If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own..
No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?catlady said:I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own.
Actually no one greeted us. It was a holiday so they were off. We were on our own totally. A very weird experience for sure. Albeit was my hometown and I knew the owners but still no one present in this location was kind of creepy. They knew we were innkeepers so they probably thought we would be fine. No one else was in the place but us.I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own..No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?catlady said:I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own.
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If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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See THIS post where K said, "Started with Continental Plus - switched quickly to full breakfast (guests were disappointed and full is easier)". Perhaps you can ask her to elaborate on it.Olga said:If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?
I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own..No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?catlady said:I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own.
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We stayed in two of THESE cottages last summer in Little Rock, and we loved it. I reserved 2 of their 3 cottages online, they e-mailed us instructions, policies, and a different 4-digit keypad code for each cottage. We arrived at 9:30 p.m., punched in the codes on the front doors, and went in and lived there 3 nights. Didn't see a soul until the next day.Olga said:No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?
Totally agree! A bed and breakfast should be a sit down served meal! If I want to serve my self I will stay at a hotel! When we stay at B & B's I want to be pampered! We have had a lot of guests over the years that stayed with us because we serve a hot meal! We always make something different everyday. The guests love that. We also never tell them the day before what we will be serving. Unless it is a repeat and they request something. It's a surprise each morning and they love that!That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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Actually no one greeted us. It was a holiday so they were off. We were on our own totally. A very weird experience for sure. Albeit was my hometown and I knew the owners but still no one present in this location was kind of creepy. They knew we were innkeepers so they probably thought we would be fine. No one else was in the place but us.I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own..No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?catlady said:I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own.
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It was a former funeral home where Pretty Boy Floyd was done up in the basement and laid out in the parlor :-(
The manager did show up the day after Christmas after breakfast and we chatted quite a bit. But still was weird.
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Oh, yes, that does sound a bit creepy, lol.catlady said:Actually no one greeted us. It was a holiday so they were off. We were on our own totally. A very weird experience for sure. Albeit was my hometown and I knew the owners but still no one present in this location was kind of creepy. They knew we were innkeepers so they probably thought we would be fine. No one else was in the place but us.
It was a former funeral home where Pretty Boy Floyd was done up in the basement and laid out in the parlor :-(
The manager did show up the day after Christmas after breakfast and we chatted quite a bit. But still was weird.
If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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We only have two rooms, soon to add two more, but I would not think of anything other than a served breakfast. Especially at the prices here in Charlottesville. As a matter of fact we serve local organic chemical free eggs, sausage, bacon etc.Olga said:If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?
"guests were disappointed and full is easier"If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
.See THIS post where K said, "Started with Continental Plus - switched quickly to full breakfast (guests were disappointed and full is easier)". Perhaps you can ask her to elaborate on it.Olga said:If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?
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If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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In a way we do both. We have various items out for people to help themselves..... cereals, fruit, yogs, juices .... and then we cook 1 item for them from the daily menu. I think guests here would be very disappointed if they weren't offered something served/cooked.Olga said:If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?
That reminds me of one of my favorite movies. It is Same Time Next Year.I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own..No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?catlady said:I dont see them as the same, continental is a light breakfast placed out for guests to help themselves. Usually light stuff such as fruit, juice, cereals, some type of breads. Self catered to me means something where you placed the ingredients for a breakfast in the cabin/ cottage, or apt for them to make their own breakfast. Though I have stayed in a B & B which had no innkeeper, but a kitchen full of stuff, frozen waffles, etc where you just helped yourself and made your own.
.We stayed in two of THESE cottages last summer in Little Rock, and we loved it. I reserved 2 of their 3 cottages online, they e-mailed us instructions, policies, and a different 4-digit keypad code for each cottage. We arrived at 9:30 p.m., punched in the codes on the front doors, and went in and lived there 3 nights. Didn't see a soul until the next day.Olga said:No Innkeeper? So someone greeted you at arrival, checked you in, and then you were on your own? What was the experience like?
Each morning there would be a 9 a.m. knock at the door and a hot breakfast basket was delivered to us. We set it back out on the porch after breakfast and they picked it up later.
We never saw the owner but did chat briefly with the lady who delivered breakfast. We loved being left alone in our own little houses. We would have been just as happy in their "real" B&B around the corner too, but the independence of having the houses to ourselves was great.
There was no housekeeping while we were there. They only clean it after you check out, or once a week for longer stays. This is pretty much the same format I'll be using for the vacation rental apartments I'll be opening this fall.
