Finding a Bed & Breakfast

NORTHFIELD, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - Opting for a bed and breakfast over other types of lodging is a great way to personalize your stay and in many cases find a warm, cheerful room for the same price as a major hotel chain. To help you choose the perfect one for you are Joan & Steve Stoia, innkeepers at The Centennial House Bed & Breakfast in Northfield.

A bed and breakfast is usually a private home that opens accommodations for the traveling public.

Usually a residential home-like setting might be in a hustle bustle neighborhood, on the seacoast or it may be down a windy lane in the country.

Compared to hotels and motels, they can be similarly priced. $100-$400 depending on the amenities. Not like something like a step above. Maybe in terms of the warmer atmosphere. Pricewise, could be the same price.

It usually comes with complimentary breakfast. If you factor that in the price, it is a bargain.

When you are looking for a bed and breakfast, you should first do a little check with yourself to make sure that you know exactly what you are looking for.

Are you looking for a family friendly environment or are you looking for romantic? Are you looking for gay friendly? Bring your pet? Do you want to be in the city? Country?

You really have to know first and foremost what your goals are for your vacation or the getaway. Because every bed and breakfast has its own features and things that appeal to certain people.

All places are not going to meet all needs.

You want to find out, right from the beginning, if you are on the phone with the host, you want to know if they are interested in your trip. So what I am saying is that hosting begins right at the point of registration. So, if the host asks you, what are you coming to the area for, then that is a good sign.

You want to ask, what are your rooms like? Do you have a bathroom in the room or out of the room? Are they shared? Some B and B's still have shared bathrooms because they are old.

You might want to ask for example how is the breakfast done? Will we be sitting at an individual table or a big table family style?

The major differences between a hotel are that as smaller scale, usually, a B and B will be between 5 rooms, 7 rooms. An inn is 10 rooms or more. A hotel, we know, of course, and the personalized service. You hopefully will have attentive hosts that will help you.

Almost like you have family coming and going all of the time.

Another thing about Bed and Breakfast, even if you want a getaway from home but not travel far, you can stay there and feels like a little vacation as you may not necessarily go to a hotel for that.

I think that B and B owners are much more conscious of that than say a hotel clerk. Because, B and B owners by enlarge probably have lived in this community for many, many years, know the best restaurants, know the best attractions.

If you are interested in history, they'll send you to historic Deerfield for instance, the quadrangle, Springfield museums, etc. If you have children in tow, they probably send you to the  Carl museum, the Magic Wings, or so it is that kind of thing that we know that. Whereas hotel clerk, will probably be more interested in getting the reservation.

The thing that you should do, first, search for a number of Bed and Breakfasts directories online.

Bedandbreakfast.com

,

BandBonline

,

PurpleRoofsonline

. Look at industry specific online services because you are comparing apples and apples. The larger services like expedia and the one with the gnome.

They should have up to date website. Should have both pictures of the interior and the exterior of the building. You should see some evidence on the website that they are licensed by the town. If they have a sign that is a good indication that the town knows they are there. Above the radar.

Hopefully, you will see on there, the logo for Professional Association of Innkeepers International that shows they engage in ongoing professional development.