Do you have friends that are always trying to get you to stay at B&Bs

[LisaM]

instead of a nice hotel?

I can't imagine anything worse. I want a pool, a workout room, and a bar!

I also don't want to eat the all-carb breakfast they have at this place.

I hope that sanity prevails. It's a group of women that get together every year, and there's a few prissy ones that are always trying to push this type of crap. "Let's all rent a house!" "Let's go have tea!"

They're nice women, but our ideas of comfort and amenities vary wildly.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. Renting a house can be OK...

Depending on the location (like the ocean) otherwise you're just staying at somebody else's house with all the cooking.

I've never understood the appeal of a B&B.

[LisaM]

2. Renting a house would be fine if everyone wants to do the same thing

not so much when some people want quiet and lights out at about 10:00. That's why I prefer a hotel for large groups - everyone can have their own schedules.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. Absolutely...

We've gone on family vacations before with the in-laws, and we found it works a lot better when you have a standing agreement that we don't have to do everything as a group.

[madinmaryland]

3. I've only stayed in a B&B once and it was ok.

If it was a group of people go for renting a house for a few days. Get a few cases of beer and wine and have some fun!!

:D

[LisaM]

5. Well we're going to DC, and your suggestion would be fine for some groups

But there are some who drink and some who don't. And we'll be stuck in a neighborhood, away from all the nightlife. Not that I need a ton of nightlife, but my sister and I like to go hang out in the bars and chat.

[kentauros]

4. No, but I'd much rather stay at a B&B because of the isolation,

it's quiet, no bars or drunks, no pool, and no crowds! :D

[LisaM]

6. Maybe you should go :)

Actually, I think we'll end up at a hotel, but this one women is always trying to get a B&B or rent a house. But she likes spending every minute with the group (I mean every minute), she doesn't exercise, won't walk anywhere, and wants to put on her pajamas after dinner and have everyone play games. I like to get out and about much more than she does, but then I feel guilty, as if she's not going to enjoy herself.

[kentauros]

9. Actually, I have stayed in B&Bs, thus my post ;)

I was married in one for my first marriage. My gf and I stayed in one in New Zealand this past May and loved it, too. It was great for getting some writing done. No distractions, no noise of any kind :D

Here's the view from inside on Waiheke Island:

[LisaM]

10. That's very beautiful, and if I was going somewhere to get some writing done

it's just the type of place I'd choose.

[kentauros]

11. I didn't go there with the intent to get writing done,

but I had a nightmare traveling experience and was thankful to have the peace and quiet to get it recorded. Next time I go back, my clothing will be in my carry-on ;)

Still, I prefer small, quiet and isolated places for holidays. I'm not into going to big hotels when I want to "get away from it all," which is all the few times I've gone on holiday. Plus I like to give my money to the small business proprietor when and where I can :)

[LisaM]

13. This is a reunion, not a "get away"

I'm with you on the small businesses, but when I'm with a group, I like the anonymity a hotel affords - you can get away from your friends, so to speak. I make up for it by spending as much as possible at local shops and restaurants.

[GoneOffShore]

7. Our BnB serves booze and there's bacon for breakfast.

But we've only got the one room.

Airbnb.com if you want to find cheap but good places.

And we rented a house in France recently that was definitely 5 star at a one star price. All depends how you search.

[LisaM]

8. *I* want to stay in a downtown hotel with a pool!

Though thank you for the tip.

[PassingFair]

14. You sound like one of my kids before they turned 12....

They don't care about the pools anymore,
thankfully. No more Holiday Inns when we
can have the "Peabody".

They both enjoy the cultural advantages and
quirks of B&B's now....not that we don't run
into clunkers once in a while....

[LisaM]

16. I mean a pool to exercise in

not a water park.

I like to swim laps and work out when I'm on vacation, to make up for not eating as well as I do at home, along with the irregular schedule.

Problem is, many of the people I'm getting together with are somewhat, if not totally, inactive. It's hard enough to get them to even walk four or five blocks (last year one of them wanted to take a cab three blocks to the transit to the airport), much less expect them to stay anywhere where we could hike, run, or bike. If I stay in a place without exercise facilities, it's a problem. Believe me, no one likes the museums and cultural events more than I. I also like the restaurants! So I need to burn off some of those calories.

I don't find any cultural advantage to staying in a B&B. I guess I'm from the Sarah Vowell school - I don't want to be in a bedroom with a quilted bedspread amongst someone's embroidered pillow collection. I also don't like how you have to engage with others a lot of the time. I am not a morning person and want to lounge around and wake up slowly in the a.m.

[kwassa]

15. B&Bs are great for couples, usually much nicer than hotels

not so much for reunions.

My wife and I always prefer B&Bs, because hotels are all pretty much the same boring blandness over and over. We go out on the town for bars and food, anyways. Usually, since we are seeing the sights and out actively all day long, we don't want or need either the pool or the exercise room, though both are nice. If I am at the ocean, why would I be going in a pool?