Article Read. You Can Find All Kind of Articles

Search

• Auto and Trucks
• Education
• Family
• Food and Drink
• Gadgets and Gizmos
• Health
• Hobbies
• Home Improvement
• Kids and Teens
• Legal Matters
• Parenting
• Pets and Animals
• Recreation and Sports
• Site Promotion
• Travel and Leisure
• Web Development
• Women
• Writing

 by: Cliff Calderwood

Inns are a delightful alternative to hotels and resorts. They can be just the right ticket for your vacation, providing you understand how they work and function.

Are they for everybody?

No, theyre not. But heres the answers to some basic questions to determine if its the type of accommodation thatll work for you

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INNS AND BED AND BREAKFASTS?

Lets start by clearing up any confusion on the differences between inns and bed and breakfasts. And its not so much in the name as how they advertise themselves.

Firstly, theres no difference in accommodation. The charm of a bed and breakfast can be every bit as good as the personality of an inn. The difference is the prepared meals. A bed and breakfast is just that expect a bed and a breakfast, but youre on your own for dinner. But at inns, theyre set-up to provide dinner as well, although its usually an option, and not included in the quoted price. The listing will be very clear if dinner is offered. But assume its just bed and breakfast if nothing is mentioned.

In many areas of the world inns and bed and breakfasts are also called guesthouses.

ARE THEY RIGHT FOR MY KIDS?

When an inn says kids are welcome, then youd better believe they really mean theyre kid friendly. Now theres nothing wrong with that (I have three myself), but dont expect too much piece and quiet and solitude.

Youll find a number of listings that put age restriction on children. For example theyll say something like: 12 or older, or above 6-years old. Theyre not being mean. Its just these places are also catering to a single or couple looking for a chance to unwind and free of noise and high activity. If youve got high-action kids then bed and breakfasts may not be ideal for your family.

WHAT SERVICE CAN I EXPECT?

Staying in inns is very different than staying at a hotel. You shouldnt expect a country inn to be like a Sheraton, with hordes of staff at your beck and call, and soundproof walls. Also, having a party and playing loud music after 11:00pm wont win you any brownie points with your host or the other guests.

Remember... the innkeeper or host is there to provide you, and other guests, with a unique experience in unique surroundings, but to do that theyll need your understanding.

WHATS THE USUAL CHECK-IN TIME?

Your host will go out of their way to greet you when you check-in. Usually when you reserve youll be told when their normal check-in period is. But most can accommodate you arrivals outside those hours.

But you need to let them know if youll be late so they can arrange for you to get into the house (yes, the doors are locked after a certain hour), and to your room. Its one thing to show up at midnight at your hotel theyre staffed round the clock - but its entirely another matter to roll-in after 11:00pm at an inn, and expect your host to get out of bed and greet you smiling.

CAN YOU NEGOTIATE PRICE?

You bet you can!

Just like hotels the room rate for inns is negotiable. The main difference is unlike a hotel, the person on the other end of a phone is usually the owner of the bed and breakfast, and they can make the decision on the spot. All you have to do is ask in a nice way.

Just remember the innkeeper may only have a few rooms to begin with anyway, and if your haggling over the last room then dont be offended if its no dice on a price reduction. But on the other hand one room of a four-room inn without a paying guest reduces a hosts profit by 25%. So its always worth asking for a reduction!

HOW MUCH CAN YOU REALLY SAVE?

Off-peak travel will save you a bundle.

Most inns can book their weekends months in advance. But filling the rooms during the week, particularly off-season, is much more difficult. Youll get the best deals for bed and breakfasts traveling mid-week and out of season. Now contrast this with hotels that have the opposite problem, because they cater to the mid-week business traveler, but cant get people in rooms at the weekends.

I love staying in inns. Theyve a lot going for them. Inns are usually very affordable, offer tons more variety than a bland hotel room, and are a great way to meet fellow travelers or vacationers. Youll find web sites devoted to inn and bed and breakfast listings now so crank up Yahoo or Google and get searching and saving!

About The Author

Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of New-England-Vacations-Guide.com. This is adapted from a longer article on inns, and you can read the full article and get a free downloadable copy of his complete travel guide at http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com.