Policies/FAQs
Policies
4:00pm – 7:00pm (advance reservations only)
As we are a husband and wife operated Bed & Breakfast Inn, we do not staff a reception desk 24 hrs. a day. If you have special needs, please discuss them with us in advance. With advance notice, we can accept arrivals after 7:00pm but absolutely no later than 9:00pm. Please be advised that arrivals between 7:00-8:00pm will incur a $15 surcharge and arrivals between 8:00-9:00pm will incur a $30 surcharge. Arrivals after 9:00pm will be considered “no shows” as referenced in our cancellation policy below. We also are unable to accommodate early “check-ins” prior to 4:00pm.
CHECK-OUT TIME
Not later than 11:00am
SMOKING & FLAMMABLES
We do not allow smoking, candles, oil lamps, incense or any other flammable items in the house or on any of the porches or balconies. Outdoor cooking or grilling is likewise prohibited.
CHILDREN
10 years & older, well behaved & well supervised
PETS
Pets are not allowed due to allergies & cleaning standards
FACILITY USE
For the exclusive use of our registered guests, only. Due to security and liability issues, non-registered guests are not permitted on the premises.
A NOTE ABOUT LUGGAGE
As most of our rooms are on the second floor and there is no elevator, you will need to carry your luggage up the stairs (there are 22). Those wheeled bags that are great for airports are not very useful on stairs because of their weight. Please remember that if you can’t carry it, we won’t be able to either.
PAYMENT
We accept VISA, MasterCard and Discover.
CANCELLATION POLICY
100% of the total reservation amount will be payable and charged to your credit card 7 days prior to your arrival date at which point it is nonrefundable, noncancellable, and unchangeable. Cancellations with 7 or fewer days notice and “no shows” will be held responsible for the total reservation amount. “No shows” are defined as not arriving to claim the room reserved, or arriving after the designated and agreed upon check-in time.
SPECIAL EVENT / HOLIDAY / GROUP RESERVATION CANCELLATION POLICY
For special event dates, holidays, or for group reservations, a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total reservation amount will be charged to your credit card 30 days prior to arrival. The remaining 50% of the total reservation amount will be charged to your credit card 2 weeks prior to arrival. Cancellations of reservations for special event dates, holidays, or group reservations with less than 30 days’ notice, but more than 2 weeks’ notice, will forfeit the room deposit of 50% of the total reservation amount. Reservations cancelled with less than 2 weeks’ notice will be held responsible for payment of the entire reservation amount. A group reservation is any group reserving 3 or more rooms together or individually for the same reason. Special events include guests of weddings and reunions. Holidays include but are not limited to: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day weekend, Easter weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, Columbus Day weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
CHANGES TO RESERVATIONS
Any requests for changes to a reservation (either for a different date or room) received after the date of initial payment due, is at the sole discretion of the innkeeper, and if granted, will incur a $25 per room charge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a B&B or Bed and Breakfast?
The term Bed & Breakfast (or B&B) is used to apply to many different property types, often incorrectly, and sometimes is used by hotels to simply indicate that breakfast is included in the rate. Various municipalities and counties define the term and other related terms differently, so it becomes very confusing. So, what exactly is a B&B?
Traditional Bed & Breakfast – In our case, we consider ourselves a Traditional Bed & Breakfast, meaning that we own and operate the business, live on-site, and provide full breakfast as part of our room rates. Typically Traditional B&Bs are operated in historic houses or buildings and offer from 4 – 12 rooms for overnight guests. No too big, not too small. In our case we do all of the work associated with the B&B and are directly involved in delivering service. Other Traditional B&Bs may employ staff to do some or all of the work. As a Traditional B&B we only provide breakfast (no other meals) and only to overnight guests. It is our full-time endeavor and neither of us have jobs outside the B&B, although other owners may do so. Our business is also licensed/permitted (both by the City and the State), inspected (Health Dept., Fire Dept., Insurance Co.), and properly insured as a business. Our property is only available to overnight guests by advanced reservations and is not open to the general public.
