The VQ Test for Inns

The familiar IQ test measures a person's Intelligence Quotient. We've developed this brief Values Quotient (VQ) Test to do the same for inns. Whether the rate is $50 or $500 a night, every consumer wants to get the best value for his money.

How can you determine an inn's VQ before making reservations? Start by checking on-line directories; visit the inn's Web site; ask for feedback via an Internet message board. If a trusted friend has visited and been pleased, you know you are on the right track. Factor in your arrival and departure times; it doesn't make sense to pay top dollar if you'll be arriving late and leaving early. In popular tourist areas with lots of inns, shop around to make sure that you're getting the best value in your chosen price range, and be flexible about your travel dates. If only one B&B has space when every other inn in town is fully booked, be cautious. It may be because they're new, or just had a cancellation, or it may be because they get so few repeat guests. Remember that business-oriented establishments charge the most midweek, and the least on weekends; for romantic getaways, the reverse is true.

Scoring: Each category is worth 20 points. After you've done your research, give each inn a score for each category, and total up. After you've visited, take another look and re-calculate! Total points:

Hospitality: The dictionary defines hospitality as the act of entertaining guests in a friendly and generous way. B&B hospitality starts with prompt and cordial response to your first e-mail or phone call, and leads to knowledgeable assistance with dinner reservations, sightseeing information, and more. If the innkeeper sounds impatient with reasonable questions, acts unenthused about your visit, or seems poorly informed, call elsewhere. ____points

Service: A service-oriented inn is run to suit guests' convenience, not the innkeepers. Note the attitude reflected in the Web site: the hours for check-in/out, rules and regulations, serving hours for breakfast, and cancellation policies. A key element in first-rate service is creating the impression that the innkeepers have thought of everything to ensure guests' comfort. ____points

Rates: Four key factors influence rates: local real estate prices, seasonal and weekend demand, location, and the caliber of the decor, service, and food. Within those parameters, pricing is often a reflection of each inn's individual situation: staffing size, mortgage commitment, and marketing philosophy. If rates in a well-known destination are beyond your budget, check out the inns in neighboring towns, they're often 25% less. ____points

Accommodations/Facilities: Every inn should offer comfortable beds, reasonably efficient plumbing, effective heating and cooling, good bedside and bathroom lighting, and appropriate sound-proofing and storage. Guest expectations naturally rise as room rates climb. While a common room TV and shared telephone is appropriate to an affordable inn, inngoers paying top dollar should have the option of enjoying these amenities in their room. ____points

Food: Often there's little price difference between the inn that serves a full breakfast, afternoon tea, evening wine and cheese, and even bedtime sherry and chocolates, and one that serves only a continental breakfast. If eating well is important, ask for details. Flexibility in serving times and locations, as well as attention to dietary needs and preferences is important; the degree of flexibility should rise with the rates. ____points