The most important thing to look for in a B&B (Bed & Breakfast) can be summed up in one word. Hospitality.

      Genuine hospitality is what really makes B&Bs unique from hotels. Hospitality makes you feel like a real person, not just a room number at a hotel. It's also the most commonly overlooked part of the B&B experience.

      Hospitality is almost always the biggest reason why guests return to a B&B year after year and recommend it to others. The more you feel at home, the more likely you are to return to that B&B. Right?

      It's not how well-decorated the room or suite is, how many amenities are offered, or how delicious the cuisine is. It's good old-fashioned hospitality, plain and simple.

      Part of the hospitality is being able to socialize with other guests and the innkeepers themselves. I've stayed in hundreds of B&Bs over the years, and what I remember most are the innkeepers and other guests, not necessarily the lodging .

      By staying in the right B&B, you will also make new friends. After all, friendship is something you can never have enough of, right?

      However, not all B&Bs allow for guests to do this. Be sure to ask if the B&B has at least a few common areas (such as porches or parlors) where you can chat with others.

      While you are staying in a B&B with 'real' hospitality, you will be given what you need to know about restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and many other activities.

      The innkeepers want your stay to be the absolute best it can be. That is genuine hospitality, and that is what bed & breakast is all about.