(229) 931-0122 [email protected] 504 Rees Park – Americus, GA 31709

Policies/FAQs

Policies

CHECK-IN TIME
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)

This page is a compilation of questions and answers that may be helpful to you in choosing a B&B that will meet your expectations. First-timers, this is to help you understand the differences between properties, and to acquaint you with the B&B concept. Bed and breakfast properties are not little hotels. Each property offers a unique experience in ambiance, cuisine, hospitality and comfort. We know that there are many more questions to be answered. Feel free to e-mail or call us with any additional questions you might have.

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?

Not if you stay with us at the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast. When researching a bed and breakfast to visit, always inquire about private baths. You should be aware that “private bath” does not always mean “in-room”. At some properties, your bathroom may be across or down the hall.
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?

Depending on the style of the dwelling, your guest room can vary tremendously. Most professionally operated B&B properties now offer photos of some, if not all, of their rooms on the internet. A written description of room contents should accompany the photos to assist you in choosing the right room. Individual tastes vary and what appeals to one person might be unsightly to another. Some things to consider in choosing your room might include the following:

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?

Many bed and breakfast properties do not have televisions in guest rooms. Sometimes, you will find that a television is only available in a common area. If having access to these things is important to you, make certain to specifically ask.

Each guest room in the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast contains a television and a VCR. For your viewing enjoyment, you may borrow a video from our library. There are no televisions in the common areas.

Is wireless internet available?

FREE high speed wifi is available in all guest rooms and in common areas.

What can I expect to be served for breakfast?

No two bed and breakfasts are alike when it comes to breakfast. Many B&B’s serve continental breakfast. Some serve a buffet. Others serve a full sit-down breakfast. If breakfast is important to you, ask what a typical menu might be. Also, if you have special dietary restrictions you must let the property know in advance so they will have time to prepare for your visit.

At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We also believe that healthy meals should be balanced and delicious. Every morning, it is our pleasure to prepare and serve a 3-course sit down breakfast for our guests to savor. Freshly ground Americus Garden Inn Signature Blend Coffee is ready by 7:00AM every morning. Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8:00am – 9:30am. We offer SIX kinds of juice (not just orange) and freshly baked bread, biscuits, scones or muffins. This is followed by a fruit course. A hot entree, usually an egg and cheese dish, is accompanied by one of over 50 varieties of pancakes. We make our pancakes from scratch (no mixes), and we cook them to order so they will be hot off the griddle, just for you. Every effort is made to keep our meals healthful with fresh fruits, whole grains and low fat dairy products. If you have special dietary needs, such as gluten free or vegan, please call us to discuss your personal situation in advance of your stay so that we may prepare to provide you with the best possible experience.

Will I have to interact with other guests?

Depending on the configuration of the property, you may or may not have interaction with other guests. Some people love visiting B&B’ s for the opportunity to meet other people. Others come to a B&B for quiet, relaxation, and/or romance. Inquire about accessibility to common areas. Are there specific times when these rooms will be available for you to enjoy? At some inns, you will find that meals are served at specific times and you will be asked which seating you prefer (or you will be assigned a dining time). Some properties serve breakfast family style with all guests seated together, while others have dining options.

At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, we make every effort to tailor your visit to your individual preference. We have a variety of table sizes, and offer breakfast from 8:00am – 9:30am as opposed to a set time, to allow more flexibility to our guests. Our breakfast/dining room is available to you, as our guest, 24 hours a day. There are soft drinks, hot water for teas, cocoa or hot cider, coffee, fruit and snacks. If you are lucky, there might be leftover muffins from breakfast. We have several common areas to choose from when you are looking for a attraction to relax outside of your room.

What are common areas?

Most bed and breakfast properties offer “common areas” or attractions around the property that guests may access freely. Depending on the type of B&B, this space may be shared with the family of the owners or may be a totally separate space for guests. Some properties offer televisions and telephone access in common areas and not in individual rooms. The outside areas may be separated into guest space and a private owner’s area. If a B&B hosts weddings and other functions, your access to common areas may be severely limited if your visit coincides with an event.

At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast you have lots of space to enjoy. There is a beautiful living room with a baby grand Yamaha Disklavier piano. The breakfast/dining room is available 24 hours a day with coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks, fruit and snacks. The owner’s area is totally separate from the guest area so the common areas are for your pleasure. Off of the hall on the upper level, there is a balcony with a table and seating for four which is available to all guests. Outdoors, there is ample seating on the porch, around the veranda and a beautiful gazebo with a suspended swing in the middle and bench seating all the way around! Around the garden, there are benches to relax and “smell the roses”. We truly want our guests to feel welcome in our beautiful home. Therefore, we have made the decision not to host weddings or other functions which would limit other guests the opportunity to enjoy the house and the property.

What time can I check-in?

