B&B Expectations

Jan 25, 2012 by

What do you expect when you visit a Bed and Breakfast for a stay?  What should set it apart from a brief visit to an economy hotel or even a luxurious one?  Everyone has differing notions on the expectations of a B&B, and most of them depend on where the establishment is located and whether the region comes preloaded with any historical significance.  In North America, the tradition of the Bed And Breakfast Inn began in Colonial times, when it was considered the norm to always keep one’s house open to travelers, so that they would have a place to stay if it grew dark before they had reached their destinations.  Hospitality of this kind was always rewarded with a payment to the house, and the owners of the home would provide breakfast early the next morning to see their overnight guests off on their way.   In other parts of the world, however, the back story is something quite different.

In Spain, a Bed and Breakfast doesn’t carry the same prestige as in Britain and the United States, along with much of the North American continent.  Rather, the Spanish who open B&B establishments normally do so out of necessity to support the needs of their own families.  Hospitality is of secondary or minimal concern, and for the prices people typically pay, there is very little historical association for visitors to enjoy.  The houses are usually older but lack the charm of American or British historic B&B homes, and tourists are often regarded as a bit naive by the Spanish natives, who would wonder why they hadn’t simply booked a “proper hotel” rather than spending so much money on substandard arrangements. However, B&Bs can be quite comfortable in Europe, which modern day amenities like WiFi internet, and flat screen TVs hooked up to international dish packages.

In Israel, particularly the northern parts of the region, there are small rooms within ordinary family homes that are often available for overnight rentals.  Zimmer, a Yiddish word meaning “room,” is what these places are called.  They grew out of a need for cooperative farming when it was difficult for people to make a living or purchase enough food for their families, and even today, the rooms can be rented for longer periods of time than just one night if necessary.  These rooms can range in elaborateness from the very simple to the most extravagant.  Shopping around ahead of time will help you find the perfect zimmer for your visit to the Holy Land.

With that in mind, know that Bed and Breakfast rooms are regarded and maintained quite differently in many countries around the world.  If you would like to learn more about B&B establishments in other parts of the world, a quick Internet search using your favorite search engine will be quite helpful.