Winnipeg: Events | Attractions | Restaurants | Facts | Winnie-the-Pooh

The differences between Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts

By Michelle & Keith Sanheim
River Gate Inn – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

1. Feels like home or better! – B & B owners are welcoming you into their home and treating you like the favorite family guests you are.
2. A change from the ordinary – Many B & B's are in unique homes or locations that you would never experience otherwise. You can stay at a bed and breakfast a number of times, in a number of rooms all around the same price but feel like you are in a different place. Sometimes a small change is refreshing.
3. Personal Warmth and Attention. Hosts of Bed and Breakfasts like people and taking care of them. Our biggest enjoyment is when people leave truly happy and more than satisfied. This happens by getting to genuinely know your guests and being extremely helpful. It's not a corporate policy; it's the way it should be.
4. Great Value! Since Bed and Breakfasts are homes as well, there are frequently great values in the prices charged by hosts. And…
5. Many Services and Amenities are included with your room rate. Good Bed and Breakfasts are filled with 'extras' as the hotel calls them. For instance breakfast is included (usually a very good breakfast too). So is internet access, parking, and local calls at the River Gate Inn and many other B & B's. Check out our list of amenities.
6. Helpful local knowledge from your hosts. Ok, some Hotels offer great helpful people as well. If you want to really know the city you are staying in, nothing is better than the personal knowledge of people who are caring for you. Plus, many times the best places are a little off the beaten path, not a corporate partner.
7. Preserve History. Many Bed and Breakfasts are in historical and unique buildings that are costly to maintain. Bed and Breakfasts strive to provide excellent environments and preserve these glimpses into the past. 8. Easy to meet people. B & B regulars are generally very sociable and love to share their time and knowledge with other travelers, perhaps over a free cup of coffee or tea on the deck?
8. Flexible and accommodating hosts. Bed and Breakfasts have policies and guidelines but because you are dealing with the owner, reasonable requests don't have to be approved by a manager.
9. The experience will be memorable. Many B & B's provide more than just a room to sleep in.
10. Build Relationships. Frequently our guests have crossed paths in unusual places or shared common friends. A great example of how small this world can be at times. Many hosts also develop long-term friendships with regular guests.
11. Learn about your 'Adopted City'. How many hotels let you sit down and ask question after question about the history, features, sports teams and political atmosphere? They just don't have the time and it won't appear on any job description at a major chain.
12. Enjoy the yard. Of course this varies between B & B's as well as hotels but if it's available you can catch some sun, read a book, smell the flowers, watch birds or whatever you choose.
13. Noise levels. Ever stayed at a hotel where a group wanted to party all night long? Not going to happen at a B & B without prior arrangements with the owner. Plus, lack of sleep from noise impacts the owners as well.
14. Privacy can easily be arranged. Try and arrange some private time at a hotel, then let us know the price so we can charge an arm and a leg too!

These two links from Canada BB Hosts have some great helpful information for staying at a Bed and Breakfast.

1. http://www.canadabbhosts.com/faqs.htm
2. http://www.canadabbhosts.com/packing.htm

*** B and B owners: Please feel free to link to this page or use our information. Appropriate acknowledgments would be appreciated.