AirBnB – This concept originated around 2008 when the founders offered conference attendees in San Francisco air mattress accommodations in their apartment for compensation as hotel rooms were at a premium and they were reportedly short on paying their rent. This has morphed into a public company that is essentially an online marketplace or broker offering short and long-term rentals as a hotel alternative. Very often these properties are not owner occupied, although some Traditional B&Bs use the platform for advertising exposure. There are a wide variety of offerings listed here from a room in someone’s home (for extra income) to full-blown vacation houses owned by commercial real estate companies in desirable tourist destinations rented by the week or month. Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO) would partially fit into this later category and is another online marketplace provider. Licensing and inspections of these properties are infrequent or non-existent and it is only recently that some municipalities have begun to better regulate them due to the problems that arise with a non-owner occupied property. “Caveat emptor”
Boutique Hotel – These are usually situated in urban commercial areas and offer 20 or more rooms in a unique setting or building that is either historic, or a modern rehab of an older commercial building . They sometimes have an on-site bar or restaurant and may offer a unique amenity such as a roof-top patio or swimming pool and are open to the general public in addition to overnight guests. Basically, this is a small unique hotel.
Country Inn – This is a term that is not used much anymore, but refers to a property in a rural or country setting providing 15 – 30 rooms and offering an on-site restaurant (usually open to the general public) serving at least breakfast and dinner.
How are B&B's different from Hotels and Motels?
| Feature | Advantage | Benefit |
| Most B&B’s are operated within residential homes that are usually of a unique or historic nature. | Historic/unique atmosphere Residential neighborhood |
One of-a-kind experience Quiet & relaxing |
| Most B&B’s are operated by Owner/Innkeepers | Owner vs. employee perspective | Personal concierge service |
| Have between 4 – 20 guest rooms | Small number of rooms | Exclusive & private |
| Operate by advance reservations only | Not open to the general public | Safe, secure, & private |
| Provide limited check-in hours | No late night arrivals | A good night’s sleep |
| Individually decorated & furnished rooms | Unique, non-institutional atmosphere | Comfortable & relaxing |
| Provide a full hot breakfast, snacks, & refreshments included in the rate | No additional add-on charges | Convenient, great value |
| Provide free WIFI | No additional add-on charge | Better value |
| Provide free on-site parking | No additional add-on charge | Convenient + better value |
Will I have to share a bathroom?
Each of the 7 guest rooms at the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast feature a private in-room bath with shower, tub or both.
How will my room be furnished?
Room size – Victorian houses tend to have lots of small rooms. Antebellum houses tend to have huge rooms with high ceilings. Most rooms in the Americus Garden Inn are incredibly spacious with 12-foot ceilings.
Room decor – Victorian houses tend to be more formal, frilly, ornate, and very often have lots of delicate items on display. Antebellum houses tend to be more casual and functional. The Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast is decorated in a comfortable, non-cluttered fashion to allow you the space to unwind and relax.
Bath amenities/hairdryer – Most B&B’s provide bathing basics such as soap and shampoo. The Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast supplies signature bath amenities by GREENWICH BAY TRADING COMPANY, made right here in the United States. You will have bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and moisturizer. All guest rooms are equipped with hairdryers.
Will there be a television?
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, each guest room has a vintage television and a VCR. For your entertainment, you can borrow a video from our library. Please note, however, that there are no televisions in the common areas.
Is wireless internet available?
What can I expect to be served for breakfast?
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we consider breakfast the most important meal of the day—and we believe it should be both balanced and delicious. Every morning, we delight in serving a 3-course sit-down breakfast for our guests to enjoy. Freshly ground Americus Garden Inn Signature Blend Coffee is ready by 7:00 AM, and breakfast is served in the dining room from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
The menu is thoughtfully planned in advance to cater specifically to the guests being served that day. Breakfast begins with a freshly baked treat, such as muffins or scones. This is followed by a refreshing fruit course. Be sure to save room for the third course, the hot entrée, paired with the “pancakes of the day” – one of the many varieties made from scratch by Susan. We take great pride in ensuring that no one leaves the table hungry.
If you have any special dietary needs, such as allergies, gluten-free, or vegan, please contact us in advance to discuss your requirements to ensure we will be able to accommodate you.
In accordance with business license regulations, breakfast is only available to overnight, registered guests.
Will I have to interact with other guests?
Whether or not you interact with other guests at a bed and breakfast can vary depending on the property. Some guests enjoy meeting others, while others prefer a more private, quiet experience. If socializing is important to you, inquire about access to common areas and whether there are designated times when these spaces are available. Some B&Bs serve meals at set times, with options for seating preferences or assigned dining times. Some even offer family-style meals, where all guests dine together, while others provide different dining choices.
