Frequently Asked Questions
Bed & Breakfast accommodations, also called B&Bs, can broadly be defined as independent small properties offering overnight lodging and breakfast in a home-like setting. Unlike the “sameness” in a motel or hotel, B&Bs are unique properties, making a singular definition challenging. Many are family-owned and run by individual innkeeper/owners.
Often they are renovated old homes, many were once stately residences, a great number are in extraordinary locations, and each is distinctly individual. Many are in quiet residential neighborhoods, in small towns, or off the beaten path… but they can also be found in large cities and in popular destination areas. By their nature, bed & breakfasts generally have fewer guest rooms and are more intimate than traditional hotels, motels, lodges, and resorts. Variety reigns, from one B&B to another as well as in an individual B&B itself.
Each guest room or suite is usually unlike any other – in size, configuration, decor, and individual characteristics. Historic old buildings which are converted into bed and breakfast properties often will preserve the character of the past while discretely incorporating modern comforts and technology, like individual controls for heat/air, spacious rooms, private baths, large flat screen TVs, and sitting areas. Overall, a bed and breakfast is commonly designed to create an atmosphere of romance, comfort, relaxation, and charm – aiming for an extraordinary and memorable guest experience.
As with any lodging category, bed & breakfasts vary in their level of quality, so this description is a generalization… a bed & breakfast which is far more than mere sleeping accommodations and a morning meal. B&B hosts strive to make guests feel at home, while spoiling them with extravagance beyond their normal day-to-day lives. Attention is friendly and personal, usually with flexibility to cater to guests’ individual needs. Breakfasts are a major focal point, most often included in the room rate, and are typically non-traditional, gourmet, and prepared from scratch.
Featured entrees for breakfast often change daily, and many B&Bs offer signature items, such as stuffed french toast, berry-laden pancakes, and egg-centric creations, accented with specialties like Inn-baked pastries, made-to-order fruit smoothies, freshly baked breads. There are chefs who add fresh harvests from their own gardens, others who incorporate regional specialties into the menu, and some who highlight locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfast is an event!
Extensive “free” guest amenities are often included in the overnight room rate. Offerings such as whirlpool tubs in the guest rooms, comfortable (often luxurious) bedding, decadent sweets, and plush robes are frequently included. Often the rooms and suites are furnished with lovely antiques, while some mix in period reproductions in order to satisfy modern desires like king-sized beds and flat screen televisions. Some have in-room gas-log or electric fireplaces to add ambience. Each property is unique in what is “included” in the room rate, and added value comes with features like complimentary use of bicycles, WiFi, free parking, made-to-order specialty coffees, afternoon refreshments, a swimming pool, and freshly baked cookies. A selection of “add-ons,” such as massages, champagne and strawberries, gourmet picnic lunches, breakfast delivered to the guest room, complimentary tickets to local attractions, and other treats are commonly offered to enhance the guests’ stay.
Another aspect of a Bed and Breakfast which makes it a preferred lodging choice for many people is the social interaction with the hosts and with fellow guests. Communal breakfast tables, all-day coffee service, and comfortable common areas of the property – such as living rooms, garden seating, poolside chairs, and porches – invite conversation. Activities like evening socials and nightly desserts facilitate casual mingling. Tips on area activities, good dining options, nearby landmarks, and local favorites are often shared, and lasting friendships are formed. On the other hand, opportunities for quiet, soothing “alone-time” are also provided at most bed & breakfasts, and romance takes high priority in the B&B experience.
Are myths about bed and breakfast outdated?
Yes. In bed and breakfast inns today, generally
- privacy is respected and is not an issue
- you don’t have to sit with strangers at breakfast – unless you’d like to!
- you are not required to eat at specific times, at a specific table
- noise is not any different than at hotels and other lodging types
- rates are not necessarily more expensive than hotels in the same area, particularly when amenities and other factors are taken into account
- they can accommodate business travelers as well as vacationers
- they are not run by innkeepers as a “hobby” – these are serious businesses
What does it cost to stay at a Bed and Breakfast?
Costs vary widely, but there are Bed and Breakfast Inns to fit a range of budgets. Rates are influenced by factors such as the bed & breakfast’s location, the type of guest room selected, and the complimentary amenities included in the room rates. Most B&Bs have differing midweek (usually less expensive) and weekend rates.
