Stay Cheaply In A Bed And Breakfast In Britain

The credit crunch may be a source of anxiety to those from abroad travelling to Britain for work or pleasure. However, it also has opportunities for British resident wishing to spend a short break or off season holiday in our lovely island. Certainly our bed and breakfast can be expensive. However, the high prices are a factor everywhere across the Western World as that is the period that generally pays for the lean winter months. Our Bed and breakfast owners only due what every other country does and that is exploit the laws of supply and demand.

This year, there is no doubt that bookings levels are down on the previous year and with many proprietors worrying about next year’s bookings now is a good time to secure a discounted rate for next summer. Many expect that the credit crunch will prevent tourists coming to Britain. Another reason to book your British holiday now. I don’t think it will be a bad season. The pound has dropped against the Euro and the Dollar making us seem better value for money and many Britons will be tightening their belts as the recession starts to bite and many will stay in Britain and holiday at here instead of going abroad so it could be a good season for our bed & breakfast owners. Never the possibility of a bad season still exists.

The seeming national idea that Britain is not somewhere to holiday if you already live here is strange. Sure the weather can be unpredictable and yes it can be wet and windy but the beauty of the landscape at all times of the year make a little bad weather worth braving and the landscape of these islands is so varied that you could never run out of new places to visit and enjoy. Because of that poor perception, many of the bed and breakfast and self catering owners really do want your business and are quite prepared to drop their prices to secure it.

In short, haggle. I know its not something we British do naturally but the bargains are out there if your willing to ask for them. Usually the b&b owner will only give a discount if you book for several nights or a week at least and this is possibly still the case but at this time of the year, you hold all the trump cards. In the high season, the bed & breakfast is often fully booked for weeks in advance but at this time they all have vacancies and know that if they dont offer a discount when asked, their competitors will and there is a queue waiting to take the room if they can’t sell it to you.

Don’t be too assertive but do ask for discounts, especially if you are staying mid-week which at any time of the year is really hard to fill. B&B owners have a tough time getting through the low season so any business, as long as it more than covers the cost, is business worth having and next year is an unknown so book ahead and ask for a discount. As a nation we don’t exploit the possibility of discounted prices because we don’t want to appear rude. The truth is the rates are there if you ask We also don’t realise how beautiful our regions are and that there is a great deal to be said for a holiday, short break or longer, in our own country. We know the food, we know the language, we understand the humour, we like the beer and we understand the weather and how to cope with it. That is a lot more than we can say for a lot of international destination, even those that profess to speak English.

By: Tony Lucas

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Tony Lucas has spent many years in the travel and tourism market, has travelled in many parts of the world. He has lectured and worked freelance for many of the major Hotel corporations. He writes extensively on all matters to do with Britain and tourism in the British Isles. More information on www.stayinbritain.co.uk