All About California B

The mom-and-pop operations can and do vary, from some real treasures to some genuine disasters. Three guilds have established standards for the operation of B&B; inns in California. They are the Innkeepers Guild of Santa Barbara, Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Southern California and Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Northern California.

I own an inn and realize that many costs are not apparent. I paid a great deal more for the building and land than did the innkeepers in the remote regions of the gold country. My yearly taxes would probably make their mortgage payments. Royal Doulton costs more than Melmac. No guest room shares a wall with any other guest room; all have double walls, in most cases two feet apart. We have no sound communicating between any rooms. What is so great about paying little and getting less?

CARLTON WAGNER

The Bayberry Inn

Santa Barbara