Cornish Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

You can’t go very far from the sea in Cornwall, so most Bed and breakfast accommodation is situated on or near the coast. You can imagine how lovely it would be to wake up on a warm sunny morning and look out over the sea from your bedroom and then go down stairs to a hearty breakfast (that someone else cooks and clears up)!

The first thing that you need to know, if you aren’t familiar with Bed and Breakfasts in England, is that they are the hosts homes. In consequence, you are really a guest, and I have found that most B&B owners treat you as such, even though you are paying. While this also means that service is much more personal, there may be some "house rules" like being considerate to other guests and not wearing muddy walking boots in the house.

There are so many B & B’s in Cornwall that, when plotted on a map, makes it appear that the map has a rash of red dots. With more than 750 of them, the market is very competitive, driving up their standard (most have en-suite bathrooms, colour televisions and tea making facilities). An increasing number are also offering WiFi as well.

With such a bewildering number of choices available to the visitor, there is no problem of finding one in an area that you would like to be based, whether in a town, on the coast or in the country. If you have children with you, you should look to see if the B and B advertises that they are family or child friendly, as these often have reduced rates for children, not to mention such essentials as cots and high chairs. Of course, the rates that are charged usually reflect the standard of the B&B as well as its location and amenities.

A lot of accommodation have a guest lounge that is for visitors use. Usually very comfortable and equipped with a TV, you will frequently find books and board games available for you. Of course the one thing they all have is a dining room where all the guests gather for breakfast. Your host will always make you aware of the times that they serve breakfast and will, frequently, modify these if you need to leave early, or might prefer to eat a little later.

If one of your party is disabled, you should phone and make the owner aware of any special needs that they might have. Wheel chair access and the provision of Lifts(elevators) are not common though they might advertised on the B&B’s website if they have one.

Having had a comfortable night, the fresh sea air will make sure that you have a keen appetite in the morning, preparing you for that famous institution of a Full English Breakfast! A plate loaded with sausage, bacon, eggs, tomato, mushroom, fried bread, and, if you want, baked beans. With toast and tea or coffee on the side, you will have plenty of energy for that walk along the beach or exploring the countryside!

There are a few clear advantages of using Bed and Breakfast accommodation over other choices. It beats self-catering in that self-catering is usually let by the week, you normally have to make your own beds and clean up after yourself and you would have to cook and wash up after breakfast and other meals. Though the facilities are simpler, B& B’s are more personal and, normally, less expensive than hotels though you will find that the bedrooms are frequently up to hotel standards. If you are considering camping as an alternative, then when it is blowing a gale and raining, the advantages are obvious!