Garden Gate Get-A-Way
Garden Gate Get-A-Way B&B is definitely the lodging choice for Nature Lovers! Picture this ...You pull in the driveway to check-in and see horses grazing in the neighboring field. On the way to your guest room you catch a glimpse of a Monarch butterfly floating along the flower-lined path. You stop to take in the country setting by sitting on a porch swing and see a hummingbird bouncing from flower to flower in the gardens. After some rest and relaxation you stroll over to the apple trees and now you get approached by the neighboring horses. You pluck a couple of apples off of the tree and feed them to the horses. That evening, when you return from dinner, you see flames dancing in the fire ring as you drive up the road. You walk up the flower-lined pathway to your guest rooms and are greeted by your innkeepers as they welcome you to come and unwind at the evening campfire. You grab some coffee, hot chocolate or maybe even a glass of wine and come to the fire ring which is situated in the middle of the gardens. As the sun starts to set you notice fire flies dancing around the yard and hear a concert from the birds in the area singing to you. As time passes by you hear the gentle clopping of horse hooves as an Amish buggy passes down the road.
Here is what guests had to say...
| Innkeeper Response |
This is the 1st time in the 7 years that we have owned this B&B that someone has rated our guest rooms a #2. I don't know what this guest expected but I would like to point out that all guest rooms have updated quilts, high thread-count sheets, 5-star bath amenities, complimentary bottled water, Coblentz Chocolates from the local chocolate factory by the bedside, CD-radio-alarm clock, in-room coffeemaker that comes with complimentary beverages, good quality chairs in good condition, television/VCR (DVD player in deluxe rooms, are extremely clean, have private entrance & private bath with full-size tub and shower, etc. I cannot imagine what they felt was lacking to rank the rooms so low unless they do not have the same taste in decor as us.
I am also baffled that they rated cleanliness as a #3. Not only are the usual things taken care of like clean sheets, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, etc., but headboards are dusted, baseboards are dusted, we dust over the tops of doorways and more. I can only think that this guest did not share our taste in decor and rated other items lower.
The last thing I would share is that we have a Welcome Binder in each guest room that includes a welcome letter. In the letter we point out to our guests that we take great care in providing a clean and comfortable room and if anything accidentally got over-looked we encourage them to bring it to our attention so that we can tend to it immediately. Nothing was brought to our attention.
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| "I will be a regular here"
|
11/4/2009 |
|
| Overall |
 |
| Rooms |
 |
| Service |
 |
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
 |
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
| Innkeeper Response |
I would like to respond to the campfire comment. In 7 years of doing campfires I don't think that anyone who ever stayed 2 nights missed a campfire. Last week we had terrible winds up to 45 miles per hour on Monday and Tuesday. While they started to slow down Tuesday evening some rain/drizzle moved in and it would not have been a pleasant experience to get wet. We even build campfires in the winter when snow is on the ground, so if you are a potential guest please don't think that they are not a regular thing. We've had many guests return multiple times each year and while the campfire is a big hit, it is not what keeps them coming back.
I would also like to respond about our breakfast. We make it clear when people make their reservations that breakfast is served buffet style. The egg dishes these guests were served were made from scratch. The bread, muffins and coffeecakes they were served were also homemade and made from scratch. There was fresh fruit each day and a cereal basket for those that did not want eggs. Not only was there coffee, but tea, hot chocolate and 2 kinds of juices to choose from. We have some guests that say it is our breakfast that keeps them coming back. It sounds like this guest preferred to have someone fix a plate and wait on them rather than let them choose what they wanted to eat. Had they made their discontent known to us we would have been happy to fix their plate for them and serve them. It is our goal for all guests to have a great experience at our B&B and in Amish Country.
|
| - Carol Steffey (Innkeeper) |
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
| Innkeeper Response |
While a rating of 3 means that we met the guest expectations and a 4 means that we exceeded their expectations, most guests feel that we offer something more than other B&B's from our high thread-count sheets, to our down alternative comforters, to the 5-star bath amenities, to the homemade breakfasts made from scratch. We would love to have this guest contact us to let us know what exactly they felt was lacking at our establishment.
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| "Garden Gate Get-A-Way"
|
8/20/2008 |
|
| Overall |
 |
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
| Innkeeper Response |
While a "4" is a good review for "Value" I would like to respond that this guest received a $20 per night discount and still didn't feel that the value was excellent. They came with another guest that has stayed with us numerous times and as a courtesy to the "regular" guest we gave this room a discount as well. We are not a budget motel and have never advertised to be one. Our rates are higher than budget properties because even our standard rooms have 350 thread-count sheets on the bed, bed-side chocolates from the local chocolate factory, complimentary bottled water, 5-star bath amenities, homemade breakfasts made from scratch, and complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate & microwave popcorn. Our property has gardens with swings and gliders and an evening campfire as opposed to a parking lot or freeway view in many lodging establishment. We even arranged for this guest to take a tour of Amish Country. We regret that this guest did not feel that the $20 discount was worth the extras that they received, but many guests have told us that our rooms are under-priced for what we offer.
