Starting a B&B on the Big Island: Tips?

[hpp4me]

Thanks, Jerry!

quote:

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Originally posted by jerry

Stop by or call anytime. We are happy to share information.

Jerry

Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com

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[csgray]

Spend the extra money on king size beds, many of us who are a little taller, or bigger, or older, or lighter sleepers than we used to be just won't stay someplace with a queen or the double bed (my husband's feet hang off a double by about 6 inches), and put the bed size in your advertising. Go ahead and install grab bars in the bathroom even if you aren't fully ADA accessible. Flexibility on dietary needs for the breakfast is a big plus too.

We stayed in a lot of vacation rentals in Puna when we first moved here. Our hosts in places like Orchidland, Hawaiian Acres, and not ocean front HPP, that are farther from tourist activities and amenities like restaurants, said they got almost no repeat tourist business. Most of their guests were people like us who were in the process of moving here or looking for a place to buy. We didn't encounter a single other guest who were vacationers, except when we were in Kapoho, then all the other guests were vacationers.

I would hesitate to invest heavily in a B&B in this uncertain economic time.

Carol

[frossie]

B&B: I agree with csgray about the king bed - they are very useful to people who have a small child too.

I don't think you need a pool. People don't expect a B&B to be a destination in itself (like the Hilton Waikoloa). They want something clean, with a nice bathroom and maybe a little private lanai looking over some nice landscaping. You can offer to set up an inflatable paddling pool for young kids (though I have no idea what the liability would be for that).

Opening a B&B at this point in Puna would be brave. There are some lovely B&B's already and I don't think they are running full. One thing I would look at is providing room and board for overseas college students. I was helping a student find accommodation and the situation is dire - people wanting $700 a month for a damp unfinished basement with a 6 foot high ceiling. Students are also happier than tourists to share a bathroom. From what you save on that, you could buy a couple of old cars to "rent" to the students to solve the obvious problem of doing this in Puna (i.e. transport to UHH) or position yourself near a Hele-On bus route.