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| Frequently-asked questions Q: What are your reservation policies? A: Two-night minimum. New for 2010: one night's deposit per room for a two-to-four night reservation two nights' deposit for a five-to-seven night booking full payment in advance for seven-plus nights
The deposit is refundable only for those nights we are able to rebook. So let us know as soon as possible if your plans change. Q: Hey! Hotels don't do that. A: That's true, but they would if your reservation represented half their occupancy. B&Bs are usually booked in advance; we've had many an empty and unpaid night due to no-shows and changes. Please consider trip cancellation insurance to cover your non-refundable costs. (We get it ourselves, every time we travel.)
Q: What else should I know before I reserve?
A: Here's the short list: We have a cat, as you may have noticed; please make sure no one in your party is allergic or cat-phobic. Your deposit will not be returned if on our doorstep you discover that your best friend hates cats. Spot doesn't permit guest pets. No smoking in the house. You may smoke on the balcony or porch. We must know your time of arrival so we'll be in when you arrive; if you're going to be earlier or later than you thought, please call. Sorry to say, the house is not accessible to the disabled; there's a short flight of steps up to the front door, and the B&B wing is on the second floor. First floor, if you're European. Q: What types of payment do you accept? A: Cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Q: Will I need a car? A: Since you're asking, probably not. We're centrally located; you can walk to many interesting places and catch a direct bus to most others. Seattle has an excellent bus system and it's easy and inexpensive to get around. With your to-and-from addresses in hand, use Metro's excellent trip planner to figure out your route, times and cost. Enter our address as 102 18 E, no punctuation. You'll be spared the hassle of our dreadful traffic, one-way streets and peculiar street-naming conventions. (Just a hint here: our house, on 18th East, is number 102; directly across the street, where the designation is 18th - not East - the house numbers are in the 1800s. It all makes sense to us.) For a trip to Mount Rainier or the San Juan Islands, you can rent a car for the day. Q: What's nearby? A: See the "What to do" tab at left. Most important, we think: you can walk to parks, shops and groceries, restaurants, clubs and coffeehouses, Seattle University, Seattle Central Community College, major medical centers, and even downtown (just two miles); and we're on direct bus lines to town and to the University of Washington. Q: Is the area safe? A: Sure, safe as houses. We wouldn't invite you somewhere dangerous. But you are a visitor, and should take the same precautions you do anywhere you travel. While we're on the topic of security: We lock doors and windows and have a wired-in, battery-backed fire alarm system, as well as smoke-detectors and escape ladders in bedrooms. Q: Have you got a place and equipment for me to do my work? A: Not really. No phone or answering service (bring your cell phone, OK?). You can use the dining room table in off hours. We do offer free wireless Internet access for your laptop, and we could receive or transmit a fax for you if needed. Q: Do you provide television and DVD, hot and cold running servants, chocolates on the pillows at night, and antiques everywhere? A: You've discovered why our rates are so reasonable. But there's a sitting room where you can read while your partner naps, or have your friends wait for you. Bring your lunch into the garden and watch for our hummingbirds and the Western Scrub-Jays, recent immigrants from the Southwest (and harbingers of climate change). We'll see that you get a cup of coffee and a muffin before that 5 am departure...and we've sometimes gone much further than that for guests in need. | |
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