At the Inn at Woodhaven, we love welcoming guests who are new to the bed and breakfast experience. If you’ve never stayed in a bed and breakfast before, it can be a very different experience (in a great way) from your usual hotel or Airbnb vacation. You may have a lot of questions about what differences you’ll encounter while staying at a bed and breakfast. Here are the top questions that we get asked from first-time visitors! (And a bourbon recipe at the end because that’s what Louisville hospitality is all about).
Can we come and go when we please? Do we have to check in by a certain time?
Bed and breakfasts can feel a bit different when it comes to checking in and checking out for a few reasons. For one, you’re often staying in a property that was built as a home… which can have your brain thinking you have to live under someone else’s house rules. But unlike when you stay at a family member or friend’s home, innkeepers at a bed and breakfast will not be checking in on your daily coming and going. We’ll provide you with your own room key, as well as a house key. In that way, it’s similar to a hotel or home rental situation in that you have the freedom to plan your day as you please.
Unlike a hotel’s 24-hour check-in desk, though, we innkeepers need our sleep to prepare you a hearty breakfast in the morning. When it comes to checking in, each bed and breakfast has its own hours, which are usually between 3:00-6:00 pm. After that time, you can utilize our self-check-in option and we’ll look forward to meeting your smiling face in the morning.
Is breakfast included?
We wouldn’t be living up to our name as a bed and breakfast if it weren’t! Even still, we understand why people ask the question. Breakfast means a lot of different things to a lot of different hospitality sites. We’ve all stayed at the hotel with the “breakfast buffet” which ends up being a basket of bruised fruit and some granola bars. At the Inn at Woodhaven, we pride ourselves on serving up a hearty meal to get your Louisville vacation or staycation started on the right path.
Some bed and breakfasts have a set menu for the week, with a different breakfast they make each day. At the Inn at Woodhaven, we always like to offer our guests options (because, let’s face it, not everyone likes the same thing). We always offer freshly brewed coffee and a selection of teas and juice. Additionally, we have a full breakfast menu, from omelets made with cage-free eggs to our guest-favorite Caramel French Toast Casserole. Once you see the full list, you’ll definitely want to book your trip for more than just a night or two!
One thing that many people don’t realize about a bed and breakfast, though, is that it may offer options for you to order additional meals as well. For example, at the Inn at Woodhaven, we can pack you a picnic lunch to enjoy while you’re exploring Louisville. You can also order wine and cheese, schedule a bourbon tasting, or enjoy afternoon tea with us. This is where the charm of staying with a bed and breakfast really shines.
Do we need to bring our own toiletries?
That’s a great question given that toiletries aren’t always a given at some places. (We realized that after staying at a home rental that only provided one bar of soap and a single garbage bag for the week). Luckily, at most bed and breakfasts, you’ll find that hospitality is top of mind.
In each bathroom of the Inn at Woodhaven, you’ll find shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. We also offer makeup remover pads, makeup towels, lotion, and hairdryers. And because they’re too bulky to pack but you should never be without one, you’ll find bathrobes in each bathroom as well. We bring you the comforts of home, with the service of a 5-star hotel.
Can we drink alcohol on the property?
You bet your bourbon, you can! In fact, we have over 100 bottles of bourbon on our property that are available by the pour, as a flight, or as part of a mixed drink. Additionally, we offer complimentary sherry in each room as well as complimentary cordials in the living room. You can order wine or champagne to your room, and we do carry a few other liquor basics like vodka, rum, and gin. (But remember… this is the Bourbon Trail you’re on!)
And if drinking is your big draw to Louisville, we recommend booking a bourbon trail tour with the BourbonTown Tours so you can try all of your area favorites while staying safe on the road.
We’re Not Your Average B&B
The only real warning we have to give you about staying with the Inn at Woodhaven is that once you stay with us you’ll have set a high bar for bed and breakfast services. Our B&B community is generally wonderful when it comes to personalized hospitality, but at the Inn at Woodhaven we’re always looking for new ways to surprise and delight our guests– whether it’s with homemade cookies and pastries, gourmet breakfast options, high-quality mattresses and pillows, or connections to some great local businesses who can make your Louisville vacation special.
When you stay with us, you become like a part of our extended family. We’ve even had guests become friends with each other during their stay, only to return at a later date for a group reunion of sorts. Bed and Breakfasts are a special type of hospitality that give you comfort, calm, and community all in one. It’s no wonder that once people try a bed and breakfast it becomes their preferred way to stay!
Your room awaits…
Smoked Turkey Breast with Bourbon-Honey Vinaigrette
Recipe courtesy of John Varnese, Winner of the Evan Williams Annual Cooking Contest 2008
Ingredients:
For bourbon-honey vinaigrette:
¼ cup honey
¼ cup Evan Williams bourbon
1 oz rice vinegar
1 lemon, juiced
1 egg yolk
¼ tsp fresh thyme, minced
1 cup canola oil
For salad:
1 lb turkey breast
½ cup corn kernels, deep-fried
¼ cup red grape tomatoes, halved
¼ cup yellow grape tomatoes, halved
½ cucumber, peeled, halved, and sliced
1 head Bibb lettuce
2 heads baby red-leaf lettuce
Directions:
For bourbon-honey vinaigrette:
In a blender, combine honey, bourbon, vinegar, lemon juice, egg yolk, and thyme. Blend and slowly add oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For salad:
Table-top smoke turkey breast and bake until meat reaches 160F. Slice thick.
In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients for salad, and toss with Bourbon Honey Vinaigrette.
