Why Should I Stay at a Bed & Breakfast?

Hotels, motels, inns, home rentals and Bed & Breakfasts… today’s travelers have more options than ever, and deciding where to stay can be really confusing.  You owe it to yourself to experience a reputable bed & breakfast (especially if you’ve never stayed in one before)! Simply put… we think you should stay at a Bed & Breakfast.

Why?  That’s easy… because they are so “not what you’d expect”.

Staying in a Bed & Breakfast (often called “inns” or “B&B’s”) is a memorable and relaxing experience.  Here’s our answers to the question… “Why should I stay at a bed & breakfast?”, and the top four reasons we think you’ll love staying at Prospect Hill:

1)  YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE  

Many hotels offer great customer service… but at the end of the day, you’re still just a room number.  At Prospect Hill, we call you by name.  We know where you came from, which anniversary you’re celebrating, and that you don’t eat onions.  We know you’re looking for the best wineries, insider information about Thomas Jefferson, and the favorite local spots around Charlottesville. 

At most B&B’s (including Prospect Hill), you’ll often interact with the proprietor, who has a vested interest in making your experience memorable. We’re thinking of you as we prepare your breakfast; We’re thinking of you as we make the beds with our luxury cotton linens and down featherbeds; We’re hoping you’ll be surprised as we place the fresh-baked cookies and drinks in your room; We’re trying to memorize your name from the moment you first schedule your reservation. 

Want to see all Charlottesville has to offer?  Our owners and Innkeepers know the local culture well, and will share all the local “secrets”; Want to hang out on the grounds all day?  Do it… and even feed the alpacas if you want; Want to take a nap?  Our housekeepers will prepare a basket of fresh towels and toiletries for you (so they don’t disturb you in your room later in the day); Want to travel with your pet?  We love animals, and we allow dogs in most of our cottages; Simply put, we’ll do our best to make sure all of your expectations are met.

Your stay is just that… a stay that is designed by you.  At Prospect Hill, our goal is to help you feel relaxed and reinvigorated… leaving you with the fondest of memories.  We won’t overdo it, though… we don’t expect you to talk to us the whole time you’re here, or play Scrabble with our family, or include us in your pictures.  This is YOUR stay.  You decide how much interaction you want with the Innkeeper and other guests. If you want to know the Prospect Hill story… we’ll tell you.  If you want complete privacy, we’ll give you that, too.  So, while we don’t expect to become your new BFF, we do hope you’ll leave saying, “I’m glad we chose Prospect Hill!”

 

2)  BREAKFASTS TO REMEMBER

At a hotel, you might get an on-the-go cold breakfast that leaves you hungry a few minutes later.  Or, you may get lucky with a “hot” breakfast, but how long has it been sitting under that heat lamp?  But when you stay at a Bed & Breakfast… well, the name says it all!  A home cooked, complimentary breakfast with local flavors is simply the best way to fuel your day.

Breakfast at Prospect Hill simply must be experienced.  Imagine waking up to the smell of our fresh-ground, custom-blended coffee… or the aromas of thick-sliced, Applewood-smoked bacon drifting throughout the house.  Even better, imagine a knock on your door as this gourmet breakfast is delivered right to your room or cottage… a full breakfast-in-bed!  That’s how we roll every day at Prospect Hill!  Breakfast is served each morning between 8:30 and 9:30 am, and is always “chef’s choice” (but dietary restrictions are no problem, so if you eat a vegan diet, or gluten-free, or anything else… just tell us ahead of time). 

Speaking of breakfast… we don’t make you sit with strangers, as all of the tables in our dining room are set-up “restaurant style”.  While we do see many guests making new friends and “comparing notes”, we also realize that some folks just aren’t ready to talk early in the morning.  Either way, your stay at Prospect Hill is what YOU make it!

3)  GENUINE OLD-FASHIONED HOSPITALITY

Most Bed & Breakfast owners become innkeepers after leaving other careers, simply because they genuinely love serving people.  So, for all the other reasons you should choose to stay at a Bed & Breakfast, hospitality stands out as the most-universal hallmark of a great Bed & Breakfast.  (Have we convinced you yet to stay at a Bed & Breakfast?  If so, here’s a listing of some of our favorite across the country).

In spite of the fascinating history at Prospect Hill, the eclectic period furnishings, and the gorgeous grounds… we remind our guests that we are a HOME, not a MUSEUM, and we want you to “make yourself at home” during your visit!  Walk around… post photos on Instagram… touch stuff.  We try to anticipate everything you would need to make your getaway memorable, and then we stay out of your way so you can enjoy it!

Can’t make it during our normal check-in times?  No problem… you can simply check yourself in!  We’ll leave a letter with detailed instructions about your accommodation and your breakfast… and we’ll see you in the morning!

From the greeting and handshake when you walk through the door, to our advice on local wineries, to the coffee-makers in your cottage, to the no-hassle check-in and check-out… our primary concern is to make our guests feel welcome.  After all you’ll be sharing our home… it’s the least we can do. 

 

4)  A UNIQUE, RELAXED VIBE

Bed & Breakfasts tend towards peaceful, quiet and unique get-a-ways… perfect to escape the stresses of everyday life. This is certainly true at Prospect Hill.  Our stunning grounds feature numerous outdoor sitting areas, lush vegetation, curious horses and alpacas, peaceful sounds, and the brightest stars.  Here you can relax, unwind, and forget about your normal routine.  Once you’re rested, you’ll be surprised to discover we’re only 4 miles from Interstate – 64 and only 20 minutes from Charlottesville.

Traditional hotel rooms tend to be very cookie-cutter… ho-hum… same room,different hotel. But when you stay at a Bed & Breakfast, however, the rooms are individually decorated, sometimes individually shaped, and sometimes not even rooms at all (at Prospect Hill, eight of our “guest rooms” are actually free-standing cottages… ranging from our original 1699 log cabin, to our “newest” 1890 cottage). While bed & breakfasts are often decorated with antiques, the worn-out stereotype of “Grandma’s dusty old house with a bunch of doilies” hasn’t applied in many years.  Today’s Bed & Breakfasts offer some of the most modern amenities (ie. Prospect Hill’s free TESLA charging stations), and provide a relaxing stay for families as well as business travelers.  Speaking of amenities… they can be great at hotels, if you feel like ponying up for them (hotels tend to “nickel-and-dime” you for amenities such as Wi-Fi or breakfast or even the bottle of water in your room. Most bed-and-breakfast, however, offer many complimentary “extras” not offered by traditional hotels.  At Prospect Hill, all the snacks in your room (including wine) are included… as is your breakfast… as is Wi-Fi… as is coffee, etc.

 

Lastly, Why You Should NOT Stay at a Bed & Breakfast

We really want you to discover “the new way to stay” and the experience you could be having at when you stay at a Bed & Breakfast, especially if you’ve never tried one.  And specifically, we hope you’ll choose to stay at Prospect Hill when visiting Charlottesville, Virginia!  But let’s face it… Bed & Breakfasts aren’t for everyone.  If you’re partial to “big-hotel” amenities (like gyms, 24-hour room service, televisions and pay-per-view, business centers, and lobby retail shops), or you don’t like the quirky touches that most Bed & Breakfasts have… (at Prospect Hill, for example, Rocky [the black lab] really hopes you’ll throw a stick for him; or Butterscotch would love for you to rub her head as she’s curled-up on the corner of the porch), then you may be happier at a traditional hotel.

Otherwise… come stay a spell!