How To Find And Book A Bed And Breakfast [At A Great Price]

Bed And Breakfasts
Written By Taz Zaidi

How To Book A Bed And Breakfast

As a traveler, finding your ideal B&B isn’t difficult.

But with all the various bed and breakfast properties and booking sites that exist, it helps to know which ones are high quality and trustworthy - so you’ll have a smooth booking experience.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to find and book a bed and breakfast.

We’ll cover which website to use, how to filter your search results, how to choose a B&B that suits your particular tastes and budget, some helpful booking tips, how to potentially find deals and discounts, as well as how to pay for your B&B stay.

*Agoda.com is one of the best places to find and book a bed and breakfast. To see today’s deals on B&Bs in your particular destination, click here.

Best Website To Book A Bed And Breakfast

So, what’s the best bed and breakfast website? In my experience testing the major accommodation booking sites over the years, my recommendation for the top place to find and book B&Bs is Agoda.com. The site has been popular and trusted for more than a decade, providing global deals and all 13 Types of B&Bs.

*To see today’s deals on B&Bs in your particular destination, click here.

How To Filter Your Search To Find A Bed And Breakfast

On Agoda.com, enter your destination, dates and the number of guests, then click “Search”.

Now click the “More” tab and select “Guesthouse/bed and breakfast” filter. From here, the search results will display B&B and guest houses in your destination.

If you prefer a certain price range, adjust the sliding price per night scale (under “Your budget” filter).

To see lowest-priced options first, click “Lowest price first” to sort results in order of lowest nightly rates.

To find a bed and breakfast that’s centrally-located, in a certain neighborhood, or near a particular landmark or attraction, use Agoda’s map to see listings pinned.

Breakfast Included + Kitchen Access

Bed and breakfasts typically include a complimentary breakfast in their up-front nightly rate. Still, it can be a good idea to filter your search - just in case. To find a B&B that includes breakfast, click “More” (below search bar), then select the “Breakfast included” filter under “Room offers” (shown in screenshot below).

Private kitchen access is not a standard B&B feature. To find a B&B that offers a kitchen/kitchenette, click “More” (under search bar), then select the “Kitchen” filter below “Room amenities” section (screenshot).

B&B With A Swimming Pool

To find a B&B with a pool, jacuzzi, hot tub or spa, click “More” (below the search bar), then select the “Private pool” filter under the “Room amenities” section. Filtering for a pool might greatly reduce the number of B&Bs displayed in your search results (swimming pools are not a standard B&B feature).

For a more thorough, complete guide for finding a B&B with a pool, hot tub, spa or jacuzzi, click here. For how to find 10 common amenities/features that guests often seek out in a B&B stay (like an on-site restaurant, waterfront view and parking), click here.

How To Choose A Bed And Breakfast

After you filter your search, it helps to know how to spot a quality listing/property - to reduce the chance of a poor stay/experience. Read past guests’ reviews to get a feel for the level of service a host provides, the quality of breakfast and other aspects of a stay (like WiFi strength and property ambience). Here are a few tips to assist you in choosing your B&B on Agoda:

Only consider listings with:

  • Recent, positive guest reviews

  • Photos of the property and room

  • Overall rating of 9.0 or higher

  • At least 20 guest reviews

Selecting your room and finalizing your booking:

  • If you lack private transport, consider booking near where you’ll be spending time. Agoda’s map lets you see B&Bs pinned in a destination.

  • Read the listing’s full description to ensure it has the amenities you need (laundry, parking, etc.).

  • Always read a property’s cancellation policy and double-check the total price prior to booking.

How To Find Deals And Discounts

As a lodging category, B&Bs aren’t considered to be “budget accommodation”. Still, some offer low rates as a temporary discount or because the property is a “budget B&B” (one of 13 B&B Types). Use Agoda’s Deals page to find potential B&B coupons/vouchers.

How To Pay For Your B&B Stay

Some bed and breakfast hosts require guests to pay for their stay online (at the time of booking), while other hosts require guests to pay for stays in-person (upon arriving at the property). In either case, you’ll often need to enter your credit card details to hold onto the reservation, so that your host will not be at a loss if you don’t show up for your stay.

If you have a payment preference (online/now or in-person/later), filter your search to display hosts who accept that preference. Just click “Payment options” (below the search bar), then select your preferred payment method from the drop-down list.

If you have an existing reservation and would like to see which payment form(s) your host accepts, click on the booking from within your Agoda account, or find your Booking Confirmation email, then scroll down to the “Total charge” section.

*To see today’s deals on B&Bs in your particular destination, click here.

Some Helpful B&B Tips!

Before Arriving

  • Learn a bit about the local customs, particularly if the culture is much different than your own (B&Bs can have a home-like environment/feel, so you may share common areas with the host).

  • Consider purchasing travel insurance that offers theft protection. Even if nothing occurs during a trip, insurance can provide peace of mind.

  • Many B&Bs lack 24/7 reception. If you think you’ll check in after 6 pm, notify the host ahead of time. Some hosts lock their front door early, and may be unavailable until the following day.

At The Property

  • Some bed and breakfasts allow non-guests to visit their bar or restaurant. Non-guests typically aren’t allowed access to the guest-only areas.

  • Some B&Bs let guests store bags post-checkout (to be picked up later), but this is not a standard B&B feature (many B&Bs aren’t staffed 24/7).

  • If you’ve never stayed in a bed and breakfast before, read our B&B Etiquette Guide.

General Travel Safety Tips

  • Regardless of your choice of lodging, it’s a good idea to split money between you and luggage before leaving your room for the day (only take what you need). This way, you have back-up in case anything happens to you or your luggage.

  • Keep a physical or digital copy of your passport ID page on you, or in your phone, at all times.

  • Avoid aimless wandering at night in unfamiliar destinations (especially if solo or not sober).

  • Avoid flashing expensive belongings in public (including phones in some places).

  • Dress conservatively when visiting culturally conservative countries or regions.

Other Booking Sites To Consider

While Agoda.com is my favorite site for discovering and booking B&Bs online (due to its wide selection of rooms around the world and competitive prices), it certainly is not the only legit option out there. A few other B&B websites to consider include:

*To see today’s deals on B&Bs in your particular destination, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

We covered how to find bed and breakfasts that suit your tastes and budget by filtering search, plus helpful booking tips and how to pay for stays. To learn more about bed and breakfasts, explore our guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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