TMI

Met with someone who is the top in his field, an author historian, etc etc and the first thing he wanted to do was tell me B&B stories...
You know me, you know I usually ask guests IF they had been to many B&B's to tell me a favorite story. They always do. So he and his wife stay in them often, they purchase valuable antiques for their home, which is the oldest most historic home in the "battleground" city where he lives, so they feel safer at a B&B, with valuables in their vehicle. Plus he said he ALWAYS gets the low down on information about the area HE is looking for, not tourist traps. So all in all a real true B&B goer, and I was happy to hear his stories!
First one, the B&B was in a part of VA (near Danville), they pulled up and the entire historic home had been blasted and paint removed for repainting. It was an eyesore, nothing that should be open for business. As they pulled in the drive way shared with another house, with a pack of lounging lizards all over the porch and steps with a sign about it being a rehab clinic. "I don't think so" he said. Then they simply turned the car around and left.
The next one was a NEWER building that portrayed itself as older on line. They arrived and found their accommodations in the basement of a 1950's house. It was a huge let down. They drove a long way, so agreed to stay the night. They woke up to ...drum roll please... a bowl of cereal.
The third place they told me about was an historic inn in NC, beautiful, amazing, total hospitality! They loved this place. They had a nice wine hour in the evening. Super! They learned more about the area, things to see and do (innsider innfo). At breakfast, a lovely breakfast, with antique silver, crystal, magnificent! Then the female hostess sat down with her coffee...explained that she does this to keep busy and retain her sanity. That running the inn is therapy for her. She then explained how her twin children who are institutionalized, and her son who went to Annapolis and was the star of the entire town. Everyone was proud of him. Put a gun to his head. They said they didn't know what to say and were never more uncomfortable in their LIVES! It ruined their entire trip...
TMI
I told him that at times, we as innkeepers hear these same stories from our guests, that they are at our table with a cup of coffee and feel that they can share their "stories" with us, and unburden themselves a little bit. But having it the other way, is a big no no.
And then lastly, he tells me I stayed in a B&B in ________________ insert our town. I wanted to know when, he said 10 years ago. I asked about the innkeepers, he couldnt' recall. We have been here now 10 years, was it us? Unless they were "Memorable" I wouldn't know if I met them here. I will now check my rezerv system and find out!
(I know all of you are saying, "if he stayed with YOU he would remember!" Well, they didn't stay here, not in my system.)

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Click to expand...

And the other one, we have discussed, SHOULD WE ask about a book they are reading? Then I think we decided they might think we were snooping through their belongings or something, even though we may have seen it in their hands on the porch earlier...

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

We stayed at a B& B in the Poconos that had juice, coffee, and cereal as breakfast but we were OK with it because the price was so cheap and I think we knew in advance - it was so long ago. The owner's daughter had just gotten engaged the night we arrived and we were invited to join them for a glass of wine in celebration. We declined to leave them to their private celebration, but it was nice. The one were were NOT OK with was the one that told us food was in the fridge - make what you want and leave the mess. We were prepaid, it was NOT cheap and there was one egg - for 4 people!

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Click to expand...

And the other one, we have discussed, SHOULD WE ask about a book they are reading? Then I think we decided they might think we were snooping through their belongings or something, even though we may have seen it in their hands on the porch earlier...
.

Click to expand...

The book one kills me...I would love to talk books! But I feel I shouldn't mention something I saw in the room while cleaning. I will ask if I see the guest with the book.
I did, however, sneak a peek at the labels in a guest's really pretty tops (hanging in the room, not in the closet). Went right out and bought the same ones myself.

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Click to expand...

And the other one, we have discussed, SHOULD WE ask about a book they are reading? Then I think we decided they might think we were snooping through their belongings or something, even though we may have seen it in their hands on the porch earlier...
.

Click to expand...

