Confessions of an Introverted Traveler - INN the news 03.09.09

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JunieBJones (JBJ)

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[FONT= 'Times New Roman']Confessions of an Introverted Traveler[/FONT]
World Hum - Manhattan Beach,CA,USA
I’m sure each and every person is delightful, but there are just too darn many of them at once. Period. We’re also not bed-and-breakfast people, ...

excellent points in this article
 
Did you love the "mating call of the B&B guest?" I LOVE IT!!!.
Yes indeed! The secondary mating call is, 'Was this a life long dream of yours?'
If the guests have been pretty casual and funny up to that point, I'll answer, 'What cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry? Oh YES, a life-long dream.'
I think what some people don't get is that people like to make connections. 'Where are you from?' is a starting point. But, I totally get not going on vacation specifically to meet new people. It's nice to sit and overhear conversations without actually having to participate. And I am one of those people who cannot just walk up to strangers and start a conversation.
 
Did you love the "mating call of the B&B guest?" I LOVE IT!!!.
Yes indeed! The secondary mating call is, 'Was this a life long dream of yours?'
If the guests have been pretty casual and funny up to that point, I'll answer, 'What cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry? Oh YES, a life-long dream.'
I think what some people don't get is that people like to make connections. 'Where are you from?' is a starting point. But, I totally get not going on vacation specifically to meet new people. It's nice to sit and overhear conversations without actually having to participate. And I am one of those people who cannot just walk up to strangers and start a conversation.
.
Bree said:
Yes indeed! The secondary mating call is, 'Was this a life long dream of yours?'
If the guests have been pretty casual and funny up to that point, I'll answer, 'What cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry? Oh YES, a life-long dream.'
I think what some people don't get is that people like to make connections. 'Where are you from?' is a starting point. But, I totally get not going on vacation specifically to meet new people. It's nice to sit and overhear conversations without actually having to participate. And I am one of those people who cannot just walk up to strangers and start a conversation.
no, the mating call of the B&B guest - to each other, not toward the innkeeper, capiche?
 
I'm guilty! I'm an introvert at heart. I've done a bit of traveling for our state association. We have this wonderful Innkeeper Getaway Program which if you participate, it only costs $40 to stay with another participating member. Rather than using the program, I will seek out a hotel so I can be by myself and not have to be an innkeeper when I'm not doing official business. Even when I was on the board of the assoc. and we would have board meetings at different locations in the state, I would choose to stay at a hotel rather than a free stay at the B&B.
Don't get me wrong, I love B&Bs & innkeepers, but I also have a bit of Garbo in me... "I just want to be alone".
 
Very interesting points! We have to be good at reading the folks that "just want to be alone" too. I had a business guest who specifically asked when they could have breakfast alone - didn't want to have it served to their room, just didn't want to have to chat folks up at the breakfast table. We were able to work it out thankfully and they loved it here.
Some people are also not morning people & need that time to get their thoughts for the day together :)
 
Very interesting points! We have to be good at reading the folks that "just want to be alone" too. I had a business guest who specifically asked when they could have breakfast alone - didn't want to have it served to their room, just didn't want to have to chat folks up at the breakfast table. We were able to work it out thankfully and they loved it here.
Some people are also not morning people & need that time to get their thoughts for the day together :).
Samster said:
Very interesting points! We have to be good at reading the folks that "just want to be alone" too. I had a business guest who specifically asked when they could have breakfast alone - didn't want to have it served to their room, just didn't want to have to chat folks up at the breakfast table.
Our B&B is marketed towards these people. We deliver breakfast to their door. They are typically the type of guests who love the ambiance of a B&B, yet don't want to be social with the other guests. It's the main reason we get so many 1st time B&B guests. It's interesting though, they don't want to socialize with the other guests but most of the time they really like to social with me. I think it makes them feel more special that they get my undivided attention. Of course I have to read each person carefully to see what they like. It's a juggling act.
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one.
 
Did you love the "mating call of the B&B guest?" I LOVE IT!!!.
Yes indeed! The secondary mating call is, 'Was this a life long dream of yours?'
If the guests have been pretty casual and funny up to that point, I'll answer, 'What cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry? Oh YES, a life-long dream.'
I think what some people don't get is that people like to make connections. 'Where are you from?' is a starting point. But, I totally get not going on vacation specifically to meet new people. It's nice to sit and overhear conversations without actually having to participate. And I am one of those people who cannot just walk up to strangers and start a conversation.
.
Bree said:
Yes indeed! The secondary mating call is, 'Was this a life long dream of yours?'
If the guests have been pretty casual and funny up to that point, I'll answer, 'What cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry? Oh YES, a life-long dream.'
I think what some people don't get is that people like to make connections. 'Where are you from?' is a starting point. But, I totally get not going on vacation specifically to meet new people. It's nice to sit and overhear conversations without actually having to participate. And I am one of those people who cannot just walk up to strangers and start a conversation.
no, the mating call of the B&B guest - to each other, not toward the innkeeper, capiche?
.
Yes, I got it, but that's the secondary question when the 'where are you from?' dies down. When the guests want a break from talking to each other!
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one..
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
 