Most B&B properties offer a check-in time range some time in the afternoon. Unlike hotels, most properties have limited or no staff and the time between check-outs and check-ins is when cleaning and preparing the inn for your arrival takes place. This may be the only opportunity for the innkeepers to run errands or pick up supplies. Check with the property if you would like an earlier or later check-in. If you assume that it will be acceptable without asking, you may end up very disappointed.

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 some restrictions, and usually charge a pet fee. Others, have resident pets and do not allow outside animals. If you are looking for a pet-friendly property, make sure to ask in advance. Also, if you are allergic to animals, be certain to ask if there are pets in residence. We have found that many properties do not necessarily inform guests that there are animals in the inn. For people with severe allergies, this can be a serious problem.

We do not allow pets of any kind in the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast. However, we do have some “porch” cats that are available for lap sitting on the porch.

Will smoking be allowed?

Each bed and breakfast property handles smoking differently. If the owners/innkeepers are smokers, you will probably be allowed to smoke inside the inn. Some B&B’ s do not allow smoking anywhere on the grounds of the property. If you are a smoker, ask if there are restrictions which may affect your stay. If you are an avid non-smoker or have allergies to cigarette smoke, ask about the smoking policy to ensure your comfort during your visit.

The Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast recognizes the rights of both non-smokers and smokers. 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?

The policy on children varies greatly from inn to inn. If the bed and breakfast is the primary residence of a family with children, there will most certainly be children present. Many properties have antiques and collectibles decorating the inn. Infants and small children would be discouraged from these properties for obvious reasons. Another factor involving children is noise. Many couples travel to B&B’s to celebrate their romance. They may have left their own children home and look forward to an escape from the shrill voices of children. What a disappointment it would be to have an infant screaming in the next room. There are also families who enjoy traveling to B&B’s as a “home away from home”. Find out who the “regular” guests are to determine if the property will be comfortable for you.

At the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast we have a variety of guests. Many come for romance. Many come for the history in the area. We have business guests and we have some families. The majority of our guests are adults seeking privacy and quiet. Children 10 years & older, well behaved & well supervised, are welcome. Our home is not child-proof and not safe for younger children.

Can I rent the whole house?

Whole house rentals for weddings and reunions are a common occurrence in B&B’s. If you are interested in this type of arrangement, speak directly with the owners or innkeepers. Be aware you will probably pay more than just the room rental fees as you will be using more than just the bedrooms.

We would love to host your group and offer rooms with breakfast. However, the entire property cannot be rented for any event. Directly across the park from the Americus Garden Inn is the Rees Park School building which has meeting and banquet space available. Please call us to discuss your specific needs.

ADA Website Compliance

Our goal is to provide a wonderful experience in the desirable location of Americus, GA. We have built our site with ADA compliance in mind and have utilized available tools such as achecker.ca and Google Chrome’s ADA compatibility diagnostic tools. Please be aware that our efforts are ongoing. If you have difficulty navigating our website or booking a room at our inn, we ask you to contact us via telephone or email and we will be happy to assist you.

504 Rees Park
Americus, GA 31709
(229) 931-0122
Owners: Susan and Kim Egelseer

[email protected]

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

This inn’s website for Americus Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast is designed to be fully accessible to all and is designed according to W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and conforms to most priority checkpoints which entail some of the following elements:

Navigation Shortcuts

Our inn’s website can be navigated by using the tab key to traverse the elements of each page and by using the enter key to activate a highlighted link.

Structured, Semantic Markup

HTML heading tags are used to convey the document structure. Navigation menus are tagged as HTML maps so that the menu title can be read out, and the menu items are presented as a group.

Images Visibility

All content images include descriptive ALT attributes and all purely decorative graphics include null ALT attributes.

Standards Compliance

The site is designed to conform to Level AA compliance as specified by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. All pages validate as XHTML 1.0 and use structured semantic markup.

Bed and Breakfast Accessibility Features

Built in 1847, Americus Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast is one of the oldest site built structures in Sumter County, Georgia.  The house was built as a private home for the Daniel Family and continues to be a private residence today.  The entire Americus Historic District surrounding the Americus Garden Inn has been listed on the National Register of Historic Attractions since 1976 (#76000648) under the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.)   Most of our guest rooms are accessible by stairs only.  At this time, our lower level rooms are not wheelchair accessible.  We hope that this description will help you in deciding if our bed and breakfast is the right fit for you.  If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us at 229-931-0122 or email at [email protected].

Accessibility References

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“Our stay was wonderful. The accommodations were great and breakfast was amazing.”

Sonya and Andrew

“Susan and Kim are the best hosts! This was my fourth stay at their inn and it was like visiting dear friends. They make each stay so enjoyable. The house is lovely and very comfortable. The food is superb. Stress-relieving to the nth degree!”

Suzy

“Talk about attention to detail, this B&B takes care of all your needs! When you check out you feel like you’re leaving family and want to come back again soon.”

The Prices