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have you ever stayed in a bed & breakfast? Where was it & how long did you stay? Did you pick it because of area atrractions?
what types of accomodations did they have? was there a private bathroom? Would you stay at a B&B again?
Around how much per night?

We are trying to buy the bugelow next door to us and my dream is to make it into two "suites", each having their own bathroom. we would serve fresh eggs(from our chickens) & fresh fruit & veggies when in season from the garden along with other stuff for breakfast.
The bugelow has a great lakeview & a yard that could(and will) be beautiful. We are 5 minutes from the north fork, splish-splash, the outlets. 5 minutes to long island sound beaches, 10 minutes to a really large catering facility, 15 minutes to port jeff & the ferry, 20 mintues to the hamptons.
I think we have enough reasons for people to want to stay here.

I'm looking for input, if you've stayed in a B&B, what are your rants & raves.

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I never stayed in one, but if I did I would definitely want a private bathroom.
It sounds like a great idea!!!! Good luck!

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I have stayed in a B&B twice - once with DH in Intercourse, PA (near Lancaster) and once with a girlfriend in Rehobeth Beach, DE.
The one in PA was absolutely beautiful, it only had suites with full baths. Ours had a jacuzzi and a fireplace, as well as a small living room area. I think location was a main reason we chose to go there. It was on the pricier end of things, but definitely a romantic vacation. We both loved it. Here is their web site (they have apparently added a spa since we were there). Intercourse Inn & Spa The breakfast here was gourmet style, sit down - you had to be up in time for breakfast or you missed out. DH wasn't thrilled about that set up, but it was still very nice breakfast (I tend to get up early anyway).

The B&B I went to with my college roommate was inexpensive, and 2 blocks from the beach and boardwalk. We shared a bathroom with the other people on the floor. Honestly, it was ok for what it was at that point, but I don't know that I'd be comfortable sharing bathrooms with strangers now - feels too much like living in a college dorm - so when DH and I looked at the place above, having our own bathroom was a necessity for us. The breakfast here was basically continental - there was a basket of muffins, bagels, etc. that was left out all morning so you could stroll in before going out to the beach and catch a bite to eat.

Good luck!

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ive stayed in a BB&B

they had free wine and crackers at 10pm in the living room, itwas really cute

your own bathroom is a must, imo.

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DH and I are B&B junkies though we have never stayed at a B&B on LI.

Charming rooms make the place. Has to have a history or style to it. Very cozy, romantic. Antiques are usually a big thing. Poster beds, bathes for 2, etc. Breakfast needs to be unique and the owners have to be charming (which I am sure you are). FM me with any specifics. Have stayed at B&Bs all over the East Coast and Ireland too! PS - definitely do private baths for each.

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DH and I have stayed at several in the Finger Lakes area. The accomodations have ranged and they have all been very different.

1. European-style, huge, there were a range of room sizes. We once had a huge room with a balcony and king bed, and the next time a smaller room with a queen bed and smaller balcony. There was a jacuzzi room for all guests to use, and a huge living room.

2- Old Victorian home, with period decor. We had a huge suite with a bedroom, living area and bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. There was also a tv room and living room.

3- Log Cabin- Was more like a complex with multiple buildings and lots of land- with breakfast in the main house. The owers were Eastern European and served really neat ethnic-style breakfasts. It was very rustic, more so than the others, but very nice. My only complaint was that we didn't have an en suite bathroom- it was downstairs, which was a pain because I usually get up once a night.

4- Huge Italianate style- this was our favorite. It was an old house with lots of cool details and a lot of land. Breakfast was served on the front porch, in the dining room, or in the sunroom. Lots of common space- a small tv room and a big living room, in addition to the porch.

5- Tudor home- small, but cozy. On a small lot on a main street. Bathroom was en suite and we all ate in the dining room, which was nice because the weekend we were there, there were 4 other couples around our age stayin as well, so we chatted a lot during breakfast. Of all of them, this one looked the most like a regular house (It was small overall) but it was cozy and the hosts were very nice.

Message edited 11/18/2006 8:42:46 AM.

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Forgot to add- my only rant would be one host who made me a little nuts- DH and I had carefully planned our itinerary, but we still ended up at the breakfast table for a good half hour after eating so she could tell us what to do and where to go (nothing we didn't already know). She also wanted to make dinner reservations for us (she probably got a kickback, which is fine, but she got annoyed when we wanted to go somewhere else).

I think the key is being knowledgeable about the area and ready with info when asked. Some people don't plan like I do, so her input would have helped, but she didn't ask us so she didn't know.

