Following our last month’s issue, most travellers, aka trip navigators, are likely eager and so willing to open their heart and broaden their life experience to new planets in some way, rather unusual from most of us who live life in a cozy and trendy society. Then thinking fast, suddenly emerging of the box, and eventually taking an action, that’s them with a big backpack over shoulders and be ready for a new series of a journey of life. And of course, the place they choose to stay is doubtless, once an easy answer hits my mind at low-budget lodgings as the first option they ponder through. That type of lodgings may include Youth Hostels, Backpacker Hostels, Guesthouses, Small Inns or Motels, Budget Hotels, and yes wherever they can call it cheap, and probably this may refer to “Bed & Breakfast (B&B)” in some ways. Even though these hotels are probably considered at low-cost, there is a significant difference in price for each one, depending on location/area (accommodation in a remote area is definitely inexpensive), service, function, amenities, and value you can earn next. But let’s make a note here that some cheap ones are not only available for travellers, but also a group of family who desire something more than just a sightseeing tour; it’s adventure.
However, taking a trip far away from home, like months, may be increasing nervousness for those who are a first time traveller, particularly journeying alone. So some certainly want to feel at home - at wherever they are walking into, and much welcomed in mysterious places they are visiting. Then we suggest the first choice of a place to stay is possibly Bed & Breakfast (B&B). Has anyone ever considered staying there? Probably this is the time you can try… so read on…
What is Bed & Breakfast?
A typical Bed & Breakfast is a concept of room and breakfast with three to ten rooms available. According to bandb.about.com, “a B&B is generally known as a private home where transient guests are provided a place to stay for the night. In some cases, the bathroom provided for the guest is shared with the family or another guest, but few have individual bathroom that the majority of guests demand for. Breakfast is usually included in the price of the room.”
Bed & Breakfast is also an ideal place that can offer you more than a night to stay, more than comfort in bed and more than breakfast to survive during the entire morning, but at B&B you will find yourself learn more about culture, tradition and people. And what you don’t really expect to come will come in as a fascinating challenge until you feel you are too enthusiastic to stop just there and sit still.
Especially in LOS, Thailand, the country and its history brings along unique culture to be worth discovering. Even though Thailand is an open country, currently influenced by most western culture, it still remains its own value, tradition and culture in most Thai people themselves. For those foreign travellers, one of the best ways to learn all those is befriend with Thai people, and B&B may be of your first start to do so once you set one foot down in the house, and feel welcomed by the host family. After all, Bed & Breakfast is ensured to be not just what is it but instead it’s what worth it and it may be at your service for anything you would like to know.
B&B’s History Expanding to the World
The B&B concept has existed in one form or another since the beginning of man. In ancient times, monasteries first served B&B for travellers, and in some cases still do until now.
B&Bs have been gaining more popularity among travelling society especially in Europe for years. Actually, the term of B&B first came into use in England, Scotland and Ireland, but it is still not used in many other countries. Different terms such as paradors, pensions, gasthaus, minskukus, shukukos and pousados are used to describe what Americans and English-speaking Europeans think of as a Bed and Breakfast.
The United States also has a history of B&B dating back to the time of early settlers. As the pioneers travelled the trails and roads across this county, they sought a safe refuge in homes, inns and taverns. Some of those historic accommodations serve as B&Bs until now.
During the Great Depression, many people opened their homes to travellers to bring in some additional money for the family. The term “boarding house” was used at this time. After the Depression, this type of lodging declined and many people had the idea they were just for low-income travellers or drifters. In the early fifties, people may remember the term “tourist home” being used. This too was essentially a form of B&B. Once motels were built on the new highways, they were soon forgotten.
In large part because of the number of Americans traveling to Europe in recent years and rediscovering B&Bs, there has been an exponential increase in interest in the U.S. Nowadays, B&B is not viewed as a low-cost lodging facility but as an attractive alternative to the typical standard chain hotel or motel room. Some B&Bs also offer amenities not unlike those found at the most upscale hotels in the world.
(Source: some part from bandb.about.com - the official credit for a brief B&B series and history to Eleanor Ames who is a certified Family Consumer Science professional and a faculty member of Ohio State University for 23 years.)
B&B in Thailand
While Bed & Breakfast is increasing the number of travellers in the United States and Europe, the B&B business in Thailand isn’t still getting stronger since people usually find many cheap guesthouses, especially in Bangkok. At Khao Sarn Road, it’s a very well-known place among international travellers, that foreigners should not miss to explore. Probably the price can range from 250 baht a night, depending on how good you are at negotiation (based from my American friend’s experience). But it’s guesthouse, more like an unclassified hotel.
As mentioned above, Bed & Breakfast is also great in terms of being a home that will make you feel more comfortable. Nonetheless, don’t you worry about the price since the end of your trip is about your new vision in life.
To be of your assistance on this B&B experience in Thailand, we did a quick net-research for B&B listings throughout the country, separated by provinces.
Bangkok/Surrounding Regions
Napa Place www.napaplace.com
Buri Bed & Breakfast www.buribandb.in.th
In2Siam Bed & Breakfast www.in2siam.com
Bangyai Bed & Breakfast www.netsource.com.au/bnb
Chiang Mai
Riverside House Bed & Breakfast www.riversidehousechiangmai.com
Baan Orapin Bed & Breakfast www.baanorapin.com
3 Sis’s Bed & Breakfast www.3sisbedandbreakfast.com
Jaiya Mongkol Bed & Breakfast www.jaiya.infothai.com
Udon Thani
Silver Reef Bed & Breakfast www.silverreefudon.com
Samui
Mana’s Home www.premiumwanadoo.com/atmanasamui.com
Mukdaharn
Thai House Resort www.thaihouseresort.com
Quick Tips for First Time B&B Guests
Are you a first time guests at Bed & Breakfast? If yes, BnBFinder.com suggested some quick tips for you… to follow.
- Ask questions on B&B type to suit your taste and needs. Not all B&B is the same. Each one is unique in some ways, like some are historic and some are modern.
- Mention dietary needs and preference, when you book B&B.
- Make sure of private baths or share baths.
- Take personalized reservations on the personal service that B&B wants to offer you, such as amenities, the house/inn, the area, etc.
- Ask about policies before you book such as smoking, children, pet, etc.
- Ask about deposits and cancellations
- What is check-in/check-out time? Remind yourself that you won’t stay at the 5-star hotel with 24-hour service. So you have to let the B&B owners know your arrival time and they can usually be flexible.
- Reserve early. This is the best way to do when it comes to a fact that most of B&Bs are small, so rooms may not be available at the time you are visiting.
- Make Yourself @ Home. Relax and enjoy your stay when B&B keepers are more like hospitality experts. Treat your room with the care you would do with your own home.
Apart from these above tips from B&B finder expert, may we remind you one more tip which is quite necessary for you to survive here in LOS (as mentioned above)? Befriending with the host tends to be most valuable for you in terms of learning more Thai culture and stuffs, like language, cooking, manners, history and festivals… This is the thing you shouldn’t just ignore, but keep it in mind and turn it into action.
What else can you expect from B&B? Well, maybe a lot, you will see… At least now you all are convinced to “Be My Guest” here… aren’t you? Did we get you interested to be?
Should you have any B&B experience, no matter wherever you visited, tell us all about it via Email. We love to hear your story, as always.
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