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we strive to accommodate your personal preferences. We offer a variety of table sizes and serve breakfast between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM, allowing for flexibility. Our breakfast/dining room is available to you 24/7, stocked with soft drinks, hot water for tea, cocoa, or cider, coffee, fruit, and snacks. We also have several common areas where you can relax outside of your room, giving you the perfect space for a peaceful retreat or socializing, depending on your mood.
What are common areas?
Common areas are spaces in a bed and breakfast that are open for guests to enjoy. These areas may be shared with the owners’ family or may be completely separate for guest use. The outside spaces might be divided into areas for guests and private areas for the owners. If a B&B hosts weddings or other events, access to common areas may be limited during those times.
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, you’ll find plenty of space to relax and enjoy your stay. Our beautiful living room features a baby grand Yamaha Disklavier piano. The breakfast and dining room is available 24/7, offering coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks, fruit, and snacks. The owner’s area is completely separate from the guest areas, so you have full access to the common spaces. Outdoors, we offer plenty of seating on the porch, around the veranda, and in our gazebo with a suspended swing and bench seating all around. Throughout the garden, you’ll find benches where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
What time can I check-in?
The Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast offers a check-in time between 4:00pm – 7:00pm. As we are a husband and wife team, with no employees, the time between check-out at 11:00am to 4:00pm check-in is extremely busy as we perform all necessary tasks to ensure your stay will be perfect. Therefore, we are unable to perform check-ins earlier than 4:00pm. For check-ins after 7:00pm but before 8:00pm, there is a $15 additional charge. For check-ins between 8:00pm – 9:00pm, there is a $30 charge. We cannot perform check-ins after 9:00pm.
What about pets?
Some bed and breakfast properties allow pets with certain restrictions, and typically charge a pet fee. Others may have resident pets and do not allow outside animals. If you’re specifically looking for a pet-friendly property, it’s always best to inquire ahead of time. If you have allergies, make sure to ask whether there are pets on the property, as some places may not inform guests about resident animals. For those with severe allergies, this could be an important consideration.
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we do not allow pets of any kind.
Will smoking be allowed?
Due to fire code restrictions, most historic properties do not permit smoking anywhere on the grounds. If you smoke, be sure to inquire about designated smoking areas. For non-smokers or those with allergies to cigarette smoke, it’s a good idea to ask about the property’s smoking policy to ensure your comfort during your stay.
At the Americus Garden Inn, there is NO SMOKING within the inn or on any structure connected to the house. Our home is an 1847 wooden structure with no sprinklers. We also do not allow candles, incense or any other open flame device. The veranda and the upstairs balconies are designated NON-SMOKING areas for fire safety reasons. We allow smoking in the gazebo.
Are children welcome?
Policies regarding children can vary greatly from one bed and breakfast to another. If the inn is the primary residence of a family with children, there will likely be children present. Many B&Bs feature antiques and collectibles, which may not be suitable for infants and small children. Noise is another factor to consider, as many couples choose B&Bs for a romantic retreat and may be seeking a peaceful, child-free environment. It’s important to understand the guest mix at a property to ensure it aligns with your preferences.
At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we welcome a variety of guests. While many of our visitors come for romance or to enjoy the area’s history, we also host business travelers and some families. The majority of our guests are adults seeking privacy and tranquility. We welcome children aged 10 and older who are well-behaved and well-supervised. However, our home is not child-proof and is not safe for younger children.
Can I rent the whole house?
Whole house rentals for events like weddings and reunions are common at many B&Bs. If you’re interested in this type of arrangement, it’s best to speak directly with the owners or innkeepers. Keep in mind that renting the entire property typically costs more than just booking individual rooms, as it includes access to all areas of the house.
While we would be delighted to accommodate your group with rooms and breakfast, the entire Americus Garden Inn cannot be rented for events, as our insurance only covers overnight, registered guests. However, just across the park from our inn is the Rees Park School building, which offers meeting and banquet facilities for events. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss your specific needs.
ADA Website Compliance
504 Rees Park
Americus, GA 31709
(229) 931-0122
Owners: Susan and Kim Egelseer
We work very hard to provide an easy-to-use online experience for all guests. We believe all of our website visitors should be able to easily research online at https://americusgardeninn.com regardless of device type and whether an individual requires assistive technology. If you have any questions or would like to report any issues related to the accessibility features of our property’s website, please contact us at [email protected]
Bed and Breakfast Website Accessibility Features
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Bed and Breakfast Accessibility Features
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- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, which explains the reasons behind each guideline.
- Section 508, Information and news about the accessibility standards introduced by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
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