The book one kills me...I would love to talk books! But I feel I shouldn't mention something I saw in the room while cleaning. I will ask if I see the guest with the book.
I did, however, sneak a peek at the labels in a guest's really pretty tops (hanging in the room, not in the closet). Went right out and bought the same ones myself.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I did, however, sneak a peek at the labels in a guest's really pretty tops (hanging in the room, not in the closet). Went right out and bought the same ones myself.

Click to expand...

Women!

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Click to expand...

And the other one, we have discussed, SHOULD WE ask about a book they are reading? Then I think we decided they might think we were snooping through their belongings or something, even though we may have seen it in their hands on the porch earlier...
.

Click to expand...

The book one kills me...I would love to talk books! But I feel I shouldn't mention something I saw in the room while cleaning. I will ask if I see the guest with the book.
I did, however, sneak a peek at the labels in a guest's really pretty tops (hanging in the room, not in the closet). Went right out and bought the same ones myself.
.

Click to expand...

as long as you didn't wear them till after she had gone! that would have looked a bit stalker esque if you turned up to breakfast in the same clothes a couple of days in a row!

Have talked to people about what they are reading if they bring it to breakfast - we have a lot of solo business travellers so they often bring reading matter - they don't seem to mind as its all in a public view.

[email protected] said:

Have talked to people about what they are reading if they bring it to breakfast - we have a lot of solo business travellers so they often bring reading matter - they don't seem to mind as its all in a public view..

Click to expand...

[email protected] said:

Have talked to people about what they are reading if they bring it to breakfast - we have a lot of solo business travellers so they often bring reading matter - they don't seem to mind as its all in a public view.

Click to expand...

I have an arsenal of books about this area that I discuss and show them (and give them if I can) when I see they are reading something great, or interested in the culture and heritage of this area. In fact these are guests I often really love, as the conversation flows from there...all about interesting things.

[email protected] said:

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

I've heard stories like that as well. Our very first trip to Canada I said I wanted to stay at B&B's. Other half not so sure. We drove by a motel with people hanging all over the chairs and the balcony. He wanted to stop, I said no. Got to the B&B and it was also in a state of disrepair on the outside. He wanted to leave, I said no.
Got inside and it was wonderful. They were having it painted. Historic downtown area that was a complete movie set. It was fantastic! We got the innside scoop on the B&B (disassembled in Boston and barged to NS during the Revolution) and the movie set- Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore. So, yes, you get the innsider innfo. We would have thought the town really looked like that. And never would have known the whole thing was fake.
Some of our guests used to like to stay at a now-closed B&B nearby. Then the owners started talking about their seriously sick child, leaving information in the rooms about the kid, etc. You just can't do that.
We had cereal for breakfast at one place while the owners sat in their kitchen eating breakfast. It was weird.
And you know all my stories about no heat and burned food and innkeepers who come into the bedroom with you and close the door and lean on it so you can't get out.
I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I particularly don't like it when an innkeeper says, 'Heard you get up early, are you ok?' What? Are you sitting there listening for your guests' movements around their rooms???

Click to expand...

And the other one, we have discussed, SHOULD WE ask about a book they are reading? Then I think we decided they might think we were snooping through their belongings or something, even though we may have seen it in their hands on the porch earlier...
.

Click to expand...

The book one kills me...I would love to talk books! But I feel I shouldn't mention something I saw in the room while cleaning. I will ask if I see the guest with the book.
I did, however, sneak a peek at the labels in a guest's really pretty tops (hanging in the room, not in the closet). Went right out and bought the same ones myself.
.

Click to expand...

as long as you didn't wear them till after she had gone! that would have looked a bit stalker esque if you turned up to breakfast in the same clothes a couple of days in a row!
.

Click to expand...

[email protected] said:

as long as you didn't wear them till after she had gone! that would have looked a bit stalker esque if you turned up to breakfast in the same clothes a couple of days in a row!

Click to expand...

Ordered online. They took a few days to arrive. ;-)