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I agree....both on the meaning of the terms "continental vs. self-catered" and the advantages of serving a full breakfast if you are a small B+B. We are the only small B+B, in a popular destination, that serves a full breakfast. Granted, we had to go through all the training, testing and permitting to be able to cook and serve food, but we also charge more and appeal to those looking for more "luxury" and pampering. This is totally consistent with our unique location, limited availability and "boutique B+B" branding.Totally agree! A bed and breakfast should be a sit down served meal! If I want to serve my self I will stay at a hotel! When we stay at B & B's I want to be pampered! We have had a lot of guests over the years that stayed with us because we serve a hot meal! We always make something different everyday. The guests love that. We also never tell them the day before what we will be serving. Unless it is a repeat and they request something. It's a surprise each morning and they love that!That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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I agree....both on the meaning of the terms "continental vs. self-catered" and the advantages of serving a full breakfast if you are a small B+B. We are the only small B+B, in a popular destination, that serves a full breakfast. Granted, we had to go through all the training, testing and permitting to be able to cook and serve food, but we also charge more and appeal to those looking for more "luxury" and pampering. This is totally consistent with our unique location, limited availability and "boutique B+B" branding.Totally agree! A bed and breakfast should be a sit down served meal! If I want to serve my self I will stay at a hotel! When we stay at B & B's I want to be pampered! We have had a lot of guests over the years that stayed with us because we serve a hot meal! We always make something different everyday. The guests love that. We also never tell them the day before what we will be serving. Unless it is a repeat and they request something. It's a surprise each morning and they love that!That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
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I don't think we're as busy as you are given your location vs mine but we generally go non-stop from May-Oct. We can have up to 17 in the house at the same time and it's just us doing the breakfast. Yes, it is exhausting to try to come up with something that suits the dietary restrictions but isn't cardboard on toast. The cooking part is easier than the planning part but maybe I'm saying that because I'm the planner and not the cook!Silverspoon said:On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
With several oppotunities on the horizon, I am finding myself having to think harder about some of these questions as I may very well be taking the leap sooner rather than later. If you hire help (cost aside - assuming it is justified by volume) how do you split time attending to guests entering the dining room and being a control freak in the kitchen? ie wanting to control the preparation/cooking/plating part as well as being an attentive host.I agree....both on the meaning of the terms "continental vs. self-catered" and the advantages of serving a full breakfast if you are a small B+B. We are the only small B+B, in a popular destination, that serves a full breakfast. Granted, we had to go through all the training, testing and permitting to be able to cook and serve food, but we also charge more and appeal to those looking for more "luxury" and pampering. This is totally consistent with our unique location, limited availability and "boutique B+B" branding.Totally agree! A bed and breakfast should be a sit down served meal! If I want to serve my self I will stay at a hotel! When we stay at B & B's I want to be pampered! We have had a lot of guests over the years that stayed with us because we serve a hot meal! We always make something different everyday. The guests love that. We also never tell them the day before what we will be serving. Unless it is a repeat and they request something. It's a surprise each morning and they love that!That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
.I don't think we're as busy as you are given your location vs mine but we generally go non-stop from May-Oct. We can have up to 17 in the house at the same time and it's just us doing the breakfast. Yes, it is exhausting to try to come up with something that suits the dietary restrictions but isn't cardboard on toast. The cooking part is easier than the planning part but maybe I'm saying that because I'm the planner and not the cook!Silverspoon said:On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
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If you own a B&B you typically work the B&B, meaning cooking and serving, and interacting with guests, if you own a larger inn, then you hire help.With several oppotunities on the horizon, I am finding myself having to think harder about some of these questions as I may very well be taking the leap sooner rather than later. If you hire help (cost aside - assuming it is justified by volume) how do you split time attending to guests entering the dining room and being a control freak in the kitchen? ie wanting to control the preparation/cooking/plating part as well as being an attentive host.I agree....both on the meaning of the terms "continental vs. self-catered" and the advantages of serving a full breakfast if you are a small B+B. We are the only small B+B, in a popular destination, that serves a full breakfast. Granted, we had to go through all the training, testing and permitting to be able to cook and serve food, but we also charge more and appeal to those looking for more "luxury" and pampering. This is totally consistent with our unique location, limited availability and "boutique B+B" branding.Totally agree! A bed and breakfast should be a sit down served meal! If I want to serve my self I will stay at a hotel! When we stay at B & B's I want to be pampered! We have had a lot of guests over the years that stayed with us because we serve a hot meal! We always make something different everyday. The guests love that. We also never tell them the day before what we will be serving. Unless it is a repeat and they request something. It's a surprise each morning and they love that!That depends on you and how much you want to do. We had a 3 room place and we always served breakfast. I think it is quite expected from the smaller B & B's...I mean that is what it is about. Bed and Breakfast. If people want continental, they can go to a hotel.If a bed and breakfast had 3 or 4 rooms, would it be worth doing a continental breakfast, or better to do a served breakfast?If I saw 'continental' I would assume someone laid the breakfast out each morning in the dining room. 'Self-catered' implies there is a fridge in the room where everything is stored and that I probably have to bring some of it myself.
That's my take on those words..
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.
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On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
.I don't think we're as busy as you are given your location vs mine but we generally go non-stop from May-Oct. We can have up to 17 in the house at the same time and it's just us doing the breakfast. Yes, it is exhausting to try to come up with something that suits the dietary restrictions but isn't cardboard on toast. The cooking part is easier than the planning part but maybe I'm saying that because I'm the planner and not the cook!Silverspoon said:On the down side, making a full, freshly baked, home-cooked breakfast every day for months on end can be exhausting. If you were large enough to hire someone to help out then it would make sense. If you are small and doing all the work yourself you may find it easier to manage if you choose one of the other options.
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The three properties are very different and thus breakfast would be too.
Option three is raw land and I could build and create whatever I wanted. (yes I have said I don't like "build it they will come". But...this may be the right choice for the longer term.)
Does anyone have hired help in the kitchen?
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