A guest house (also guesthouse ) is a kind of lodging . In some parts of the world (such as the Caribbean ), a guest house is a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. In others, it is a private home that has been converted for the exclusive use of visitor accommodation. The owner usually lives in an entirely separate area within the property and the guest house may be as a form of lodging business.
19-644: In some areas of the world, guest houses are the only kind of accommodation available for visitors who have no local relatives with whom to stay. Among the features which distinguish a guest house from a hotel or inn is the lack of a full-time staff. Under the 1956 Hotel Proprietor Act in the United Kingdom, while hotels have an obligation to accept travelers "in a fit state" if they have empty rooms, guest houses are allowed to be more selective. Bed and breakfasts and guest houses in England are family-owned and
38-603: A restaurant attached. In India , a tremendous growth can be seen in the guest house business especially in Delhi-NCR (national capital region) where progress in the IT sector and the Commonwealth Games 2010 were the two most influential factors. Nowadays the guest house accommodation sector has improved significantly, with even a home converted guest house also offering 3-star equivalent facilities to its guests. In
57-422: A yukata to wear; they might also have games such as table tennis , and possibly geta that visitors can borrow for strolls outside. Bedding is a futon spread out on the tatami floor. When guests first enter their room, they usually find a table and some supplies for making tea. The table is also used for meals when guests take them in their room. While guests are out, staff (usually called nakai ) will move
76-415: A communal dining area, but most serve meals in the guests' rooms. Ryokan that are likely to serve non-Japanese guests may also have a selection of Western food. Minshuku ( 民宿 ) are a low-budget version of ryokan, roughly equivalent to a British boarding house or a bed and breakfast . The facilities are similar to a hotel or may simply consist of spare rooms in a family home. Minshuku often serve as
95-551: A few rustic boutique hotels with minimum amenities. Most patrons are foreign tourists but they are growing in popularity among Chinese domestic tourists. In India, the government is promoting the concept of bed & breakfast. The government is doing this to increase tourism, especially keeping in view the demand for hotels during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. They have classified B&Bs into two categories: Gold B&Bs, and Silver B&Bs. All B&Bs must be approved by
114-422: A relatively large entrance hall, with couches and chairs where guests can sit and talk; a modernized ryokan often has a television in the hall as well. Guest rooms are constructed using traditional Japanese methods : flooring is tatami , and doors are sliding doors . Even if the inn uses hinged doors for security, it usually opens into a small entranceway where guests can take off their shoes before stepping onto
133-425: A tea ceremony, and today refers to a meal consisting of a number of small, varied dishes. Some ryokan instead serve local specialties such as basashi or food cooked in an irori hearth. So that each dish can be enjoyed at the proper temperature, ryokan stress that guests should be punctual for their meals. For this reason, most ryokan ask guests to confirm the time they want to take their meals. Some ryokan have
152-436: Is a national law "Legge 29 marzo 2001, n. 135" but each region maintains a specific regulation. Each region can adopt different regulations but they must observe the national law on Tourism (Law N° 135 /2001). The Japanese equivalent of this sort of hospitality business is the minshuku , which offers dinner as well as bed & breakfast in the tradition of the ryokan . There are numerous B&Bs found in seaside towns,
171-615: Is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. In addition, a B&B sometimes has the hosts living in the house. Bed and breakfast is also used to describe the level of catering included in a hotel's room prices, as opposed to room-only, half-board, or full-board . There are approximately 7,000 B&Bs in Australia. The B&B industry in Australia generates about $ 132 million in annual revenue. In China, expatriates have remodelled traditional structures in quiet picturesque rural areas and opened
190-461: The Ministry of Tourism, which will then categorize them as Gold or Silver based on a list of predefined criteria. In Ireland, B&Bs can be townhouses, farmhouses, or country houses. There are about 3,000 B&Bs spread throughout the country, 750 of which are certified for meeting quality standards by Fáilte Ireland . The Israeli B&B is known as a zimmer (German for 'room'). All over
209-465: The United States, the term guest house may refer to rooms in private homes. Generally, there are two variations of paying guest house: In the first version of the guest house, the guests get to live with a family where they get shelter and food ( bed and breakfast ) only, and for the rest of the jobs like washing clothes and utensils, cleaning of room or area around their bed is to be done by
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#1732783023887228-458: The average. Ryokan#Minshuku A ryokan ( 旅館 ) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that typically features tatami -matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear nemaki and talk with the owner. Ryokan have existed since the eighth century A.D. during the Keiun period, which is when the oldest hotel in the world, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan ,
247-585: The country, but especially in northern Israel (Galilee, Upper Galilee, and the Golan Heights), the zimmer has developed into an extensive industry. This industry began to develop in the 1990s, when agriculture became less profitable, and many families with farms in moshavim, kibbutzim , farms, and even in cities decided to try their luck in the business of hospitality. In the last decade, bed and breakfasts have also emerged in southern Israel's Negev region. In Italy, regional law regulates B&Bs. There
266-509: The countryside as well as city centres. B&Bs are graded by VisitBritain and the AA on a star system. 3-, 4- and 5-star establishments have a higher standard. A majority of B&Bs in the UK have en suite facilities. There are approximately 17,000 B&Bs in the United States. Bed and breakfasts are often private family homes and typically have between four and eleven rooms, with six being
285-427: The family lives on the premises, though family members are not normally available during the evening. However, most family members work a 10- to 12-hour day from 6 am as they may employ part-time service staff. Hotels maintain a staff presence 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, whereas a guest house has a more limited staff presence. Because of this, check-in at a guest house is often by appointment. An inn also usually has
304-522: The guests. In the second version, the guests receive some amenities necessary to live life comfortably like a fully furnished room, comfortable bed, air-conditioner, television, water supply and, last but not least, security. A big plus point of a professionally run paying guest accommodation service is that the owner follows the safety norms set by the local government . Some of the important safety points include: Bed and breakfast A bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB )
323-429: The table aside and set out the futon. Most ryokan offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Most visitors take their meals at the ryokan, which usually promote themselves on the quality of their food. Meals typically consist of traditional Japanese cuisine known as kaiseki , which features seasonal and regional specialties. Kaiseki originally referred to light meals served during
342-489: The tatami floor, which would be separated by a sliding door. Many ryokan rooms also feature a porch or balcony , also set off with a sliding door. Almost all ryokan feature common bathing areas or ofuro , usually segregated by gender, using the water from a hot spring ( onsen ) if any are nearby. (Areas with natural hot springs tend to attract high concentrations of ryokan). High-end ryokan may provide private bathing facilities as well. Typically ryokan provide guests with
361-950: Was created in 705 A.D. Another old ryokan called Hōshi Ryokan was founded in 718 A.D. and was also known as the world's second oldest hotel. Such inns also served travelers along Japan's highways . Ryokan are difficult to find in Tokyo and other large cities because many are often much more expensive compared to modern hotels and hostels. As elsewhere in the world, hotels have become a standard in Japanese urban tourism. Nonetheless, some major cities do offer ryokan with competitive rates. Traditional ryokan are more commonly found in areas with natural hot springs, and in recent years, many ryokan have been redeveloped to their original style, particularly by resort chains Hoshino Resorts , whose first ryokan opened in Karuizawa in 1914. A typical ryokan has
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