Welcome to
The Old Iron Inn Bed and Breakfast
155 High Street ~ Caribou, Maine 04736
Phone:
(207) 492-4766 E-mail:
kateandkevin@oldironinn.com
Your Hosts: Kate and Kevin McCartney
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Staying in a B&B, But Were Afraid to Ask.
Here is the thing about b&bs: they are NOT motels. Think of a b&b as an anti-motel - each one unique and memorable
in its own way. They are guest houses for people looking for a more unique and memorable overnight experience. We here
at the Old Iron Inn run a small, European-style b&b; that is, we have only four guest rooms, we live in the house
full-time, and all of the things in the house, including the collection of antique pressing irons, are our personal
belongings. There is no "corporate management," just us.
Since this is our house, we take great pride in the services we have to offer. We provide a beautiful room filled with
antiques, nice towels, authentic art, and Kate cooks a lovely breakfast in the morning. As you would expect of guests in
your own home, we hope you will treat these things nicely: use coasters when putting a glass down on a table, hang up wet
towels when you are done with them, and if your suitcase is dirty from travel, please don't put it on the hand-made quilts
or antique furniture. Rock stars stay in motels rooms in order to trash them. A wide variety of interesting, intelligent,
and well-traveled people stay in b&bs so they can appreciate them.
One of the more common questions we are asked is, "What's included in the price at a bed and breakfast?" The answer is:
a bed and a breakfast! Breakfast is included in the cost of all rooms and can be tailored to suit any dietary requirements.
Breakfast is served when you would like it to be served, within reason. If you have to be somewhere at 8:00, it is no
problem to have breakfast at 7:15. Just let us know. However, please keep in mind that it is extremely inconsiderate if
you ask for a particularly early breakfast and then come downstairs 2 hours after the time you requested.
Another common concern is sharing a bathroom. We have two guest rooms that have private bathrooms, but the other two rooms
share a large hall bath. In most of the rest of the world, this is the norm rather than the exception. Some European
hostelries or guest houses will have 7 or 8 rooms sharing a single bath. We have just two rooms where sharing is required
and there is also a half-bath downstairs off of the dining room. For four bedrooms, we have four toilets so there is never
a shortage. The rooms that share a bath cost less, and are an excellent bargain. For those folks who require a private
bath, those rooms are also very nice, but they do cost a bit more.
Because this is our house and we live here full-time, we are available to help with advice on where to eat and to suggest
things to do in the area and to give directions. Please be considerate, however, and realize that though we are here to
help, we are not here to baby-sit, dog-sit or provide free chauffeuring (although we can try to help find these services,
should they be needed). If you sell Amway or Avon or anything, please realize it is inappropriate to go into your sales
pitch to the other guests or hosts. It goes without saying that this applies to religious beliefs, as well.
The downstairs living room and dining room are common areas for all to enjoy, so as cute as your flannel jammies are,
please get dressed before you come down for breakfast. Also, even though it is tempting, please do not come into the
kitchen. Not only is this against state health regulations, it is also your host's professional work space. Besides, the
deal is that we cook, serve and CLEAN UP your breakfast. We know that you have to clear your own table at home, but think
of this as your home, only better, because you don't have to do the dishes.
If you are going to be out very late, let your hosts know so they don't have to wait up for you. Just as you would with
guests in your own home, your hosts will be waiting and worrying about you if you don't show up when you planned to return.
It is not a good idea for your first night in a new place to inform the host you will be showing up around midnight or so.
If your first night at a new b&b will have you showing up very late, stop in earlier in the day to get checked in and settled.
That way, when you return after your meeting/dinner/wedding, etc., you are all taken care of. We have spent more than one
night on the sofa, waiting for guests to show who then never do. Please, pretty please, with a cherry on top, if your plans
change, call us and let us know.
If you need to use the house phone to make a call or two, this is no problem. Local service is free and available, and
long-distance calls can be made through use of a calling card, but, please keep in mind that you are using the house phone
and other guests and your hosts may need to use it, too. If you require more extensive telephone usage, it is advisable to
bring a cell phone.
Do feel free to wander around and look at things in the common areas. Books and magazines are available everywhere, and if
anything piques your interest, then by all means pick it up. If you start a book and want to finish it, you can take it with
you and mail it back when you are done. If there are people in the living room chatting, feel free to join in. You never
know who you're going to meet - this is the best part of staying in a b&b.
Being a guest at a b&b is really just a matter of following the golden rule. Treat others and the b&b as you like to be
treated. Your hosts are here to give you a genuine feel for the area and are only too happy to help with your travel plans
or other trip needs, just ask!
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Inn
Cancellation Policy
Because most of our guests are travelling business people, and plans do change
at the last minute because of a cancelled meeting or bad storm, we have a very
friendly cancellation policy. We ask only that you call us as soon as your
plans have changed, to let us know.
We require a credit card number to hold a room reservation because it is a way
of confirming that you will actually come when you say you will. We have had a
number of times when people call to make a reservation and then never show up
and we have no idea what happened to them. Having a credit card number on hand
ensures that you, the anticipated guest, are assured that your room will be
waiting for you.
The exception to this laid-back approach is on those days of the year (usually
holiday weekends) when we know we will be full. Taking a reservation for an
extremely busy time of the year will mean turning away many, many other
people. We have also had several very bad experiences with one person calling
to reserve the whole house for a time, say the 4th of July weekend, only to
cancel at the last minute because the others have decided they’d rather stay
somewhere else. Hence, we are only stiff-necked for the following reason: if
we know it will be a high-demand time, then we usually will either require a
deposit or payment in full ahead of time, with no cancellation. It simply
isn’t fair either to us or the dozens of other people we will have turned
away. We also no longer allow one person to rent the entire Inn unless that
person agrees to be personally responsible for the entire cost. Surely you can
understand.
Rest assured, however, that 99% of the time, all we ask is that you call us and
let us know your plans have changed. We’re travellers ourselves. We
understand!
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Inn
What’s New at the Old Iron Inn
For our guests’ comfort, there is now a new games parlor located upstairs,
where the guest rooms are. In it is a vcr and a variety of movies, board
games, cards, a mini fridge where you can keep your perishables, and a tea tray
set up with electric kettle and tea things. This small parlor is intended for
the enjoyment of all and is a nice place to sit with the day’s newspaper or to
watch a movie. Feel free to break out the Scrabble board or to pick up a good
book and relax.
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Inn
The Old Iron Inn Bed and Breakfast
Website was designed and is maintained by:
Keith R. Caudle, Brother-in-Law.
All information contained herein copyright© 1995 - 2008 Old Iron Inn, All rights reserved.