Bed & Breakfasts: Home Away From Home Holidays

When you are going away for a holiday, mini-break, or a long weekend, one of the most vital factors for determining enjoyment, after the destination, is the accommodation. While many folk enjoy the hustle and bustle of a big hotel, there are plenty of others who prefer to be surrounded by some of the comforts from home. Read on for the advantages of staying in a bed and breakfast.

* Breakfast. Well, this one may be apparent, but having a home cooked meal at the start of each day, means two things. Firstly, you don't have to spend so much time and money on lunch. Secondly, the large breakfast will keep you going for longer than just a Starbucks coffee, bought on the run.

* Quieter surrounds. In many instances, bed and breakfast accommodation is located on quieter streets and often, in less commercial districts. This can be ideal for those who don't wish to wake early every morning to the street cleaning trucks, or be woken at 2 am by late night revellers when the local bars and clubs shut.

* Garden. Being able to step outside your room and walk around a garden or lush grounds can be a great way to alleviate hotel room fever.

* Knowledgeable and local hosts. The owners of the b & b, are going to be local and informative. They will have plenty of tips and suggestions as to what is worth seeing and doing. Another great benefit of owner operators is the fact that if an attraction starts to lose its shine, they may well have heard the feedback from other guests a little sooner, than a busy desk clerk at a hotel.

The hosts or owners of b & b's are generally going to be more caring and concerned about your happiness and satisfaction than perhaps the overworked staff in a hotel foyer. This is their home and their livelihood, so they have a lot invested into your feedback.

* Ambiance is one area where many bed and breakfast accommodations may well reign supreme over a hotel. There are many styles to select from including bed and breakfast inns, a bed and breakfast cottage, or a bed and breakfast manor. For those looking for romance there are even b & b's specializing in privacy, and of course the honeymoon bed and breakfast.

Many bed and breakfast rooms are variously themed to tie in with the accommodation or architecture of the overall guest house. For example, it may be Olde English, Colonial, or French Provincial.

* Extra facilities. Some holiday makers tire of the four walls of their hotel room, and having to watch the TV from their bed, and boil the kettle in the bathroom. This is one example where a bed and breakfast is a lot more like home. Lounges are always provided with TV, books, papers, board games, and various other activities guaranteed to entertain you on a quiet afternoon or evening in.

* Freedom. Staying in a guest house will give you more space to roam than the standard hotel room.

* Reservations. It can be a great idea when making a reservation to enquire as to your room. Will it be a bedroom in the main house, or a cottage in the grounds? Will it have its own bathroom, or will you be sharing? What time is breakfast? Will you be locked out if you stay out too late? Asking questions like this before you arrive can remove much of the guesswork from your bed and breakfast holiday.

Conclusion.

For those travellers who enjoy the comforts of home while on their holiday, a bed and breakfast can be a great accommodation selection. Have the space and facilities of a private home without having to load the dishwasher or turn on the vacuum cleaner. The best of both worlds. by Murray Maxwell

What to Expect From Luxury B and B Accommodation New Zealand

Wherever you travel throughout the world you are bound to hear the terms Bed and Breakfast, B and B or B'n'B - so what can you expect?

B and B's are a more personalised & luxury accommodation option where your hosts will personally attend to you, (their guests) rather than with a hotel/motel where one of many staff members generally tend to guests on behalf of the hosts.

New Zealand's Bed and Breakfasts are often situated within historic homesteads or luxury lodges and your accommodation will generally consist of a private bedroom, most likely to have it's own deck or courtyard with views of hillsides, beaches or gardens (for example) and either a private/ensuite bathroom or in some cases shared facilities with other guests - commonly known as 'guest share' bathrooms.

When it comes to meal times, breakfast is generally served by your friendly hosts to your bedroom, where you can enjoy it in a more intimate setting. However, most B'n'B's also have a main dining room, where you can choose to enjoy your meal if you would prefer. Some of the more "luxury" providers in New Zealand also host dinner parties at which you will enjoy home cooked cuisine and fine wines. With these dining options you will get to mingle with other guests and your hosts, allowing you to make new friends with people who may have similar interests to you, as well as experiencing the 'kiwi' culture.

Many of New Zealand's B and B hosts have travelled around the world and have many stories to share. They also have a wealth of knowledge of the area they are situated in and can recommend a number of sights and activities to explore. With this sort of hospitality you will feel right at home, except without the hustle and bustle of everday life - what more could you want?

You can expect the search for this style of luxury accommodation to be quite easy - with the likes of specific directories, internet searches and advertising easily accessible to you. Many of the providers in NZ can often recommend other B'n'B's to you as well. All you need to decide is what areas you want to travel.

So to sum it all up, you can expect B and B accommodation in New Zealand to be a great choice if you want to arrive at your destination and have the ability to sit back, unwind & relax - whether that be with a partner, friends or by yourself - this type of accommodation will allow you to enjoy superb hospitality accompanied with awesome views, 'kiwi' culture and great company. by Ian Bateman