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| Innkeeper Response |
I would like to respond to this rating concerning "Value". At 1st glance people may walk in our guest rooms and say "it's a normal lodging room". After spending the night they realize that even our standard room is much more than your typical "standard" room. You will find 350-600 thread-count Cotton Sateen Sheets on our beds instead of 180 thread count sheets from a hotel supply that smell like bleach. You have over-sized bath towels instead of the cheapest, thin towels on the market. You will find chocolates from our local chocolate factory by your bed side. Instead of a small bar of deodorant soap you will find 5-star quality Shampoo, Conditioner, Honey Oatmeal exfoliating bath bars, glycerin facial soap, make up remover towelettes and herbal bath grains. We add lotion and body scrub in our deluxe rooms. You will find complimentary bottled water in your guest room. You also receive unlimited complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and microwave popcorn. Each evening you are provided with a homemade evening snack such as cookies, brownies, cupcakes, bundt cake, etc. Each morning your breakfast is made from scratch ... bread, muffins, coffee cake and 1 hot dish in addition to fruit, cereal, juice and hot beverages. Just as you pay more for an ocean view room vs. a parking lot view, our B&B has porch swings and glider rockers around the property that overlook our gardens. In the middle of the gardens is a fire ring, and every night, weather permitting, we build a campfire to gather round and relax. No other lodging establishment in our County offers that. Every guest receives free concierge services in that we will book tours, make arrangements for dinner in an Amish home or fine dining, set up spa treatments, book horse & carriage rides or hot air balloon rides, etc. It's the old story "you get what you pay for".
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| Innkeeper Response |
We need to better communicate our Sundays with guests. We advertise that we are closed on Sunday, which means that we do not check-in guests on Sundays. This couple stayed Saturday night and thought that we did not serve breakfast on Sunday morning because we are "closed on Sunday". The other 4 guest rooms made it to breakfast on Sunday. Our Saturday morning breakfast consisted of homemade bread, homemade muffins, homemade coffeecake, sausage & cheddar puffs on the griddle, cereal basket, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and 2 kinds of juices. Our breakfast buffet is served from 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. We regret that this couple came in to breakfast about the time we were ready to close and take down the breakfast buffet. While there was some of everything thing we served, there was only a couple of each by 10 a.m.
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| "Garden Gate -6/8"
|
6/11/2008 |
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
| Innkeeper Response |
I would like to respond to each item rated as a "3".
Value: When they stayed to nights they received a free 1-hour massage that cost the innkeeper almost 1 night revenue to pay the massage therapist. In other words if they had paid for the massage their room cost was about $55 per night and yet they felt the value was a "3".
Service: The innkeeper was here to help map out directions where they wanted to go. The innkeeper booked a massage and arranged for dinner in an Amish home. Other than the morning that they checked out and the innkeeper was taking a class that involved 6 mornings,one of which they stayed here, someone was here to help them at any time.
Dining: Our website describes "deluxe continental". One the 1st morning they were served an egg casserole, homemade bread, muffins & coffeecake, cereal, fruit, coffee, tea, hot chocolate & 2 kinds of juice. The 2nd morning they were given a voucher to a local restaurant because 6 mornings out of a 365 day year the innkeeper went to a class to offer more services at the B&B. The restaurant suggested an $8 voucher to cover breakfast and they were given a $10 voucher.
It appears that because this guest was so disappointed with breakfast on the 2nd morning that they rated down other services.
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| Innkeeper Response |
It baffles us that his guest felt that their room was only worthy of a "3". While they stayed in a "standard" guest room, they had 500-thread count sheets on their bed, locally made chocolates from a chocolate factory by their bed-side, bottled water in their room, their 5-star bath amenities includes a honey-oatmeal, exfoliating bath bar, glycerin facial soap, make up remover wipes, shampoo, conditioner, herbal bath grains, over-sized towels in the the bath, etc. The room had its own private entrance and private bath with a window that overlooked the gardens and evening campfire. Other guests that have stayed in that room have raved about how comfortable the mattress was. Most "standard" rooms don't have these kinds of amenities so we have no clue what the guests found at fault with the room????
|
| - Carol Steffey (innkeeper) |
|
| "Outstanding!"
|
10/29/2007 |
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
| Rooms |
|
| Service |
|
| Value |
|
| Cleanliness |
|
| Dining |
|
|
|
|
|