What's interesting is that no one mentions dining in the hotel where there are 10 tables for 4 and 50 hungry people milling around. My mother talks to more people over coffee in the morning in the lobby of the restaurant than you would ever have to talk to at a B&B. ANd she brings a bowl of cereal up to my dad who doesn't want to talk to anyone.
I got a split gene on that. I will talk to people, but I'm not really that sociable in the morning. Especially not on my vacation!
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one..
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
.
NW BB said:
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
We've had guests tell us they were 'held captive' in the dining room while the innkeeper showed a flip-chart presentation on the local area. Heck, we've been held captive by innkeepers wanting to tell us the entire history of the building.
 
What's interesting is that no one mentions dining in the hotel where there are 10 tables for 4 and 50 hungry people milling around. My mother talks to more people over coffee in the morning in the lobby of the restaurant than you would ever have to talk to at a B&B. ANd she brings a bowl of cereal up to my dad who doesn't want to talk to anyone.
I got a split gene on that. I will talk to people, but I'm not really that sociable in the morning. Especially not on my vacation!.
I usually go down, put my breakfast and coffee on a tray and bring it back up to room. Oh, and to show you how quirky I can get, I won't use those little in room coffee makers. The coffee is soooooo bad and if it's location is anywhere near the bathroom I get grossed out. I wait for the coffee downstairs.
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one..
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
.
NW BB said:
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
We've had guests tell us they were 'held captive' in the dining room while the innkeeper showed a flip-chart presentation on the local area. Heck, we've been held captive by innkeepers wanting to tell us the entire history of the building.
.
Bree said:
NW BB said:
guests we had yesterday said one of the reasons they never went to a B&B before was a friend of theirs told them that at breakfast the innkeeper had them play a version of Truth or Dare!
We've had guests tell us they were 'held captive' in the dining room while the innkeeper showed a flip-chart presentation on the local area. Heck, we've been held captive by innkeepers wanting to tell us the entire history of the building.
I have been held captive. Hate it.
It always goes back to something Dave Shervil used to say at DoD in Sydney Australia - good ol' Dave used to say when there was a luncheon or retirement or whatever - "If it's on my quid, I choose with whom I drink" paraphrasing that - - If I am paying for my stay somewhere I choose how I want it to be and with who I want to share my beer. (Yes you drink beer on your lunch break down under and return to work - now don't everyone apply for a visa at once
cheers.gif
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In light of efficiency thought, we as innkeepers sometimes overlook this as we want to feed everyone and get everything done and move on to the next task.We have rooms to clean! After all we have one day then the next then the next of the same - same to us, to them it is individualized attention and service from the innleeper. (PS that was a typo, I think I might keep it).
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one..
I would not like this if innkeepers ask me to put on a hat. I think I am a little past wanting to feel silly. This seems like a mom and pop place which I am not the least interested in going to. I think bed and breakfast guests are more savy travelers today.
I would really hate truth or dare. I would not play this at all.
 
I've heard of Victorian tea rooms having hats available for guests to wear in order to fit into the decor. However, I've never heard of a B&B doing so, especially at breakfast. Talk about having a grouchy guest. That is likely to produce one..
I would not like this if innkeepers ask me to put on a hat. I think I am a little past wanting to feel silly. This seems like a mom and pop place which I am not the least interested in going to. I think bed and breakfast guests are more savy travelers today.
I would really hate truth or dare. I would not play this at all.
.
I'm with you :) Years ago, I stayed at a place that had ladies and gentlemen's hats of the house's period to wear at breakfast. Not my cup of tea, or coffee....
 
I hate all that stuff. And if there is a community table I hate when they make us all introduce ourselves. Just let the conversation evolve, if it's going to. I don't like being directed.
That's why our dining room has tables for two. They always end up talking to each other, but they don't feel like they have to.
RIki
 
I hate all that stuff. And if there is a community table I hate when they make us all introduce ourselves. Just let the conversation evolve, if it's going to. I don't like being directed.
That's why our dining room has tables for two. They always end up talking to each other, but they don't feel like they have to.
RIki.
We don't have the room in our dining room for that type of set up. That's why we offer different breakfast times and also breakfast served en suite for a small fee. I actually have more (overall not a lot) people asking for room service now that I added it as a transaction for a charge. Which I find interesting...
 
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