Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pauline Frommer Says:
Questions to Ask Your Potential B&B Host
Though most in-apartment B&B stays are fun, carefree holidays, some-
times, well, things can go mighty wrong. It's extremely important to find
out what sort of person you may be sharing your vacation with and what
the apartment is like before you put down a deposit. Call your potential
host or the agency to go over any concerns you may have before commit-
ting to a hosted stay. You may want to ask the following questions:
1. What is the host's schedule?
Some hosts will be in the apartment for most of the day, while oth-
ers work outside the home, meaning that you'll have the apartment
to yourself for large chunks of time. Find out before you leave.
2. Where does the host sleep in relation to the room you'll be using?
Another privacy issue: Will your host be in the room right next door,
eavesdropping (intentionally or not) on your every sigh or snore? Or
will there be a room or two between your two bedrooms? In some
extremely rare cases, cash-crunched hosts have been known to rent
out their own bedrooms and take the living room couch for a week.
If the listing is for a one-bedroom, you may want to find out if this
is the case, as that can be an uncomfortable situation, especially if
you have to walk through the living room to get to the bedroom or
bathroom. (From what I understand, this is not a common scenario,
but hey, it's better to ask.)
3. Is the bathroom shared or private?
4. Are there pets in the house?
5. Are there any rules the host has for his or her guests?
Whether guests can smoke in the apartment is obviously a common
issue, as is the guests' use of the shared space. (I once met a host
who only allowed the guests she liked to venture into the living
room.) Most hosts do not allow guests to cook, except to reheat pre-
pared foods, so if this is an issue for you, discuss it before you book.
And sometimes the rules can be even more unusual—I know of a
kosher hostess who requires guests to separate the plates used for
dairy products and meat products (not an easy task).
6. What does the bedroom face?
Does the room get a lot of sun in the morning? Does it face a busy
street or a quiet back courtyard? These questions may be key if you're
a light sleeper.
under-40s) put up personal profiles that look a lot like Facebook pages and offer
to meet, greet, and host strangers when they swing into town. In exchange, visi-
tors might help with the chores, cook, or otherwise behave like good guests. This
method of accommodation feels like a high-wire act for those who are unused to
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