One must consider a stay at a B&B is much more than than a room with a bed and good breakfast. Staying at a B&B is an integral part of the entire travel adventure. The personality, personal service, remarkable food offerings, free amenities, and social aspects elevates bed & breakfast lodging to a significant role in the vacation experience.
B&Bs do not “nickel and dime” their guests, more generally combining everything into one price. Value-added packages and specials often pair the B&B experience with add-ons like in-room goodie baskets, admissions to local activities, discounts at area restaurants, or tours of nearby landmarks. While often more expensive than nearby hotels, the Bed and Breakfast experience, with all of its extras, is worth the price.
Costs vary widely, but there are Bed and Breakfast Inns to fit a range of budgets. Rates are influenced by factors such as the bed & breakfast’s location, the type of guest room selected, and the complimentary amenities included in the room rates. Most B&Bs have differing midweek (usually less expensive) and weekend rates.
One must consider a stay at a B&B is much more than than a room with a bed and good breakfast. Staying at a B&B is an integral part of the entire travel adventure. The personality, personal service, remarkable food offerings, free amenities, and social aspects elevates bed & breakfast lodging to a significant role in the vacation experience.
B&Bs do not “nickel and dime” their guests, more generally combining everything into one price. Value-added packages and specials often pair the B&B experience with add-ons like in-room goodie baskets, admissions to local activities, discounts at area restaurants, or tours of nearby landmarks. While often more expensive than nearby hotels, the Bed and Breakfast experience, with all of its extras, is worth the price.
Q: Will I have my own bathroom in a bed & breakfast?
These days, the vast majority of bed & breakfasts have in-room “en suite” private bathrooms, often with luxurious touches. Innkeepers long ago learned that guests prefer not to share a bathroom with other guests or be required to leave their rooms and walk through a hallway to their private bathroom. Rooms with such accommodations are generally offered at the lowest rate. Each room at a B&B is likely to have different amenities, and this applies to the size and configurations of the bathroom too. Sometimes the bathroom is small, as was the nature when old homes which later became B&Bs were built. Some have whirlpool tubs and separate showers, others have old-fashioned deep clawfoot tubs, there are some with tub/shower combinations, and still, others have oversized multi-head, steam, or rainfall showers. As many bed & breakfasts evolved from renovated historic homes, what’s now the guest “bedroom” might have a soaking tub or a sink, to make the bathroom roomier. Signature bath toiletries are sometimes provided, as are plush bathrobes for use while a guest. Check B&B web sites and brochures or inquire with the innkeeper so you will know the bathroom details for the room you choose before you arrive.
Details about St. Francis Inn
Q: How far is the St. Francis Inn from the beach?
Beautiful, sandy St. Augustine Beach is about 6 miles from the Inn. Vilano Beach is about 5 miles from the Inn.We have a list of public beach access points available. See your Innkeeper for the list.
Q: Where is the Inn located?
Maps and directions are provided on our website, and our GPS coordinates are:
Latitude/Longitude: 29.88813210285928; -81.31110191345215
We are on the Atlantic coast in northeast Florida, between Jacksonville to the north and Daytona to the south. The Inn is readily accessible by car from the north/south routes I-95, US 1, and coastal route A1A. Major airlines service Jacksonville (JAX) and Daytona (DAB). Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ) is a public airport for general aviation, located in St. Augustine five miles north of St. Francis Inn.
Q: Is the Inn handicapped accessible?
The Inn has ground floor guest rooms, but there are no wheelchair ramps, elevators, or wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
Q: Is the pool heated?
The pool water is temperature-controlled for maximum swimming comfort every month of the year, maintaining a temperature of about 80°F.
Q: Is smoking allowed?
All buildings at St. Francis Inn are smoke-free, but there are numerously protected and attractive outside areas where smoking is allowed.
Q: Are pets allowed?
Well-mannered pets are allowed at the Inn on a limited basis, according to our published guidelines. Arrangements must be made ahead with reservations, and a nightly pet fee of $20 is charged. Only a few select Inn rooms are available for pet guests, and pets are not allowed in the Inn’s common rooms.
