Bed and breakfasts

Small properties where breakfast is part of the deal and usually cooked rather than laid out. The number of rooms is typically under ten, the hosts often live on site, and the experience is closer to staying with someone than to checking into a building.

Before you book, check

• Whether breakfast has a fixed time. In a B&B it usually does, and it is rarely early.
• Whether any facilities are shared, particularly bathrooms in older properties.
• Whether there is parking, since these are often in residential streets.
• The cancellation terms, which tend to be stricter because one room is a large share of the week for a small host.

Worth it for: Couples, countryside stays, and anyone who wants a recommendation for dinner from someone who actually eats there.