The Ontario Bed and Breakfast Book (with a Quebec Supplement)

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

This detailed guide takes the guesswork out of selecting a
bed-and-breakfast. Each entry includes a line sketch of the
bed-and-breakfast’s exterior, a description written by the owners, and
the rates. As these notes emphasize what the owners feel are the selling
points of their establishments, it is easy to read between the lines to
find the type of accommodation it is. For example, if the house is
modest, the owners inevitably write glowingly about attractions in the
area or the great breakfast. If they tell you their dog’s name,
you’ve a pretty clear picture of what matters to them.

The entries also note any restrictions (such as no
smoking/children/pets), any extras (such as the use of laundry rooms,
boats, bicycles, and sauna, and whether there is a pool), when they’re
open for business, the owner’s name and phone number, the number of
rooms available, charges for extra persons staying in the same room, the
types of beds available, and whether the rooms have shared or private
baths.

While many bed-and-breakfast guides attempt to define their market by
listing only one type of accommodation (e.g., century homes), this
comprehensive work lists all types of accommodations, from humble modern
bungalows to stately historic homes. Some are located in rural areas,
some in small towns, and others in city centres. The entries are listed
alphabetically by town, rather than by area, and are cross-referenced to
a map giving main highways and major centres.

For the traveler seeking reasonably priced accommodation and a break
from hotel rooms, this guide will receive heavy use.