It’s countdown to the holidays time and while the family gathering is supposed to bring joy to the world, the anticipation of sleepless nights on the sofabed…or worse yet your old pink canopy bed or fire truck bunk… is not putting visions of sugarplums in your head. While growing up your old room was magical, but all these years later squeezing you and your spouse into that twin bed is probably not your idea of holiday joy. Worse yet, sleepless nights in the uncomfortable guest or inflatable mattress means you’d better use caution that you don’t fall asleep while roasting chestnuts near the open fire.
No need to lose any more sleep thinking about how to get through the silent nights as you toss and turn. There’s surely still plenty of room at the inn nearby. Consider these ten reasons an inn or B&B is the better way to stay this holiday season.
1. Guilt free: While there’s nothing better than being home for the holidays, there’s bound to be a reminder or two from one or another family member of something you’d rather forget. Check into a B&B and get a warm welcome from an innkeeper who’ll carry your baggage, not remind you about it.
2. Leave the beds to the innkeeper: You don’t make your bed at home but when you stay at Mom’s it’s not only a requirement it has to be done to her specs. Leave the bed making to your innkeeper, and spend your holiday making holiday pies, not beds.
3. Their walls don’t talk: Everyone needs time to process that insensitive comment from the sister-in-law, crazy Aunt Helen’s antics, or the re-gifting of the blue scarf you gave your brother last year. Rather than being overheard at Mom’s house, retreat to a quiet B&B where you can rehash all the family fun with your spouse later in the evening.
4. A place for your stuff: Pet peeve #21 about staying at Mom’s: no room for the toilet kit; in fact no room for much of anything. Book a holiday stay at an inn or B&B close to Mom’s and you’ll have a private bath all to yourself. And you don’t even have to put the toilet seat down if you don’t want to!
5. Silent Night: Do your ears ring after an evening of family reminiscing? Retreat to a B&B and you’ll savor the silence in your private room.
6. Room to breathe: It can get awfully crowded during holiday gatherings and especially tough when Aunt Mildred insists on dousing herself in Eau de Toilette. Take refuge at a nearby B&B and you’ll have plenty of room to spread out and breathe.
7. Start the day out right: While you know Mom wants you to get plenty of fiber, her idea of soupy oatmeal is not your idea of the perfect breakfast. Since breakfast is the half the B&B’s name you can count on a delicious and hearty start to your day if you book a stay this holiday season.
8. Greetings with a smile: The holidays can take their toll on Mom and Dad, especially when company is involved. Check into a nearby B&B and you’ll be greeted with a smile from an innkeeper who’s happy to welcome you home.
9. Turn down the heat: It’s often too hot at Mom’s house. You’re used to your 60-degree home where you throw an extra blanket on rather than bust the heating budget. This year, cool off after Mom’s house at a nearby inn or B&B where if it’s too hot, you don’t have to worry about asking to turn the heat down or open a window.
10. Be naughty not nice: And last but not least…Best reason to stay at a B&B rather than Mom’s house is a good night’s sleep on fabulously comfortable beds with clean, comfortable linens and comfy pillows; make as much noise as you want doing anything you want!
To find a better way to stay this holiday season, visit betterwaytostay.com/map/ and click on the state where your Mom lives, or where you’ll be traveling. This holiday season, consider staying at an inn or B&B near Mom’s so you can really enjoy your time at home.
Marti Mayne is a B&B aficionado, visiting hundreds of inns and B&Bs either by armchair or in person each year - and is the B&B Editor for Wandering Educators. As a coordinator for the Better Way To Stay campaign, Marti is committed to helping travelers discover today's inns and B&B experience.
All photos courtesy and copyright jumpingrocks.com