<p>We have scheduled a weekend at a bed and breakfast with enough friends to fill up the house. I have never stayed in a B&B before and don’t know the usual ins and outs. I know I need to ask the owners directly but I don’t want to be really rude if I don’t have to so I pose some general questions.</p>
<p>Is it okay to bring wine and cheeses on your own if the B&B offers this but at a high price? </p>
<p>Is it okay to bring other alcohol that you plan on drinking for the weekend? Can you drink this in the common rooms and expect to use their glasses and such? </p>
<p>I’m guessing a 20% tip at the end of our stay would be a minimum.</p>
<p>Please help me out folks. I have no idea what I’m doing other than trying to set up an awesome weekend with my best friends. I do not want to be rude.:)</p>
<p>Family members own a B&B and I don’t think the owners would consider it rude to bring your own food and drink; especially since there’s only one meal provided in the cost of your stay. If the brochure/website doesn’t say “no outside food and drink” (and it shouldn’t) then it’s ok.</p>
<p>As for a tip, I’m not sure. Most people pay via credit card, and the owners of the B&B are my cousins who do all of the room cleaning/food serving, etc. I’ve always heard it’s rude to tip the owners of an establishment.</p>
<p>I have never left a tip at a B&B. Don’t know if I’m on target or not, but have stayed at a lot of them.</p>
<p>Some B&Bs have a cocktail hour, where the cheese and crackers and a little wine are included in the price. I wouldn’t think it would be a problem to bring your own refreshments to the common area in that case. In fact, I know I’ve done it but can’t remember whether we enjoyed it in the common area or out on the deck. I do remember that there were no other guests around; it was just our group of 4 couples at that particular time.</p>
<p>I think a lot would depend on the physical layout - whether there are relatively separate conversational groupings where you and yours could have your own bottle of wine and neither be in the way of nor appear to be excluding others in the common area.</p>
<p>I have been to one B&B where there is a cash/honor bar just prior to dinner being served. This is for the type of B&B where the chef’s reputation is high and people go there as much for the food as for the overnight. Some come only for cocktails and dinner and are not overnight guests. I’m not sure about bringing your own in this type of place.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to one where you could buy wine and cheese at a high price in the common area. I’m not sure it would be comfortable to bring your own in that case. (That would almost seem like bringing your own food to a restaurant. It certainly is done to bring your own wine to a fine restaurant, but a corkage fee is usually charged). Where your group is filling the house, I think it would be appropriate to ask the innkeepers in advance. But I can see where that might be uncomfortable. Maybe couch it this way "Some in our group were thinking of bringing some special wines from their own cellars. Or some artisanal cheeses. Is that something that is ever done at __________? "</p>
<p>oooo…I like it, jmmom. That’s a great way to approach it. That is what I will do Usually I just push this off on my more assertive friends </p>
<p>And thats two votes for no tip. Good to know.</p>
<p>We are actually filling up all the overnight rooms with friends. Breakfast is included in the price, of course, but no other meals. They offer many “packages” or add ons in addition to room rental. We are actually going to be touring many winery’s while there so I would think wanting to open our own wines would not be unexpected.</p>
<p>Excellent, sax. Maybe specifically say that folks were thinking of bringing back wines from some of the places you will be touring and is that okay and if so would you need to provide your own plasticware/glassware?</p>
<p>H and I have done that winery area.Very nice,the lake is as well.We stayed at a hotel actually at a winery,also very nice.
I’ve stayed at lots of B&B’s.I like the idea of asking about wines/glasses in terms of drinking the local purchases.
If your group is filling the B&B for that time period and the place doesnt take outside people in for drinks/meals,etc and you don’t intend to take advantage of their add-ons,it might be nice of you to add some kind of gratuity on to your bill to compensate for any perceived loss of income duirng your stay.</p>
<p>Since you’re booking the whole B&B, why not call the owners and ask them how they’d like to handle it? My in-laws used to run a B&B and they’d bend over backwards to help a large group like that.</p>
<p>ooh, sax, sounds great! Upstate NY is so beautiful! Remember when Christian Bros winery was open along the Hudson (long time ago?) Lots of fun, but watch out for bees!!</p>
<p>And I fully agree with dmd77-- the owners of the b&b should be very accomodating. I am sure they will work with you.</p>
<p>I have a call into them and am awaiting a reply . Had to book on line. I just didn’t want to start out with any major “oops, shouldn’t have said that” moments. What’s your take on tipping?</p>
<p>Cathymee…I’m glad you mentioned the possible tipping scenerio.</p>
<p>We just recently stayed in a very nice B&B in Asheville, NC. They were very forthcoming about showing us the refrigerator just outside the kitchen, in case we wanted to put our own wine in there, or food, or whatever. We never asked, nor were we part of a big group-- they just wanted to let us know. Most of the B&B’s where I’ve stayed have a blank envelope that they leave on the dresser, or table, for you to leave a tip, which is usually for the people cleaning the room.</p>
<p>I have never tipped in a B&B - but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a blank envelope either. If it’s just for cleaning the rooms, I’ve done that in normal hotels at the rate of $1-2 per day, given daily, as the cleaners can change.</p>
<p>Okay, I may be the only one, but if you see there are other employees then say the owner couple. Maybe housekeeping staff, I would always leave tip. Write a lovely note to owners telling them how fabulouse they made your stay and you can’t wait to recommend them.</p>
<p>Also if they are affiliated with any web sites you can go on and write glowing review.</p>
I wondered about the owner/tip deal too.</p>