 | Breakfast is normally included in the room rate at most inns, but taxes
are not, and will vary from location to location, since some municipalities will levy
taxes along with a state's tourism tax and possible sales taxes in certain areas. So
generally you would need to ask if you want to know how much the tax will be.
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| If making your reservation by phone, call during hours that you wouldn't
mind being called yourself. B&Bs are not hotels with 24-hour desk clerks.
If requesting a reservation via e-mail, do it any old time.
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| Breakfast is usually "chef's choice" with either a designated
serving time or your choice of a serving time. It is wise to notify the innkeeper in
advance of your arrival if you have dietary restrictions or allergies affected by
feathers, certain pets, etc., since the inn may have feather pillows and some innkeepers
have pets of their own. Innkeepers will try to accommodate special needs whenever
possible if they have time to prepare for them.
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| Make reservations as early as possible. B & Bs have just a few
rooms, and may have nothing available for your special date. (Most members will assist in
finding alternate accommodations. Don't hesitate to ask.)
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| Many inns do not permit guests to smoke inside. However, most
facilities will allow smoking outside. It is good to clarify the inn's policy ahead
of time regarding these matters if you are not sure.
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| Most B&Bs will not be "Handicap Accessible," or will have
limited rooms that are, so definitely inquire ahead of time if this is a necessity.
If stairs would be a problem, this should also be addressed, since ground floor rooms may
not always be available.
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| Most facilities are small businesses who must have precise cancellation
policies that will be different from hotels and motels because they do not have either the
number of rooms or the quantity of traffic that larger places have.
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| Should you need to cancel, do so as early as possible. Remember that
your room may represent 25% or more of the innkeeper's income and it may be difficult to
fill the room at the last minute.
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| B&Bs tend to be individually decorated by their owners with quality
furniture, artwork, and antiques and are not usually child proof. Well behaved
children are nevertheless welcome at some B&Bs, while some have certain age
restrictions regarding children, and some do not accept any children at all. If you
are traveling with children, it is always wise to ask about any reservations that involve
more than the usual "double occupancy" standard. Parents are responsible at all
times for the actions of their children.
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| Most B&Bs do not accept pets. Those that do may have special
policies regarding the size of the pet, and the rooms that pets are welcome in.
Please notify the management at the time you make the reservation if you are traveling
with a pet. REMEMBER: Never leave a pet unattended in a strange place.
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| Some inns will have definite check-in times, while others will allow
more flexibility. But you should ALWAYS call the inn if you see that you are going
to be unable to arrive as requested by the innkeeper or at the time you advised them you
would.
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| The innkeeper or owner usually serves as a friendly, helpful, personal
host while you are the guest. Feel free to ask them about restaurants, things to see
and do, directions to places you want to go, etc.
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| While breakfast is always included in the room rate, some inns serve
other meals regularly, or for special events or occasions, so you may want to ask about
this or notify the innkeeper if you are interested in arranging extra meals. Some
B&Bs offer complimentary snacks also.
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