Five Reasons to Stay at a B&B in Latin America

On my vacation to Costa Rica, my wife and I mostly opted for Bed and Breakfasts instead of hotels. Why stay at at B&B?

It all boils down to service.

Here are five reasons:

• Customer Satisfaction. Many B&Bs are small family-run operations that have room for only a few guests at a time.  The result is that B&Bs often have a greater incentive than hotels to make sure guests are happy.
• Transportation. B&B operators are often willing to pick you up or drop you off at the airport or give you a ride to other places such as a store or bank. Sometimes the ride is worked into the room rate. The B&B I stayed at in San Jose picked us up at the airport for free.  This saved us from having to wade through all of the taxi drivers clamoring for business. At least twice during our trip, a B&B owner or staff member drove us somewhere in town and refused payment.
• Local Knowledge. The staff at the B&B want you to have a good time and are often helpful in recommending fun things to do. They will also tell you which areas to avoid. A decent B&B will treat their guests the same as they would a family friend. Would you let a guest staying at your house use an ATM in a bad part of town?
• Meeting Interesting People. When you stay at a B&B you are interacting with people who live in the destination you’re visiting. The person serving your breakfast or providing whatever other services you need is often the B&B owner–not just some anonymous employee. Interesting conversations are almost unavoidable.
• Price. B&Bs are often reasonably priced. When you factor in the breakfast and other services, they’re often a better deal than a hotel.