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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 4:56 pm
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Bed & Breakfast/Inn question

Hope this is the right forum (travel, non FF related).

We've booked a lovely room at a lovely B&B for our anniversary.

Unless something changes (since we're going mid-week in the dead of winter to a non-ski, etc. place) it might turn out that we are the only people there.

Would that creep you out?

I first has an inkling something was up when we got an e-mail asking exactly what time we were going to arrive - well, we don't know exactly, um sometime between 3 and 6?

I then did some snooping and not only are we the only room sold (so far) for that night, they have NO rooms sold for the nights on either side of us.

It includes breakfast, so I'm wondering if that will be weird for them cooking something for just the two of us, usually those places put out a whole quiche or a pan of something.

This is not a dump (and I'd prefer not to say right now), it's highly regarded, it's just a strange time of year/mid-week thing.

Just wondering if anyone has been the only ones overnight in a place...the place has 6 bedrooms and many lovely common areas.
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 5:01 pm
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All this angst because they ask when you'll arrive?

I'd just assume they want to be ready for you, or have errands to run.

Enjoy your trip!
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 5:05 pm
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Bed & Breakfast/Inn question

Wouldn't think twice about it. Had an experience where my friend and I were in the only two rooms rented in a B and B, was totally fine. They cooked what we wanted and seemed to go about their business as they would any other time. My guess is that if they are experienced B and B owners, which it sounds like from your post, will not seem at all strange for you.
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 6:03 pm
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Thanks for the reality check, Doc, and the first-hand info, Distilled.

I guess I lost sight of the fact that they are a business, and one room sold is better than no rooms sold.

It might even be fun to rattle around in a beautiful old place by ourselves.
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 6:08 pm
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Happy Anniversary!
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 6:48 pm
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Now if the guy says "Hi, my name is Norman" then you might want to whip out the ole iPhone and book a hilton or marriott
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 7:25 pm
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Got it...no showers!
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 9:49 pm
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Bed & Breakfast/Inn question

Small places like this can really be the best during the slow season. You will get more attention from the innkeeper if you want but they will likely also leave you alone if that is your desire. Personally, we like to be able to chat and get all the local secrets they have to share. Being a slow time of year may give you more opportunity than during peak times. Relax and enjoy!
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Old Jan 5, 2015 | 11:53 pm
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Bed & Breakfast/Inn question

Mrs IrishBoy and I stayed in a remote winery in the Mosel region of Germany after driving for 4 hours through a storm from Munich. GPS was essential. It was off season and we were the only guests in a 12+ room chateau .. A snack with some wine was left out for us and the owner arrived at 9 the next morning to prepare breakfast .. It was indeed strange, especially in the storm .. Great memories.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 1:26 am
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Very often. I'm often in small rural B&Bs at odd times of year. If they know when you arrive, then they can run errands etc around that time.

Since the B&Bs I usually stay at cook breakfast to order, then no big deal for them to cook for 1 either. I'll usually give them an idea what time I"ll be down for breakfast as well.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 2:29 am
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My gf and I have been the only guests in a B&B the week after xmas, received fantastic service & they also asked when we would be arriving, as they wanted to go shopping & didn't want to be out when we arrived.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 3:48 am
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This is what they do for a living,if they did not want guests,they would likely have closed during off season.Many similar places do,well at least outside the US,thats true.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 6:15 am
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We stayed at a small inn/roadhouse in Switzerland in the fall a couple of years ago and were the only overnight guests. Innkeeper asked us what time we desired breakfast and then at closing time he went home, leaving my wife and I for the night as the only two people in the house.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 6:28 am
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I'd be delighted to be the only person/couple there. Fantastic! As for the question about them going to trouble for you...they're running a business! I always find it amusing when we stay at small but very special/luxurious inns that people write these gushing thank yous in the guest book "...thank you SO MUCH for allowing us to stay in your lovely inn..."! It's not like you've been invited to someone's beach house in the Hamptons...it's a business.
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Old Jan 6, 2015 | 7:29 am
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Originally Posted by LondonElite
I'd be delighted to be the only person/couple there. Fantastic! As for the question about them going to trouble for you...they're running a business! I always find it amusing when we stay at small but very special/luxurious inns that people write these gushing thank yous in the guest book "...thank you SO MUCH for allowing us to stay in your lovely inn..."! It's not like you've been invited to someone's beach house in the Hamptons...it's a business.
it IS a business, but it's how the hosts personalize their interactions with their clientele that generate those kind of comments ...

friends of ours ran a Brattleboro VT inn for about 5 years ... my wife and I, along with our 4-year-old son, visited them about a year into their ownership; at the time, he had a full-time sales job that required about 50% travel, which meant she was both a full-time hostess and a full-time manager overseeing three or four staff; he wisely gave up most of the travel after their daughter was born, and they sold the inn when she was about 3

they are warm, welcoming, gregarious people who really didn't have to try very hard to engage with their guests on whatever level the guests felt comfortable
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