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Can you pick an inn from its web site?
Travelers complain about web sites that promise far more than they deliver. "The inn looked great on the Internet," they say, but the reality was a "real disappointment." The Three P's will help you pick out the good inns:
1. Professionalism: Attention to detail is the hallmark of a good inn. If typos, poor spelling, incorrect grammar, incorrect or out-of-date information comprise the web site's text, you may find equal inattention to the inn's maintenance, housekeeping, and upkeep. If such in-room amenities as telephones, televisions, fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs are important to you, look for specific details about their availability. Membership logos from AAA and/or national and/or state innkeepers' associations indicating that the inn has been inspected are key.
2. Personality: Innkeepers make the inn. In addition to their photo, a good web site will explain how the innkeepers' personal attention and knowledge will enhance your visit. If the innkeepers' names are not on the site, it may be a simple oversight, but it may indicate that the owners are not in residence or that the inn is for sale.
3. Pictures: Look for photos of the inn's exterior, interior common areas, and guest rooms. Pay attention to such details as good bedside lighting, a typical indicator of the innkeepers' concern for guests' comfort. If you see frills and lace on the web site, don't expect to find understated sophistication upon arrival. Look for furnishings and décor appropriate to the inn's price range.
An inn's web site or brochure is like your own resume, prepared to show you at your best. (After all, you didn't list that job-from-hell you kept for a week and quit-in-a-snit, did you?) Similarly, an inn's materials will never proclaim that traffic or train noise may awaken light sleepers, although they may note a location "convenient to the interstate" or the "romantic sound of a night-time train whistle."
What to do? Tell the innkeeper what you're looking for, and ask if their inn suits your needs. As much as they would like to take your reservation, no innkeeper wants to host an unhappy guest, and the way your questions are answered will give you a good idea of the level of hospitality you can expect to find.
Need advice on chosing a B&B? Post your question on our message board and we'll try to recommend a favorite.
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