Are B&Bs Right for Families?

B&Bs offer a different, more personalized vacation alternative to hotels and resorts, but not all are suitable for family travelers. Many are converted homes, where guestrooms tend to be small, without enough space for a spare bed.

Also, homes converted to B&Bs don’t have the sound barriers that purpose-built hotels do. Guests who stay in these often know they need to keep their voices modulated in their rooms and hallways, and otherwise be considerate of other guests. This is sometimes hard for kids to remember.

Many innkeepers limit guests to those over age 12 or even older to preserve the quiet atmosphere for other guests who might not appreciate children in the breakfast room or common areas. It’s not that B&B owners don’t like kids, but they are aware of the feelings of guests who choose B&Bs for a quiet couples’ getaway.

Other innkeepers with historic homes and those furnished in antiques and fine decorative pieces worry children will not be as careful of these. Unfair as it may seem to parents of well-behaved children, these owners may feel safer setting an age limit. You also might not have a comfortable stay there if you are constantly worrying about your child bumping into a table and knocking over a Tiffany lamp!

If a B&B doesn’t mention children on their website, ask the owner and give the ages of your children. Some don’t have family-sized rooms, but may have adjacent rooms that can become a suite. Others have separate cottages or apartment-style rooms that are more self-contained.

Don’t give up on the idea of staying in a B&B, as there are many that do welcome children. The historic Granite Inn in Rockland, Maine, for example, has rooms designed especially for families. Innkeepers Joan and Edwin Hantz welcome children, and their own grandchildren often visit them there. Elsewhere in Maine, The Inn at Bath, an 1840s home in Bath’s historic district, welcomes children over age 5.

In New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the elegant Inn at Jackson welcomes families with children age 7 and older, and the 1767 Highland Lake Inn is happy to host families with children as young as 1 year old. Visit New Hampshirehas a page for all types of family-friendly lodging, listed by region.