Bed and Breakfast Accommodations for Progressive Travelers
For as long as bed & breakfast hotels have been around, they have offered their guests accommodation at reasonable prices. It used to be that all you expected from a B&B was the basics, a firm bed, a shower, and a hot breakfast in the morning at a good price. Generally coming second only to hotel accommodation, B&Bs rarely competed with a hotel for luxury and services offered.
However, a new trend for travelers in the 21st century, particularly in North America, is to look to the B&B sector for their lodging needs. There are several reasons for this change, but the main one is that with the downturn in the economy, people still want to travel, but now they need to tighten their belts. Looking at bed and breakfast options makes economic sense.
The increase in bed and breakfast occupancy is coming from all sectors, the domestic market, international travelers looking for unique vacation accommodations and corporate travelers. As a result, more B&Bs, inns, and bed and breakfast hotels are upgrading their properties to offer upscale furnishings and provide additional amenities.
By offering attractive packages and pricing structures to travelers, B&Bs can compete with local hotels. Frequent flyer programs are popular with guests and are intended to generate business and encourage return customers. These types of programs usually involve free nights or discounts after a certain number of nights.
Americans often work long hours and time off is valued, so getting away for a few days is a welcome break from the routine. A weekend getaway is the perfect way to get away and within most people’s time limits. Business travelers are often encouraged to stay at a particular B&B if it offers a frequent traveler program and has the added bonus of free Wi-Fi Other business-friendly facilities such as an in-room desk, copiers and fax machines, relaxed atmosphere, cancellation policies and permitted late check-in and early breakfast are also incentives to book at particular bed and breakfast hotels rather than a hotel. Businesses also prefer the fact that they can book the entire inn as it means they are likely to get the full attention of hotel management, whereas if they had booked into a large convention hotel they would be competing with many other groups.
B&Bs also offer a unique way to experience the customs and daily life of a particular city. Often located right in the center of the city, they are also able to provide a higher level of care to their guests and offer rooms at competitive prices. As a guest of a chain hotel, you are likely to see staff when you check in and again when you check out. Staying in smaller bed and breakfast hotels allows you to meet the owners and their staff, people who have time to give you advice and information about the city. There are also possibilities to spend time in common rooms where you can meet other travelers.
Many people prefer the intimate atmosphere of a B&B compared to a hotel that can be sterile and noisy, and staff often have less time to interact with their guests. B&B’s offer travelers unique characteristics and stand out for their friendly atmosphere and personal touch. B&B guests are not just looking for a room to sleep in, but the whole experience of staying in accommodation that allows them to meet interesting people and receive all the luxuries they would expect from any accommodation option.
In general, staying in a bed and breakfast offers you more services and options than traditional hotels and it is a new and completely different experience than staying in a hotel, without a doubt it can make your stay in the city a much more pleasant event. The rise in popularity seen in B&B accommodation is not only being experienced in the United States and Canada, but also abroad in European countries and other destinations around the world. For bed and breakfasts in the US, search online for instant B&B rates and availability.