Life’s Flavors ~Bed and Breakfast vs Hotel By Allison Libby-Thesing
Raise your hand if you have ever stayed at a bed and breakfast. Now if you have not, why? Do you know some of the main reasons why you should choose to travel the bed and breakfast way, instead of a chain hotel? Obviously, we prefer to travel and stay at a bed and breakfast when we can, but sometimes that is not always possible. I will share four, even though there are so many more, reasons why your next stay should be at a bed and breakfast versus a chain hotel.
Number one, breakfast! While breakfast is not the same at each establishment, it is usually one of the highlights of a person’s trip to a bed and breakfast. At The Oaks, we always make a fresh, hot breakfast, from scratch with farm fresh ingredients. When we book a bed and breakfast stay, I will always look to see what kind of breakfast we will be getting. We have always opted to serve breakfast and not offer a continental breakfast. We want to have that time with our guests to find out about why they are visiting Sulphur Springs and be sure to send them to all the great spots on their visit. Even if they are only in town for the night, those glass bathrooms are a feature you do not want to miss.
Number two, connection with the owners and overall concierge services. While many hotels have a display of pamphlets for guests to peruse at their leisure, that does not compare to an individual who can direct guests to the perfect spot for their travels. Our time visiting with guests enhances the guest experience and allows guests to ask questions and discover something that they might have missed on their own. By being on site to direct guests they are able to find the restaurant that fits their needs as well as exploring the area with directions or tickets to special events.
Number three, exploration begins in our rooms. We utilized local vendors to decorate our rooms to help drive business to our local shops. Our rooms have been decorated with items that are on consignment and can be purchased from those who helped to decorate the space. Each overnight guest room as well as the downstairs areas have been carefully curated with items from local vendors. If a guest loves a piece in any room, we can direct them where to make the purchase so they can take that item home or find another item within the store for their enjoyment at home. Our goal has always been to provide support for other local businesses and help keep our town growing.
Number four, quiet and comfortable accommodation. The majority of bed and breakfast’s located in the United States, are smaller three to ten rooms, housed in one or multiple buildings. This makes your stay a much quieter stay than a hotel, where there can be 50-100’s of rooms, noise coming from all over the place. Each room is typically decorated in a unique way that picks up on the bed and breakfasts personality. Plush robes, towels that are soft and inviting as well as personal care products from local vendors often adorn the shelves at a bed and breakfast. Each of our rooms is a different color scheme and has different amenities for guests to enjoy. From a walk-in shower to a jetted tub, the experience in our guest rooms can be, to an extent, personalized to your tastes and needs.
We hope that on your next trip you go off the beaten path and explore a bed and breakfast in the area you plan to stay. In Texas we have a great resource in the Texas Bed and Breakfast Association, whose websites lists members, and you can find establishments based on the area in which you plan to travel. Step away from the mundane and enter a world where you are greeted by name and are not just a number in a space. Bed and breakfast travel is a relaxing experience made better by the individuals who run these homes.
By Allison Libby-Thesing
