. About the only caveat I have to offer is that they aren’t always grandkid friendly as often there are antiques and breakables about. Also the rooms aren’t sound-proofed, so noise created by children may disturb other guests. Also, what is offered by a B&B can vary widely, so ask lots of questions. When it’s just my husband and I, we will almost always opt for a B&B instead of a hotel.