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No Surprises at B&B Inns, Survey Finds

Industry Study: Fewer Hidden Charges than Hotels

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 15, 2007

Responding to a recent ConsumerAffairs.com article on hidden hotel charges, Marti Mayne of bedandbreakfast.com said B&Bs offer far more value for the vacation dollar.

"From free breakfast to afternoon snacks, desserts, fee-free phone service, and free parking, the list of complimentary offerings at B&Bs goes on and on," she said.

She said a survey of 1300 B&Bs found a high percentage that offered patrons amenities not often found in hotels – at least not without a price tag attached.

The survey, which received responses from innkeepers in 49 states, found that nearly nine of every ten offered late check-ins (95.8%), early breakfast or provisions for patrons with early-morning departures (94.8%), and free WiFi or wired in-room high-speed internet access (89.4%).

More than four of every five have televisions in guest rooms or available upon request (82%) and offer the opportunity for guests to invite colleagues to breakfast (79.7%).

Nearly as many (76.4%) have work desks in at least some of their rooms, offer guests use of a fax machine (73.5%), and take online reservations (71%).

The survey also showed most B&Bs provide special corporate or single rates for business travelers (69.5%), allow guests to use copy machines (67.9%), and have flexible policies comparable to those offered by local hotels (64.6%).

Slightly less than half have in-room landline phones in areas with limited cell phone reception (45.5%) or provide a computer for guest use (44.6%) but those numbers are increasing.

About a third of respondents (35.3%) indicated they participate in a larger online reservation network like Expedia.

According to Marti Mayne, consumers can save substantial amounts of money by comparing the costs of hotels to B&Bs. Areas where they differ range from parking, invariably free at B&Bs, to breakfast, included at B&Bs but as much as $25-$30 per person at major hotels.

Other common differences, she said, are phone charges (free local and toll-free calls at B&Bs), internet access (typically $10 per day at hotels but free at B&Bs), and snacks (overpriced mini-bars in hotel rooms but free drinks, fruit, cookies, and candy at B&Bs).

Room service charges are often exorbitant at hotels but usually free at B&Bs, which often provide breakfast in bed upon request, she added.

In addition, Mayne said hotels add to bills by charging for movies ($10-$12 per view), as opposed to free video and DVD libraries available at many B&Bs.

Even tipping runs up a hotel guest bill, she noted. One bellman may remove bags from a car trunk, put them onto a dolly, and hand them off to another bellman who brings them up the room (with a minimum tip of $5-$10 each), while a B&B offers the same service without charge since the helper may also be the owner.

"You won’t find hidden fees at the vast majority of B&Bs in the United States," Mayne said. "In fact, many B&Bs stack up better than some all-inclusive resorts."

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