Reply to Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest (Rocheport)

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Reply to Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest (Rocheport)

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Harry from Kansas City on 8/11/2008 7:55:43 PM:

Beware: This is not a bed and breakfast anymore. Hence "Bikefest." I didn't read closely enough when I made my internet reservation, and got snookered into thinking the service was the same as when I stayed there one night two summers ago and enjoyed a full home-cooked breakfast in the morning. Anymore, somebody comes by to boil up a pot of coffee. Beyond that, it's continental fare. Too bad they cut back and resorted to trickery -- it's such a quaint little place.

Biker from Farmington, MO on 8/19/2008 9:35:52 AM:

"Continental breakfast provided. Items include yogurt, bagels, muffins, scones, fruit, juices, coffee, cereal and breakfast bars." On their "Rates & Such" page, under "rules." -- Although I'll admit, I'm not jazzed about how they process your credit card for the full stay at the time of reservation (and they require at least 2 wks' cancellation notice, or you're out the whole wad). But I can see how they might have gotten burned in the past without this policy, so they've had to implement it. Not sure a continental breakfast qualifies as "trickery," but I can see how you felt had.

Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 9/3/2008 10:50:22 AM:

Our hearty continental breakfast includes yogurt, bagels, muffins, scones, fruit, juices, coffee, cereal and breakfast bars. It has brought kudos from many of our guests who prefer a flexible eating schedule. We made this change two years ago in response to our cyclist guests who were requesting an easy, early, hearty get-going breakfast. Our website states implicitly at least once on every page in scrolling text the following "Our hearty continental breakfast offers plenty of pedal power for your Katy Trail adventure." It even states that twice on our homepage. In addition, on our rates page it states "Continental breakfast provided. Items include yogurt, bagels, muffins, scones, fruit, juices, coffee, cereal and breakfast bars." Our chef Gregory, who married and moved away several years ago, will always be missed! I think he is probably keeping busy making breakfast for his four young girls.

Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 9/3/2008 12:21:00 PM:

Hi Biker. Thanks for your thoughts. Our payment policies are pretty standard. You book a flight, they charge your card. You buy gas, they charge your card. You buy groceries, they charge your card. B&Bs are the same way. We do this because in the past, some guests would "reserve" entire blocks of rooms for whole weekends while they were trying to arrange family, friends, etc., and would cancel them or most of them at the last minute once they finalized (or canceled) their plans. That leaves any B&B in a bad spot. (Our canoe floats are the same way). Sorry if it rubbed you the wrong way. We're always looking for ways to improve the process and we're always open to new ideas and suggestions. Thanks for letting us know. Hope to see you back in Rocheport to see the fall leaves!

Doug from Bluffton on 9/3/2008 2:34:25 PM:

A two weeks in advance cancellation policy is pretty much the norm and still doesn't really cover the owners as most people have made their reservations by then so the owners can't just call customers back and say "The rooms are now available." The owners turned down guests to hold the room. That is why you pay in advance. So that the rooms are yours unless YOU change plans. Most of the B&Bs along the way are people that hold down full time jobs and then put themselves out even more while trying to make YOUR trip comfortable.

Biker from Farmington, MO on 9/3/2008 3:20:46 PM:

I can understand why they charge in advance. Again, I'm not keen on it, but now that I know what to expect, I'm OK with it. I've stayed in many B&Bs before where they don't charge your card for the complete total a month in advance of your stay (just a deposit, maybe). I was under the mistaken impression I was reserving a room, not paying for the room, because "credit cards are processed at time of reservation" meant, to me, that you had to use a credit card to reserve. Maybe "charged" might have clarified it. It was a simple misunderstanding, and a shock when my card was billed $350 right away. I hope to stay there again (if they'll have me, after all this), but I can see how others might miss all the fine print in their excitement to book rooms for their trip. Just an FYI. Please don't shoot me.

stevie from saint louis on 9/4/2008 10:17:46 AM:

I can also understand why they charge in advance. However, the only B&B that I have ever stayed in along the Katy Trail did not ask me for an advance credit card or check of any kind.

Another one that I contacted wanted an advance check, but would keep ½ the room rate if I cancelled. In addition, in this latter case, if they rebooked the room, I would not be charged for anything.

I would advise that people reading the above not assume that these generalizations on the cancellation policy apply to every B&B along the Katy. Not to mention the fact that hotel options that are available along the Katy generally have a much less stringent cancellation policies for their guests than what is discussed above. So, I would advise that people shop around and contact hotels and B&B’s directly before booking a room if the cancellation policy is a concern.

Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 9/5/2008 7:47:36 PM:

Biker in Farmington, No worries! We're all friends here. All of the feedback is really great. I'm excited to mention that we are working on reconstructing an 1880s two-story log cabin at our B&B which should break ground in October. It has a double porch on the front -- should be a real nice place to kick back and watch the bikers go by...

FEEDBACK! - Please let us know if you have suggestions, corrections, complaints, or ideas. Your input is valued and appreciated - thanks in advance!

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