MK (Guest)

Hi, We have run a B&B (and gites) in a couple of places in France since 1995 and now have a B&B near Saint Malo and Dinan in Northern Brittany. If I can offer some advice to those worrying about "non arrivals" a plague to anyone with a B&B, simply take credit card details and that will frighten most if not all into arriving. Why not even hire one ? We hire our credit card terminal from our bank B.P.O on a seasonal basis from Easter to mid Novemeber. It costs very little in relation to the fact ( around 18 euros per month and an initial set up each year of the same amount) that we rarely, if ever have non arrivals. We take the clients details even if the person wants a room just hours before their arrival. Hope that helps but I guess if you have only a room or two it may not be financially viable ? Certainly in my view, with 3 or more rooms busy from Easter to November, then it is surely essential ? On another matter, does anyone else feel that the Condor ferry into Saint Malo from Poole/Weymouth is becoming a right nuisance in the fact that it is now never on time and some of our guests have arrived as late as 23.30 and we are just 20 minutes from the terminal at Saint Malo. This month it seems to be the gearbox, what it will be next month I have no idea !! MK