After deciding to set my latest book in a seaside bed and breakfast, I had to think about what would make the best meeting place for Mae, Willow and Melody. Here a few points I made about the top qualities I’d like in a B&B:
For me, a bed and breakfast is more personal than a hotel. It should be cosier than a bland, uniform hotel room, the service should be more bespoke and friendly. I’m not saying hotel staff aren’t – and shouldn’t be – friendly, but it’s unlikely the receptionist is going to be cooking your breakfast if you’re staying in a big hotel. There’s less of a barrier between B&B owner and guest, I guess.
It goes without saying that the B&B should be clean (as should a hotel) but I’m not about to go on the hunt for little curly hairs under the mattress protector like the contestants on Four In A Bed often do. It’s an entertaining program, but it can get ridiculous at times! If you have to put your back out looking for a cobweb, you’ve probably gone too far. As long as there is clean bedding, the bathroom has had a good scrub, a hoover has had a run around the carpets and there are no obvious stains or cobwebs, you’re on the right track.
While researching bed and breakfasts (read: watching back-to-back episodes of Four In A Bed and To B&B The Best), I came across the idea of leaving little welcome baskets for guests. I thought this was such a nice touch and the kind of attention to detail I was looking for. We’re not talking expensive hampers here, just a little basket of mini toiletries and a few treats, such as chocolates or biscuits.
This is so important when you’re staying in a bed and breakfast. Staying in such close proximity, you don’t have the same anonymity you would within a hotel, so you need a host who you feel comfortable around. Perhaps you will be sharing a communal space with this person from time to time, and they may be the person who deals with your breakfast requests in the morning.
But you also need someone who knows when to take a step back, who knows the line between making sure you’re settled and fussing. You want to feel relaxed during your stay and while knowing you can ask for more towels if you need them is fantastic, feeling as though you have an extra participant on your trip isn’t quite so great.
I’d love any B&B where there was a bookshelf where I could pick up a book I don’t have on my towering TBR pile and work my way through while on my trip (I will have taken several books of my own, obviously, but a bookworm can never have access to too many books). This isn’t strictly necessary, but it would put a smile on my face!
So those are the qualities I think are important – I’d love to know about yours too!
Thank you so much Jennifer I love your thoughts on B&Bs and look forward to seeing how The Little Bed and Breakfast by the Sea shapes up!
Make It Personal
For me, a bed and breakfast is more personal than a hotel. It should be cosier than a bland, uniform hotel room, the service should be more bespoke and friendly. I’m not saying hotel staff aren’t – and shouldn’t be – friendly, but it’s unlikely the receptionist is going to be cooking your breakfast if you’re staying in a big hotel. There’s less of a barrier between B&B owner and guest, I guess.
No Kim & Aggie Required
It goes without saying that the B&B should be clean (as should a hotel) but I’m not about to go on the hunt for little curly hairs under the mattress protector like the contestants on Four In A Bed often do. It’s an entertaining program, but it can get ridiculous at times! If you have to put your back out looking for a cobweb, you’ve probably gone too far. As long as there is clean bedding, the bathroom has had a good scrub, a hoover has had a run around the carpets and there are no obvious stains or cobwebs, you’re on the right track.
The Little Touches
While researching bed and breakfasts (read: watching back-to-back episodes of Four In A Bed and To B&B The Best), I came across the idea of leaving little welcome baskets for guests. I thought this was such a nice touch and the kind of attention to detail I was looking for. We’re not talking expensive hampers here, just a little basket of mini toiletries and a few treats, such as chocolates or biscuits.
A Friendly Host
But you also need someone who knows when to take a step back, who knows the line between making sure you’re settled and fussing. You want to feel relaxed during your stay and while knowing you can ask for more towels if you need them is fantastic, feeling as though you have an extra participant on your trip isn’t quite so great.
Books
I’d love any B&B where there was a bookshelf where I could pick up a book I don’t have on my towering TBR pile and work my way through while on my trip (I will have taken several books of my own, obviously, but a bookworm can never have access to too many books). This isn’t strictly necessary, but it would put a smile on my face!
So those are the qualities I think are important – I’d love to know about yours too!
Thank you so much Jennifer I love your thoughts on B&Bs and look forward to seeing how The Little Bed and Breakfast by the Sea shapes up!
About the author
Jennifer Joyce is a writer of romantic
comedies who lives in Manchester with her husband and their two daughters. Her
latest novel, The
Little Bed & Breakfast by the Sea is out now. You
can find out more about Jennifer and her books on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/writer_jenn
Instagram: www.instagram.com/writer_jenn
Escape to the seaside this summer!
Mae loves running her little Bed
& Breakfast, it’s the perfect place to raise her adorable four-year-old
daughter! And no matter how persistently local vet, Alfie, chases her, she just
doesn’t have time for men in her life.
Willow is busy building her dream home
with her husband, Ethan, but with every month that passes she secretly worries
that her happy ever after will never come true…
Melody only intended to stay in the
bustling seaside town for a few days to capture the perfect photo. But when she
meets Hugo – the charming man in the ice cream van – she decides to stay a
little longer!
One thing
is for sure, summer at the little Bed & Breakfast by the sea certainly has
a few surprises in store…
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