How to Pick an Inn from its Website

Travelers sometimes complain about websites that promise far more than they deliver. “The inn looked great on the Internet,” they say, but the reality was a “real disappointment.”

The Five Ps 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 If typos, poor spelling, incorrect grammar, incorrect or out-of-date information comprise the website’s text, you may find equal inattention to the inn’s maintenance, housekeeping and upkeep.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, national and/or state innkeepers’ associations that indicate the inn has been inspected are helpful.
    

2. Personality: Innkeepers make the inn. In addition to their photo, a good website 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. Religious content is a plus for some travelers, a minus for others.
    

3. Pictures: Look for quality photos of the inn’s exterior, interior common areas, and guest rooms. Pay attention to details such as good bedside lighting, a typical indicator of the innkeepers’ concern for guests’ comfort. If you see pictures of lace-trimmed mirrors and bureaus topped with a surfeit of decorative items on the website, don’t expect to find understated sophistication upon arrival. Look for furnishings and décor appropriate to the inn’s price range. If there are no photos of the guest rooms, start worrying; if there are fabulous ones with plenty of detail, that’s a good sign.
    

4. Progressive: Check inn websites for an online reservation link. Even if you prefer to call for reservations, it lets you know that the innkeepers are focused on guests' needs. In addition, if a website notes that the B&B offers free wireless Internet access, you can feel comfortable that the inn is staying up to date.
    

5. Pride: Are there links to guest reviews and/or media stories about the inn? No one says it better than past guests and others who have no stake in the business. Be sure to check the date of the review or article, as B&Bs can change ownership.

An inn’s website or brochure is like a resume, prepared to show the inn at its best. Just as you may not list “certain” jobs on your resume, an inn’s materials will never proclaim that traffic or train noise may awaken light sleepers. 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 choosing a B&B? Post your question on our message board and we’ll try to recommend a favorite.