For all to know...
I have stayed in some wonderful B&Bs from the little old lady in Insverness, Scotland, to the beautifuly restored mansion with its beautiful gardens in Georgetown, Texas.
If you are looking for a Great Bed and Breakfast in Fredricksburg, Texas, where you get to meet the owners as well as their other guests, stay in a fabulous room, and all for a great price, DON'T visit any of the "Absolute Charm" properties.
Absolute Charm is anything but.
Zelda and I were both taken in by their lovely web site showing the family and the house.
These folks are interested in the dead presidents in your back pocket, not you.
We were not told that we were to pick up the key to the B&B, (a converted garage with about as much "charm"), with the Booking Agent on Main Street and so tried for 20 minutes to find the place. Zelda remembered the address, *but the owners had removed the street number and sign so as to not be bothered by guests trying to get the key.*
The web site said the home was only two blocks from Main street and the shopping district. It is two blocks off Main, but the shopping is at the other end of the street.
Once inside we were disappointed with the finishes and comments left for the guests regarding the hot tub and check out time by the owners.
Turns out they own a shop on Main street, well, make that *three* shops on main street, all named the same thing, all selling the same kitch that was used to !Decorate the Room!
Did I mention it was a converted garage?
They did put down vinyl "wood" flooring... directly on the concrete.
The two tables provided inside were covered in that same kitch, conveniently with price tags, in case you should want to take a little something with you, with a 10% discount of course. We didn't have any place to put our things...
I thought they had let the battery in the clock on the fake mantel (used to "hide" the 2'x2' air conditioning return vent which they had not bothered to paint a dark color as to continue the 'illusion') run down, but when I checked it, there was no battery, because it was for sale. Along with the butter knives in the cup board, a set of 6 for only $15.00.
The reason we rented this particular B&B was it touted a hot tub and was on the owner's main property, a restored 1910 victorian. We could meet the owners, but still have the privacy of a separate building. The note about *remove all makeup before getting in the hot tub, 'cause our cleaning staff will know* (paraphrased) was condiscending.
Back behind the fence of the 1910 house, seen through the gaps in the "privacy fence" for the hot tub, we could see the full size basket ball court, as well as the slip and slide for the kids. Monday morning we had breakfast at the Wal Mart patio table, complete with mildew, as was the porch, because, as I mentioned, there was no place to eat inside. And about 10 minutes into breakfast, the yard guy showed up to cut the owner's lawn. This was about 9:00am...
All the main house windows on the street side, by our front door, were shuttered so as to avoid seeing any of the guests.
There was also a long note about how we needed to leave by 11:00am because the cleaning staff "has only 4 hours to clean 13 units" (at $155.00 a night you can run the numbers...).
Folks, a good Bread and Breakfast has a number of things that make it worth your time.
Even if it's a simple home where the owner is making some extra income by letting rooms, it has:
1) the opportunity to meet the owners.
2) getting to know the best places in town to eat, or shop, or visit, with the intimacy of staying in someone's home.
3) a wonderful breakfast.
4) meeting the other guests, if there should be any.
and
5) a reasonable price.
Absolutely AVOID Absolute charm properties.
In finishing up, and Zelda may add some comments to the list,
we must say,
A)the bed was comfortable.
B)The catered breakfast was wonderful.
C)And the hot tub was nice.
But not $155.00 nice.
Holiday Inn provides a room, many times a suite, and complementary breakfast in mornings,
but they would never attempt to call themselves a
Bed and Breakfast...
And Yes, Zelda and I did send a "love letter" to the booking agent as well as left our comments in the room's comment book letting them know our disappointment.
Don't get burned.
If you are looking for a Great Bed and Breakfast in Fredricksburg, Texas, where you get to meet the owners as well as their other guests, stay in a fabulous room, and all for a great price, DON'T visit any of the "Absolute Charm" properties.
Absolute Charm is anything but.
Zelda and I were both taken in by their lovely web site showing the family and the house.
These folks are interested in the dead presidents in your back pocket, not you.
We were not told that we were to pick up the key to the B&B, (a converted garage with about as much "charm"), with the Booking Agent on Main Street and so tried for 20 minutes to find the place. Zelda remembered the address, *but the owners had removed the street number and sign so as to not be bothered by guests trying to get the key.*
The web site said the home was only two blocks from Main street and the shopping district. It is two blocks off Main, but the shopping is at the other end of the street.
Once inside we were disappointed with the finishes and comments left for the guests regarding the hot tub and check out time by the owners.
Turns out they own a shop on Main street, well, make that *three* shops on main street, all named the same thing, all selling the same kitch that was used to !Decorate the Room!
Did I mention it was a converted garage?
They did put down vinyl "wood" flooring... directly on the concrete.
The two tables provided inside were covered in that same kitch, conveniently with price tags, in case you should want to take a little something with you, with a 10% discount of course. We didn't have any place to put our things...
I thought they had let the battery in the clock on the fake mantel (used to "hide" the 2'x2' air conditioning return vent which they had not bothered to paint a dark color as to continue the 'illusion') run down, but when I checked it, there was no battery, because it was for sale. Along with the butter knives in the cup board, a set of 6 for only $15.00.
The reason we rented this particular B&B was it touted a hot tub and was on the owner's main property, a restored 1910 victorian. We could meet the owners, but still have the privacy of a separate building. The note about *remove all makeup before getting in the hot tub, 'cause our cleaning staff will know* (paraphrased) was condiscending.
Back behind the fence of the 1910 house, seen through the gaps in the "privacy fence" for the hot tub, we could see the full size basket ball court, as well as the slip and slide for the kids. Monday morning we had breakfast at the Wal Mart patio table, complete with mildew, as was the porch, because, as I mentioned, there was no place to eat inside. And about 10 minutes into breakfast, the yard guy showed up to cut the owner's lawn. This was about 9:00am...
All the main house windows on the street side, by our front door, were shuttered so as to avoid seeing any of the guests.
There was also a long note about how we needed to leave by 11:00am because the cleaning staff "has only 4 hours to clean 13 units" (at $155.00 a night you can run the numbers...).
Folks, a good Bread and Breakfast has a number of things that make it worth your time.
Even if it's a simple home where the owner is making some extra income by letting rooms, it has:
1) the opportunity to meet the owners.
2) getting to know the best places in town to eat, or shop, or visit, with the intimacy of staying in someone's home.
3) a wonderful breakfast.
4) meeting the other guests, if there should be any.
and
5) a reasonable price.
Absolutely AVOID Absolute charm properties.
In finishing up, and Zelda may add some comments to the list,
we must say,
A)the bed was comfortable.
B)The catered breakfast was wonderful.
C)And the hot tub was nice.
But not $155.00 nice.
Holiday Inn provides a room, many times a suite, and complementary breakfast in mornings,
but they would never attempt to call themselves a
Bed and Breakfast...
And Yes, Zelda and I did send a "love letter" to the booking agent as well as left our comments in the room's comment book letting them know our disappointment.
Don't get burned.
posted by karlthebunny at 7:39 PM
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