There's a new area on the America Online service that discusses 'Bed and
Breakfasts' nationwide.  I've never been to a B&B but they do sound nice.
Have you ever been to one that you would recommend?  Please feel free to
share your ideas...!

24 responses total.

   The most useful thing about them is its much like staying at
a friends house.  They aren't as noisy generally, though if you
sleep late you get to hear the others using the bathroom. ;-)
   In general it is more civilized than a motel, but costs considerably
more than the average motel.  However, for the money spent its nicer
than the equivelantly priced hotels.

We stayed at one when we went to the Dayton Ham Fest a few years ago.  It
cost us around $70 per night.  The house was a beautiful old farm house
that was over 100 years old and furnished much as it would have been during
its haydays.  We got a gourmet breakfast every morning and, if we had been
there for it, a snack and wine in the evening.  She even managed to 
accomadate our friend who had a colesteral problem.  She told us about the
back routes into Dayton so that we avoided most of the traffic jams getting
to the arena and had stacks of info on other things to see and do in the
area.  I would go back in a minute anytime we go down for family mini-
vacations, but she doesn't allow children under 7 or so (all those antiques,
I guess).

My parents have stayed a B&B's on several occasions.  They now prefer to
stay there rather than a regular motel when given a choice (though they
now have a fifth wheel trailor and usually stay at campgrounds when they
are not attending a conference type event where they want to be at the
conference hotel).

Hi Denise.  My hgusband and I often have stayed at B&B's but lately we prefer
country Inns and I know alot of about them.  B&B's have the advantage of
charm (many of them anyway), contact with locals who can fill you in the
best places to eat and see in a locale.  I have found them to be less expensive
then motels.  On the other hand, you have less provacy in a B&B, sometimes,
if you dont check the place out or get a recommendation from someone you trust,
the decor can be shabby and sometimes you have to share a bath.  A Country
Inn, on the other hand is a small hotel run and lived in by the owner, most
of whom have incredible charm, good food, and all the pluses of a B&B
without the negatives.  By the way, my trip to NC was aborted.  Thinking of
coming down this summer.  Will let you know.

Hey Audrey, was wondering what happened to ya!!

I've stayed at B&Bs all over England, where the idea comes from, but never
here. It is my impression that B&Bs here charge *more* than other
accomodations, because of their seeming uniqueness to Americans. In
Europe, they are the cheapest accomodations - just ordinary people making
rooms (and breakfast) available in their homes, as a means to earn a little
extra income. However the advantage of intimacy and local-contact, is true
in Europe, and apparently also here (as others have indicated).

Two books recommended for people doing the B&B or Country Inn thing:

   Robyn Martins (editor), _The Annual Directory of American Bed &
      Breakfasts_.  Rutledge Hill Press.

   Sandra W. Soule, _America's Wonderful Little Hotels and Inns_.
      St. Martin's Press.

Mary and I have taken to staying in B&B's on our trips.  We've never
encountered a bad one, possibly because we've been using the first
book mentioned above as our guide.  I was a motel man all my life
but have come to prefer the individuality, local color, and opportu-
nity to meet and talk with the hosts and guests afforded by B&B's.

Well, we're going to try a B&B for the first time.
I just made reservations at a B&B in Ithaca, NY for the weekend of Oct 9.
We'll be going to see the Cornell-Harvard football game (but mostly we'll
be going to see the Big Red Marching Band and a certain trumpet player).
All the motels were full, but the B&B's weren't, so there's another
advantage of B&B's ( at least sometimes).

It's only going to cost a few $ more than the closest alternative -
the Holiday Inn in Corning, 45 minutes away. Unless the place is
terrible, this will be a better deal by far. I'll let you know when
we get back.

One nice touch - the B&B's in the Ithaca area have a reservation
service which coordinates everything. This made it a lot easier to
arrange, since we didn't have a particular B&B in mind.

What's the name of the B&B?  We stayed in one in Ithaca last year.

Oddly enough, I don't know.

I made arrangements through the B&B Reservation Service, and they
asked for the advance payment to be sent to them. When they receive
it, I will be sent detailed instructions.

They did tell me it's 12 minutes from campus, near route 79 and
Judd Falls Road (on the East side of town). I will post again
when I have more info.

The B&B we stayed at had no name, it was just a nice little farmhouse
about 6 miles from Cornell. It was out Ellis Hollow Road (which is
on the East side and lies between 366 and 79). There were two families
staying there, just us and another couple who were visiting their
kid, a Junior at Ithaca College.

It was a very quaint home, almost 100 years old. They had kittens
and chickens. We enjoyed our stay, although we spent very little
time there. It was very comfortable and clean.

The best part of our trip was when Cornell beat Harvard 27-0 !
(I just had to rub that one in.)
The fall colors throughout the Southern Tier were absolutely spectacular.
The only drawback of such an outing is the high driving/visting
ratio. We may do it again next year anyway.

Yeah, I noticed that score.  And MSU just trounced UofM as well.  A bad
weekend for my alumni schools...

 "will the lady who left her small children on the field come and get them?
They're ahead of Michigan 17-7"

                  -- overheard at Spartan Stadium

Maybe if we stay home in Ann Arbor, U of M will do better.
The last time we tried that, Cornell lost to Princeton.
It seems only one of our schools can win at a time.
I guess it could be worse. Sorry, John.

   The game between Michigan and Penn State promises to be a good one.
I just think that Penn State will kick Michigan's butt badly!!

Response 10 was the last one containing the string "B&B". You may drift
anywhere you like here, but you must include "B&B", or play somewhere
else ;-).

Well, you know Rane, football does that sort of thing to us.
Even those of us who reqlly like B&Bs. (satisfied?)

With a little effort, we could keep conversations from deteriorating
into the banal and boring (B&B!).

Well, The next time I need to Visit Ithaca, I will try to get a
reservation at the Super 8 Motel. It's not as nice as a B&B, of that
there can be no question, but it's at leaast $20/night cheaper than
the least expensive B&B.  B&B's are a better choice, perhaps, for
others, as I cannot use much of the typical breakfast fare at a B&B,
but others might consider that a value.

This stay at a B&B was a godsend, though, as the motels were all full to
a distance of about 40 miles when we tried to get reservations
(about a month in advance). It was also a very interesting experience,
as we were in fact guests in a private home. It just wasn't worth $40
in my opinion. (2 nights, 2night minimum at Ithaca B&B, btw).

Does anyone know of any Bed and Breakfast places in Michigan on the
Lake Michigan Shore?

Do you mean right on the beach?  I read about someplace in West Olive 
near Grand Haven.  The Highland Park Hotel in Grand Haven is sort
of a B&B and has been highly recommended to me.  We stayed in Saugatuck
at a lovely place, the name of which escapes me right now (whoops), but
again, it wasn't right on the water.

This is actually not for me, so I can't be sure. I would think that
anywhere near the lakeshore would be suitable. Thanks.

The Rosemont Inn in Saugatuck or Douglass was right across the street from the
beach and had a great long screened porch with rocking chairs facing the water.
The sunset from the proch was breathtaking.  It wasnt too expensive either.

Thanks again.

If any of you have access to AOL, there's a Bed and Breakfast section
online with lists per state of where many of the B&Bs are located!

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss