http://www.greensboro-online.com/guest-houses-hotels/
Bed and breakfasts are a common sight in most towns and villages, but although there are many of them, only a few are able to provide top quality service. The problem is; how do we differentiate the good from the bad? The internet is usually the first resource to look for places to stay, but with so many advertising websites, this can often be more headache than helpful.
So what should we look for when searching? It is easy to be fooled by a hotels flashy website, but often on closer inspection, they really don’t offer much. It’s therefore important to know what to look for. Below I have written a few key points that you may want to take note of when searching for accommodation.
The first thing to look for is their facilities. Do they have parking? Many B&B’s are located on busy roads or town centres, and having to cart your luggage a mile down the road from a car park that charges per hour is not suitable. Make sure that there is either on site parking, or at least a suitable place for your car nearby. You should also be aware that some places will charge to leave your car with them, so to avoid a nasty surprise, its better to check in advance.
Location is always important, and whilst some B&B’s will advertise themselves as located in the ‘town centre’ or ‘within easy reach’, you are better off checking this out for yourself. I have stayed in quite a few places that state they are situated within easy access of local amenities, only to find I need a taxi to go anywhere. Google maps are one of the best ways to avoid such circumstances.
Sometimes being too close to the hub of a busy town can be a disadvantage. The last thing a weary traveller needs is a sleepless night caused by local bars and clubs found directly outside your window. Look for somewhere that is located away from main roads within a town centre. Residential streets are usually the best as they tend to be quieter.
When calling the hotel to check availability, ask what amenities are included in the room. Is it en-suite? If not, ask how many rooms share the bathroom. I would suggest that more than three rooms sharing one bathroom are too many, and can cause lengthy delays in the morning.
Tea and coffee making facilities are a must, and should be standard even in a poor quality hotel or B&B, but do not take it for granted that they will provide this. Other services that I consider an absolute must are a TV, coat-hangers, a desk and a full length mirror. If all of these are not provided, I simply look somewhere else.
Additional services such as wi-fi are becoming more and more important to the modern day traveler. Most establishments will charge a fee to use their internet services, and whilst this is acceptable, there are some good places that will offer this for free.
Another often overlooked aspect of hotels and B&B’s is where the rooms are within the building. Stairs can be problematic for some people, but even a healthy and fit youngster will probably not want to climb five flights of stairs every time they go to their room. If you are booked onto a high floor, check they have an elevator.
A bed and breakfast rate can mean different things to different establishments. Personally, I think bed and breakfast should include a full cooked breakfast (with a vegetarian alternative), but some only provide a continental menu. Unfortunately, unless you have stayed at the establishment before, it’s difficult to tell in advance what the quality of a breakfast will be like. Probably the best way to avoid the worst places is to check for online reviews, www.tripadvisor.com being one of the best.
Finally, it is no secret that these days the economy has forced most of us to be a little more frugal with our spending. However this does not mean that spending less on accommodation should be reflected in the quality of service you receive. It is quite possible to get all of the above for less than £50 per person per night.
Happy searching…
Joseph
Byways Guest House
31 Fowlers Road
City Centre
Salisbury
SP1 2QP
+44 (0)1722 328364
http://www.bywayshouse.co.uk
Joseph
