Traditionally in Britain at the turn of last century the Inn was the likely place where those travelling, normally by horse and coach, would stay and rest up for the night. The Inn often had stabling available for the horses and the coachmen of the day whilst the passengers enjoyed the hospitality afforded to them by the Innkeeper, where hot food and ale galore was the fare being offered. In more recent times the advent of the Hotel has played a far greater role in accommodating travellers.

Hotels vary enormously in the standard and the level and quality of the services provided to the travelling public. Generally most are clean and provide to some degree a hospital environment in which its guests are made to feel comfortable. Many hotels have recently been declassified to Guest Accommodation as they where unable to afford the level of service now required of a Hotel.

Guest Accommodation varies enormously and range from the traditional Guest House, often located at seaside destinations to the modern day Bed and Breakfast. Bed & Breakfast accommodation which is often referred to as a B&B does offer a special kind of welcome to it’s guests which is why their services are being used more and more these days. Many of us have the need to travel the length and breadth of the country, be it on business or else on social domestic travel visiting relatives and alike. The following ten reasons are why so many of us now elect to use the services and advantages of using B&B’s as opposed to those offered by hotels etc.

1. Save Money – Most B&B’s are able to offer accommodation at tariff rates a good deal less expensive than hotels!
2. Less Stress – When planning your journey from A to B you will often want to avoid areas of high population, such as city and town centres where often traffic condition (including one way systems!) will merely add confusion and time to your journey. Many B&B’s are located in quieter rural areas!
3. Educational – Often there exists a wealth of local knowledge at a B&B, whereby the family will gladly keep you fully informed of matters of interest.
4. Comfortable – Most B&B owners go out of their way to ensure that your comfort and special needs are fully catered for!
5. Breakfast – I’ve yet to hear of a B&B who have failed to provide a traditional English breakfast to their guests. Some may well offer regional variations on the traditional Bacon & Eggs standard, but rest assured most hosts will endeavour to cater for the exact needs of their guests with many now offering vegetarian options as well as Continental style of breakfast if preferred.
6. A Real Welcome – Your host will naturally be the owner / occupier of the property and take a very personal pride in welcoming you into their warm & secure home!

Naturally a short stay in Bed & Breakfast accommodation would not be to everyone’s liking – A B&B would certainly not be suitable for a rowdy pop group travelling on tour! But would certainly suit a family oriented individual or couple who wish to break their journey at a welcoming abode or for the more discerning tourist who has a flexible itinerary and would wish to benefit from the wealth of information made available to them – you’ll never feel homesick while staying in a B&B
Peter runs one of the UK's largest accommodation directories and has produced a website that provides a wealth of information for those planning a trip to, or within, the British Isles: UK & Ireland.