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Adventure Travel On Horseback
When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?
* Hiking?
* White water rafting?
* Scuba diving?
* Something as sedentary as a cruise ship or land rover safari?
Those ideas lose their "adventure" status when you compare them to...
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Business Trip Or Vacation- Bed And Breakfasts Are A Hidden Treasure
Within the same city, across the country, or on the next
continent to the East, you wont ever find two bed and breakfasts
alike. They aren't chain enterprises where cookie-cutter-like
consistency is a company rule. Rather, they often share the
culture of their surrounding area, and reflect the taste and
personality of the owner.
For the vacationer, they provide a refreshing, home-like setting
to unwind from a day of site seeing and pounding the pavement
shopping. For the business traveler, with many offering wireless
internet and computer services, they provide a much more
relaxing and productive environment than a tiny hotel room.
No matter the reason for your travels, you'll sleep better
knowing you can go down to the kitchen in the middle of the
night and have a glass of milk and cookies or take off your
shoes, grab the newspaper and put your feet up on the couch!
The Host Advantage
Since your hosts usually own the home they are friendly and
helpful people. You're invited in, not just a number to a
minimum wage, behind the counter employee. Because you're not
waiting in a stalled check-in line in a crowded lobby, your
arrival is a welcome experience. Your hosts will take the extra
time to guide you to where you want to go and introduce you to a
new city.
That personal touch is much more helpful than having a map left
in a hotel room for you to figure out on your own. B & B hosts
know their cities well; they'll give you first hand tips on
great restaurants, shopping, and local information about the
city tourists and new visitors wouldn't otherwise know. Rely on
them for safety tips while you're out in the strange and
unfamiliar, and to help you understand the customs of the
locals, like tipping or hailing a cab for example.
Find Your Perfect B & B Online
Most B & Bs are advertised on the Internet. You can find many
choices by going to any search engine, like Google or MSN, and
type in "Bed and Breakfast Toronto" for example. Their websites
will have pictures of the home, the bedrooms, prices and
information on amenities. Don't assume that every accommodation
will have wireless Internet and parking available. Be sure to do
your research.
Bed and Breakfasts, like hotels, will range from opulent 5 star
mansions to quaint, little simple places for the budget
conscious. Fine tune your search to a specific search like "Bed
and Breakfast Downtown Toronto". Some good websites that list
and compare many B & Bs are:
www.lanierbb.com www.tripadvisor.com www.bedandbreakfasts.ca
www.bbcanada.com www.globalbedand
breakfastlinks.com
Different Places, Different Policies
Hosts have different policies for their establishments, and it's
always best to ask questions about things important to you
before you book. Do you need
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parking? Does it cost extra? Is
there a curfew? Some other things that vary are cancellation
policies, if they have internet use for you, laundry facilities,
air conditioning - neither you or the host wants a surprise if
there is something that you need that they don't have it to
offer.
Remember, these are people's homes and a good host wants to
provide all the services you would expect at a hotel, except for
the hotel atmosphere. They're relying on their charm and the
warmth of their home to make your stay an exciting, fun,
welcoming and comfortable experience for you.
Breakfast Has Many Definitions
The breakfasts themselves differ as much as the decors,
locations and house types. The owners normally prepare them so
you'll have a home-made, personal touch to your first meal of
the day. I've stayed in B & B's that have a self-serve style,
continental breakfast. These can be a tasty variety of homemade
breads and jellies and treats, or they could be fruit, cereals,
yogurts etc, a common standard for the continental breakfast.
Don't be afraid to ask for details on the phone. I've expected a
delightful morning meal and sadly had to force down commercially
bought, frozen, fattening and salty unfulfilling snack.
Others make a wonderful morning event, providing a menu of hot
breakfast standards including pancakes, French toast, home fries
and eggs. These are my personal favorites because you can bet
the owner has their unique flair or a family recipe that you're
not going to find anywhere else. In fact, I visited one B & B
where they grew their omelet vegetables right outside in the
garden, and the jams and jellies were homemade right on site.
What to Expect
I have found that if a B & B has five or more rooms, they
usually have staff to help out the owners. Just like a hotel,
you'll get your beds made and plenty of fresh towels. Personally
I like the larger establishments because the house is usually
more mansion-like and bursting with character, and normally they
can then afford to provide a few more amenities. If you like
interacting with people from all over the globe, this would be
definitely for you.
I've met people from North and South America, Europe, Asia -
basically the world. Bed and Breakfast travelers tend to be
friendlier, happier and easy-going types that seem more
extroverted and genuinely glad to meet each other and enjoy good
company and conversation - it's always a pleasure to compare
stories and learn new things about people's homelands.
After my first stay in a Bed & Breakfast, I was hooked. If
you've never stayed in one, give it a try. You might be
pleasantly surprised... I loved being a guest so much I decided
to become an owner!
About the author:
Paul Hyde is the owner of Banting House Inn, a seven bedroom
downtown Toronto bed and breakfast. His clientele are
vacationers and business travelers alike, often returning to
their 'home away from home'. Have a look at this Top 10 Toronto
accommodation at http://www.bantinghouse.com
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