The Bottom Line
This perennially best selling, paperback guide is the encyclopedia of B&Bs in the UK. What it lacks in selectivity it more than makes up for in thorough coverage of the country, packed into more than 700, full color illustrated pages.
Pros
- Comprehensive - More than 4000 listings
- Updated annually
- Based on Automobile Association inspections
Cons
- Descriptions are a bit dry
- Includes guest houses and cheap hotels
- Diamond ratings can be misunderstood
- Weighs almost two pounds - more for the glove compartment than the back pack
Description
- Paperback
- 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
- 736 pages
- 3,000 B&Bs reviewed and rated
Guide Review - The AA Bed and Breakfast Guide 2012
The Autombile Association of Great Britain has been sending its inspectors out to check out bed and breakfast accommodations for years. Their annual AA Bed & Breakfast Guide is a best seller and the kind of books that libraries keep in their reference sections.<p>
Wherever you are in the UK, you are likely to find a selection of variously priced B&Bs detailed in this book. Symbols highlight the best breakfasts and evening meals, the most family friendly, accommodations for under £25, credit cards accepted, prices, availability of parking and directions.<p>
In order to squeeze in so much detail and still make the book practical for travelers, descriptions are brief and can be rather dry. Readers who are expecting to find the best and most charming little B&Bs may be surprised to also find some rather pedestrian guest houses and cheap hotels.<p>
Be careful about the rating system of 1 to 5 Diamonds. Used by both the AA and the British tourist authorities, it reflects facilities and floor space rather than standards of charm or luxury.
Find more practical guidebooks for touring the UK.
