Why Bed and Breakfast Bashing?

Now and again I come across negative remarks about bed and breakfasts aka B&Bs via social media, online reviews, newsprint, or during the course of conversation. This segment of the lodging industry seems to be a target for this sort of negativity and I’m not entirely sure why. Any of us can experience a less than satisfactory overnight stay in any segment of the industry, no matter the price, location, style, or reputation. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to travel a great deal. I’ve visited nearly every state in the continental United States and most Canadian provinces. In those years I have stayed overnight in everything from the most modest, to luxurious world class award winning accommodations. From these experiences I’ve come to know that good or bad experiences know no boundaries by way of type or cost of stay. What I’ve come to appreciate about bed and breakfast inns is the personal investment the owners and their staff have in the quality of my experience. These folks are the staff that I interact with while I’m in their facility. They’ve helped me with a reservation, cleaned my room, worked in the garden, planned and prepared the food I will consume, and on and on. The facility, furnishings, amenities, services, cleanliness, and menus, are a matter of pride in ownership for these business men and women. I know proprietors who have painstaking selected every detail for their guests i.e. the quality of pillow, fabric content for bedding, menu selections and specific food items. They may even grow some of the foods they use. They are personally mortified if every detail of every guest experience doesn’t meet their highest of standard. These same entrepreneurs often take their pride well beyond the boundaries of their real estate and further invest in their local, regional, or national community. During these same years, I’ve become more and more suspect of larger more industrial properties and ownership. I doubt a corporate officer of a large commercial property, franchise or not has helped me with travel plans. Reservations are often made at central services at some off site location. Housekeeping staff is large and impersonal. Rooms have a cookie cutter look and even less to my liking a cookie cutter smell that seems to travel with me home. “That” smell hits me in square in the face when I open my overnight bag. Dark colored, highly patterned acetate bed covers give me the creeps. What’s hiding in that pattern, color and slick surface? The food is commercial and sometimes needs to be unwrapped, nuked, and consumed from a foam container. Or worse yet, it’s extraordinarily expensive and hard to find, hidden away in a very fancy intimidating space. Finally, it seems I can never find anyone if I have a need. Extra towels can be a housekeeping production. I’m sure there are required ongoing education classes, but I wonder how that translates to my personal experience in such a large facility. This comparison reminds me of my recent eye exam. When the doctor gives you two intensity choices of lense and asks the question, “Now which is better? This, or this? For me, bed and breakfasts are clearly a better way to stay. I like the intimacy. I’m not talking about intimacy that some people have described as that overbearing nosey innkeeper or staff member. I’ve never had that experience in the hundreds of places I’ve stayed overnight. I’m talking about knowing the environment and have a sense of comfort with the people in that environment. I’ve kept a diary for many years, recording my travel experiences. I’ve met some great people, seen some great parts of the country, and enjoyed unimaginable foods. I think I may revisit those travel diaries and share some of the best experiences here.