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Bed and Breakfasts

LiquidMidnight

LiquidMidnight

Dec 25, 2000
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#1
I'm currently planning a trip for the end of the month as a sort of vacation or getaway for my significant and other and myself. I'm strongly considering Connecticut, particularly around the Mystic, Stonington, etc. areas.

Neither my girlfriend nor I have ever stayed at a bed and breakfast. My last day gig had me doing overnighters, and I always wound up staying at a traditional hotel. I thought it would be nice to do B&Bs for this trip, so I've been checking out some of the options. We're going to primarily be away during the week, which will hopefully allow us to take advantage of some lower rates.

Anyways, just wanted to open a discussion here on TB about B&Bs. What's your experience? Prefer them over hotels? Any recommendations for the area or any tips on getting good deals?
 
#2
I used to use them a lot but these days any accommodation I book is almost always through AirBnB. Maybe consider that?

In the old days, B&Bs used to be just that, bed and breakfast, then you were out.
Also, certainly here in Ireland, you had better be married and able to prove it if you showed up with a woman intending to spend the night in the same room.
Someone I know *cough* used to only date black haired short girls who resembled several blurry wedding photos he carried around with a couple of spare wedding rings...:D

These days I believe most of them are a lot more 'user-friendly'.

Also, check out the map in my sig...several Connecticutonians (is that right?...also, I never realised until spellcheck kicked in that there was a 'c' before the 't'!) on there, and they seem a friendly bunch, maybe contact them and they can steer you right.
 
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#3
Depends upon your goal. They can be nice if you want a slow, leisurely morning. I used to stay in one at the Cape, and it was nice.

For me, normally on vacation, I want to get up and out to do stuff, so I'll take a cheaper motel. Quality/experience varies. AirB&B worries me for the same reason Uber does - no regulation, and it screws legitimate businesses. Many of these are independently owned, so I would see the best price on line, then call and see.
 
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#4
I hate and detest hotels ( even 5 star ones) for reasons too numerous to discuss here.

That being said, I prefer B/B's---in my experience, they are usually cleaner, quieter, and the food quality is typically decent ( real eggs, real bacon, good coffee, etc. ).

Case in point: A few years ago, during a road trip, I stayed at a B/B in a remote region of northwest Pennsylvania. The place was a Victorian mansion built by a lumber baron circa 1860, and the interior along with all the furniture was period appropriate--really cool. When I arrived, there was nobody to be found. Taped on the door of a back entrance was a note with a key taped to it. The note read something like "Sorry there was nobody here to meet you, but we had a last minute emergency. Please let yourself in--your room will be the one on the main floor, just off the dining room. The refrigerator in the kitchen is stocked with beer and wine, please help yourself. There will be no other guests arriving tonight, so you'll be the only one here." So, I got to spend the night alone in a Victorian mansion--and yes, I slept like the dead. It was so relaxing, that I made last minute arrangements to stay another night.

Someone showed up around 6 a.m. to make breakfast--the food was some of the best I've ever had while on the road. I really hated to leave this place after 2 nights.

Do some online research---I think it pays off to seek these places out over hotels/motels.
 
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#5
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm also looking at AirB&B as well. It's something I've never considered, but it looks like you can stay at some very nice places that don't empty your wallet. Only problem is a lot of AB&B places have minimum stays that may be longer than I want to book. Lots of options to consider.
 
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#6
Oh yeah, one more thing. Many of these places will make arrangements for those with special dietary needs, e.g., no dairy, no meat, etc. In fact, in my above mentioned example, when I made the initial reservation, the host asked me if I prefer coffee or tea with breakfast. When I mentioned that I prefer tea, she even went as far to ask if I preferred any particular brand! This type of service is the exception to the rule, but you're more apt to get it with a B/B than with a hotel of any kind.
 
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#7
LiquidMidnight said:
...I'm strongly considering Connecticut, particularly around the Mystic, Stonington, etc. areas...
Click to expand...
Remember the room you stay in is for the bed and the roof over your head. B&B or Hotel it depends on the quality. I been in nice B&B's and I been in nice hotels. But I also been in hotels where a drug deal was happening right outside. So in the end it's about the location and quality than about it being a B&B or a hotel.

As for CT. I am a CT resident and I have one question for you: WHY?

1. Mystic Aquarium quite small; nice but small.
2. The town it's eh; touristy and yes Mystic Pizza is not bad. But do the waitresses a favor and don't ask them anything about the movie.
3. The casinos. If that is your thing stay there: expensive but A LOT to do. My fiance and I are planning to do the zip line thing (I think it's Foxwoods).

Me personally I say go to Boston. Beautiful this time of year and a lot to do. Their aquarium is really nice, and the whale watching boat is a blast: BRING DRAMAMINE!!! Also if you like seafood go to the resaurant right across from the Aquarium (assuming it's still there).

Go see the Blue Men Group, go to both Cheers, go to the food market (every morning), nice hotels in and out of the city (reference AAA with that), ghost tour, or stay at the "haunted hotel" (not kidding) and so much more.
 
