However, things turned out a bit differently. Where do I find the time with a family, a job as a teacher, and running my B&B? After all, taking care of the B&B is the most important thing, and it involves a lot of tasks:

• • Maintenance

• • Cleaning

• • Bringing laundry to and from the laundromat

• • Occasionally posting on Instagram

• • Administration

• • And most importantly, maintaining contact with guests

Staying in touch with guests always makes me happy, and the first thing I do after they leave is read their experiences. Thankfully, everyone is always very satisfied, and that’s what you do it for, isn’t it? Hospitality is truly my top priority. That’s also the theme of this blog: Hospitality: How do you do it?

Hospitality is a relative concept and means something different for everyone. The most important thing is to make guests feel welcome, at home, and like the accommodation was prepared with care just for them. I always pay extra attention to small details: a personal note to welcome them, towels folded into swans, a bottle of wine on the table, and a chocolate truffle.

I’ve also created a booklet with instructions about the B&B and an information folder about activities in the area and the city of Rotterdam. Coffee and tea are always restocked, and if guests miss something, I’ll buy it for them. For instance, once I placed a bottle of wine but realized I didn’t have a corkscrew—now I do, of course. I also purchased a hairdryer upon request.

You want to ensure your guests have a great time, and that’s different for everyone. Some guests enjoy a chat, while others prefer privacy. It’s a bit of a balancing act each time, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable.

Last summer, we went to Indonesia as a family and got to experience what it’s like to be guests ourselves. My expectations were high because hospitality is so important to me, and I expect the same from other accommodations.

We visited beautiful places and stayed in a variety of accommodations, ranging from luxurious to very basic. But luxury doesn’t necessarily equate to hospitality. If you book something fancy, the expectations are naturally higher.

Yet there was one accommodation that stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
Thomas Leaf Monkey, owned by Brian in Sumatra, was truly amazing. The accommodation was quite basic and not at all luxurious. No air conditioning, just a fan, no private shower or toilet, but shared facilities outside. Yet it was an incredible place because the hospitality was so overwhelming.

From the Netherlands, I had already been in contact with Brian, and he arranged everything for me:

• • He picked us up from our previous accommodation, a three-hour drive from his place.

• • He organized a well-prepared two-day jungle tour.

• • He provided a complete meal after our jungle trek.

The jungle tour was absolutely fantastic. We had two friendly, helpful guides who knew everything about the jungle. We saw 12 orangutans, lots of other monkeys, and beautiful birds. Along the way, they prepared food for us—not just any food, but beautifully presented fruit on large leaves, carved into stunning shapes.

For dinner, we had a full Indonesian rice table that tasted amazing—probably the best meal we had during our entire trip, and all in the middle of the jungle. (The cooks had to wade through a river for hours to bring the food from the village to our jungle camp, where they cooked primitively for about 20 people.)

When we returned, Brian treated us to a wonderful meal because it was his birthday. We enjoyed delicious fish, laughed, sang, and played guitar. It turned into an unforgettable evening with live music, Brian’s lovely family, and two other families staying there.

I would recommend this place to everyone: https://www.sumatrathomasleafmonkey.com/

Thank you, Brian, for the amazing time we had with you. Our expectations for the jungle were high, but you exceeded them. We’re so grateful to have met you, and I hope to return one day.

I’m curious to know what hospitality means to you. I’d love it if you’d share your thoughts with me!

Warm regards,

Hostess: Lonneke Sleeswijk Visser-Kloet

B&B Berglust
Berglustlaan 38A
Rotterdam
The Netherlands