Friday, August 1, 2008

B&B 101, Chapter 3

Here we go on Chapter 3. You decided on the town, and looked at your options on where a B&B is located in that town. You looked at what the B&B looks like. Now it’s time to see if a particular B&B is a good fit for you.

Most B&B’s do not allow smoking, children or pets.

Polices are different at each inn, so verify them by phone before you make your reservation. Policies not only vary between B&B’s but even at the same B&B there may be some rooms that are appropriate for children while the rest of the inn is not child friendly. The same policy may be true with pets. For all policies, don't assume - ASK.

At The Craftsman B&B, we do not allow pets. You have me, Oscar Meier, to pet, scratch and photograph. You don’t have to walk me, feed me or deal with any other services a 100-pound dog may need. You only get the good part of dog life.

We do not allow children under 18 unless you book the whole house. We are a destination people seek out to relax and unwind. A lot of our guests are celebrating anniversaries and birthdays. Some have come here to propose on the beach. Some need time away from the daily family life. That said, The Craftsman B&B is a kid free haven for our guests. When you had your child, people may have told you your life would change. One of the changes is that you won’t be able to stay at most B&B’s. That said, if you are planning a family get together and want to book the entire house, we could do that, kids and all.

Ask about deposit and cancellation policies before you book. Your deposit means you are committing to the B&B and they are committing to have your room for you. Since cancellations affect a small B&B greatly, they will often result in a forfeiture of your deposit. Our cancellation policy requires 7 days notice. After 7 days, a refund of a gift certificate if the room is re-booked.

Ask about check in and check out times. Try to arrive within them. Innkeepers can usually be flexible if you need special arrangements. Since innkeepers are expecting you and want to be there to greet you, be courteous and let them know if your arrival time changes. Arriving early may mean you miss out on a special service planned for check in time. Here at The Craftsman B&B, Mike makes cookies, brownies or something tasty every day at 4:00, the check in time.

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