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northfork b and b

this link might be helpful to see what is already out there

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Dh and I stayed at a wonderful b&b. It had an outside entrance, fireplace, four poster bed, and a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. The only thing I didnt love was that there was no tv. It made for romance but sometimes you just want to check the weather or traffic. Also the owner cooked a gourmet breakfast of the best french toast i have ever had! The only downside was that you had to have breakfast between 7 and 9 am. I like to sleep in but we got up anyway.

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We stayed at a B&B in Lambertville, NJ. Right across the river from New Hope, PA. I stayed there once for work, and we went back together for my 30th birthday.

We were planning on going there again for our honeymoon if we couldn't afford to go away. But we wound up in Bermuda instead.

Here's their website: Chimney Hill

Pro's: Beautiful house & grounds. Quiet neighborhood, farmland to visit the alpacas and deer. A lot of rooms to choose from, each with something different to offer. No tv's in the house at all, but we did have a/c. There are notebooks in each room where you can write things to future guests, where you are from, etc. That was a cute touch. Breakfast was very yummy, with just enough variety to make it interesting. Owners & operators were very helpful, giving advice on area attractions, making restaurant reservations for us, having menus to look through and brochures. They were not overly chatty and knew when to cut a conversation short. The area had a nice variety of "old" (Lambertville - antique shops, old homes, historic landmark homes, restaurants, flea market) and "new" (New Hope - starbucks, hip restaurants, crafts and homemade food, bars).

Con's: Price. It seemed a little high to me, considering that it's not convenient to any major metro area. The bathroom shower on the 3rd floor didn't work that great and the old pipes banged while the water was on. The walls were thin, and although we didn't have neighbors that stayed up late, that could have been an issue.

We've also stayed at a B&B on Nantucket island in Massachussetts. Here is their website: Seven Sea Street Inn

This one cost a lot more (as does everything in Nantucket) but it's in a class by itself. The house is old, but completely updated and very quaint. Every room had their own bathroom. There was also a hot tub anyone could use, a sightseeing widow's walk on the roof, and a garden you could just sit and relax in, read a book. The second floor was all common areas with a computer with internet access, couches to lounge on, board games, books. We did have a tv in the room and a/c. The breakfast time is all around one table, so you get to meet the other patrons and make plans with them if you want for group tours and such. If you want to be alone, there's a side yard with some tables and chairs too. Again, the owners give great info on area things and make reservations for tours or restaurants. The price was better than the other B&B's in the area. Water was hot, water pressure was great.

I honestly have no con's. I think if you're going to that island in the first place, you have to expect to drop a lot of money, so I can't use that as a con. It's really comparable to other places in the area. It's what we would want from any B&B we stay in, and would rather that than a hotel anyday.

Message edited 11/18/2006 10:39:51 AM.

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thank you all for taking the time to write so much stuff that is useful to me.
The bugelow was built from a sears & roebuck kit in the 1940's, it is the last "original" bugelow in the neighborhood. If we are able to buy it, I also plan to start a historic society that will tell the story of this community & the lake & try to preserve the integrity of the structure.
I will decorate the rooms in a romantic style, the bathrooms will be spa-like w/ jacuzzi tubs & steam showers & I think I'll offer breakfast in my house (about 150 ft away) OR breakfast served in the suite. We had this once in a B&B in Warwick & LOVED it.
I'm going on the north fork B&B Christmas tour Sat Dec 2nd (let me know if anyone wants details) and I'm hoping to get more info from the owners I meet about the B&B industry on LI.

Thanks again for your help!

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We stayed in a B&B in Cooperstown...DH wanted to go to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and I wanted to stay in a quaint B&B, so we both got our wish. I loved how they decorated the room, there were 10 rooms in all, and they advertised each room's high points (jacuzzi tub, porch etc.) on their webiste. I was a little bummed b/c our room had a standup shower, not a bathtub. We were in walking distance of the Main Street, which was great. I wish you the best of luck and PLEASE keep us posted!!!!

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I think B&Bs are great, but the work involved is a lot harder than you may think.

I strongly suggest you check out www.newenglandinnsandresorts.com. They are an association made up of B&Bs, inns and hotels (a former client of mine) and have created an "Innkeeper for a Day" program. It's a "try before you buy" type of thing, designed as a learning vacation, but you might find it of use to you.

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we stayed at teh Orient Inn last year - own room with bath, but the breakfast was really lame...I think a good and interesting breakfast it a key part to the whole B&B thing

I wouldn't stay at one unless it had en suite bathroom

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I stayed in one in Bar Harnor Maine and one in Cork City in Ireland. Both had their own bathroom, and served a HUGE breakfast, that was delicious. They allowed seconds. They were expensive, b/c it was during the summer/busy tourist season, but I loved the comfy-homy feeling I had in both. And the one in the states had a TV in the room.

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I have stayed in B and Bs on Block Island and in Key Largo. I always look for reviews before I book. I had great experiences. What was most important was that they were very clean.