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#8
ONYX said:
Case in point: A few years ago, during a road trip, I stayed at a B/B in a remote region of northwest Pennsylvania. The place was a Victorian mansion built by a lumber baron circa 1860, and the interior along with all the furniture was period appropriate--really cool. When I arrived, there was nobody to be found. Taped on the door of a back entrance was a note with a key taped to it. The note read something like "Sorry there was nobody here to meet you, but we had a last minute emergency. Please let yourself in--your room will be the one on the main floor, just off the dining room. The refrigerator in the kitchen is stocked with beer and wine, please help yourself. There will be no other guests arriving tonight, so you'll be the only one here." So, I got to spend the night alone in a Victorian mansion--and yes, I slept like the dead. It was so relaxing, that I made last minute arrangements to stay another night.
Click to expand...

And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another.
 
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#9
Dave W said:
And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another. And another.And another. And another.
Click to expand...

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

Good one!!!

But as much as I wanted the place to be haunted ( or even creepy), it just didn't happen. But yeah, the entire thing was the perfect lead-in to a great haunted house story...
 
#11
B&B's are almost always a unique experience. We have been to probably a couple dozen over the years. My feeling is that if you need more than one room for a couple of nights then an AirBnB is often less expensive (say two couples for more for 2-3 nights). The owners are usually quirky in some way. Sometimes you will have a lovely conversation with the other guests. Sometimes they will want to be left alone. Usually the food is good and the inn comfortable.

They are really a mixed bag. The one thing you can pretty much count on is that the owners will be quirky. What their quirk is remains to be seen.
 
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#13
Oddly said:
I used to use them a lot but these days any accommodation I book is almost always through AirBnB. Maybe consider that?

In the old days, B&Bs used to be just that, bed and breakfast, then you were out.
Also, certainly here in Ireland, you had better be married and able to prove it if you showed up with a woman intending to spend the night in the same room.
Someone I know *cough* used to only date black haired short girls who resembled several blurry wedding photos he carried around with a couple of spare wedding rings...:D

These days I believe most of them are a lot more 'user-friendly'.

Also, check out the map in my sig...several Connecticutonians (is that right?...also, I never realised until spellcheck kicked in that there was a 'c' before the 't'!) on there, and they seem a friendly bunch, maybe contact them and they can steer you right.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised "they" still got away with it. My other office is in drogheda and everyone knows everyone. I don't even think they use addresses in GPS, they just type "Siobhan's house" and it takes them there.
 
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#14
BnB's are fun. Although, they do kinda put a damper on any amorous activities in most cases we've found. In ones that are a converted home with only 1 or two bathrooms it can be challenging for ladies who like to get themselves put together ( my lady is certainly this ) without a rush or feeling like they are in the way. We have stayed in one where each room had it's own on suite. That was great but we paid a premium for it. What I liked most was the community breakfast, which in all cases was wonderfully prepared, thankfully.
 
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#15
Funky Ghost said:
BnB's are fun. Although, they do kinda put a damper on any amorous activities in most cases we've found.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there can be a wide level of privacy. Sometimes we've had a room separated from everyone else, once a former separate colonial kitchen, once the overseer's house, another time a guest house but a couple times we were right off the main rooms and other times the walls were really thin. We most always try to find one with an attached bathroom.
 
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#16
I always feel a bit weird in them....squeaky floorboards and thin walls..
Then sitting for breakfast with other guests....can be nice...or uncomfortable

Not a good place to be amorous...feels like Mom and Dad are next door
 
#17
LiquidMidnight said:
It's more of a "see America" type of trip. We both enjoy going to idyllic places, and we've never been that far north. I don't think we will spend the entire trip in the Mystic area, but probably hit up a place or two on the way. I'd like to spend a day in New Haven.
Click to expand...
If you like bars and restaurants then you will like New Haven. You can go to this small bookstore/coffee shop across the street from Yale.
 
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#19
Oddly said:
I used to use them a lot but these days any accommodation I book is almost always through AirBnB. Maybe consider that?

In the old days, B&Bs used to be just that, bed and breakfast, then you were out.
Also, certainly here in Ireland, you had better be married and able to prove it if you showed up with a woman intending to spend the night in the same room.
Someone I know *cough* used to only date black haired short girls who resembled several blurry wedding photos he carried around with a couple of spare wedding rings...:D

These days I believe most of them are a lot more 'user-friendly'.

Also, check out the map in my sig...several Connecticutonians (is that right?...also, I never realised until spellcheck kicked in that there was a 'c' before the 't'!) on there, and they seem a friendly bunch, maybe contact them and they can steer you right.
Click to expand...
My traveling sibs all swear by air BNB. My sister is in Ecuador for a couple of weeks and she sent some shots of the place she is staying. It's a second floor apartment with the owner living on the first floor and it is a really nice looking little place, complete with a ladder and hatch through the roof to a little patio up there with an impressive view of the town she's in.
 
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#20
MJ5150 said:
I prefer commercial hotels.
Something about sleeping in someone's house that I don't know bothers me.
The B&B's I am familiar with all play that Victorian theme, and I'm not into that either.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Agreed. I've done AirBnB once for a weekend, and while our experience was good, I can't see doing it regularly. If we're doing a real vacation, I like having our beds made and room straightened up every day. With standard B&Bs, you'd think someone would have tried a more modern concept by now, but I've never seen one.
 
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