My parents were keen campers and being teachers, they’d have the time to take 3-4 week camping holidays away every summer.
Every summer, as I watched my friends enviously setting off for a week in Benidorm, my parents would be packing for a trip across Europe; our accommodation for the holiday packed in the rucksacks on our backs.
The camping season always started at Easter – no matter if there was still snow on the ground.
These days, very occasionally when the weather is glorious, I’ll entertain the idea of a camping holiday on a Scottish beach.
Then I remember the 3 weeks in the highlands. It poured with rain and there was nothing to do but drink tea, eat shortbread and become an expert at canasta.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Scotland and in May we’re heading back up there for the 2nd time in 6 months. I just didn’t love it as a 13 year old, crammed into a 2 man tent with my parents, our dog and no car!
I always suggest to my course attendees that they really get to know their ideal B&B guest and create a B&B that meets all of their needs. But I also think it’s a really good idea to create a B&B and an experience that you’d love to stay in as well.
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that I ended up creating a 5 star B&B with such luxuries as a flushing toilet, heating, huge baths and as much hot water as you could use… No tents in sight!
Read Karen’s blog to discover more about life as a B&B owner: bandbacademy.co.uk/blog
Who is Karen Thorne?
Karen Thorne has ran Hopton House B&B in Shropshire for over 16 years and the Bed and Breakfast Academy for over 14 years.
