Sam H.
Yelp
Don't believe any hogwash that this Inn is ranked #2 in VA Beach, VA. Barclay Bed & Breakfast Cottage IS the #1 B&B in VA Beach.
Steve and Marie Louise (the kindest, sweetest, and ever so accommodating host/hostess) of this quaint and cozy B&B will prove that their service is unequivocal.
Here's the standard Bed & Breakfast to expect:
Two twins, a queen, or a king-sized bed for 1-2 people with your private bathroom OR shared with one other room. Every morning during breakfast you'll have your room tidied up, your bathroom cleaned and squared away, all "on the house" snacks (water, sodas, daily fresh-baked cookies, coffee, tea, chocolate, and etc as there's WAY too much to list), and beach equipment (to include but not limited to: blankets, beach cart, bike & helmet, beach umbrella, beach chairs, boogie boards, sun-block, after-sun aloe vera and moisturizer, bug repellent, and AGAIN WAY too much to list) restocked, repaired, and ready to go by the time you've eaten the last morsel of a scrumptious made-from-scratch breakfast. My fiancee and I stayed four days and enjoyed four different types of breakfast pastries to fill our tummies before a long day at the beach.
The Inn:
Went for 4th of July, 2013 and fiancee's birthday. We're city folk but originally fell head over heels for each other while serving Active Duty US Army at Ft Bragg, NC. You better believe we're Airborne and hold everything to a higher standard. Southern charm is a characteristic one never forgets and is unable to fake. This slice of heaven is the "real deal" when it comes to genuine hospitality. The mentioned stewards of the Inn will bend-over backwards when it comes to "making it happen" whatever the mission.
I was at their mercy of pulling off a successful rest and relaxation getaway, a memorable 4th of July, and a romantic birthday. Needless to say I needed to exceed the high expectations of my significant other and Steve & Marie Louise had to deal with a very neurotic me.
R&R:
Refer to the paragraph of what to expect at this B&B. All we had to do was show up with bathing suits and that's all I would've needed to have this box checked off as a success.
4th of July, 2013:
This Inn has a top floor wrap-around porch with several rocking chairs (even a row of rocking chairs in a 360 degree fully screened first floor porch) and a hammock. When the sun went down and the darkness of the night slowly blanketed the beach I was enjoying a custom Barclay B&B cigar, a chilled Yuengling, and a rocking chair as we watched the first and the dramatic finale to the fireworks show. We weren't further than 10ft from the door to our room as the spectacle unfolded on the second story of the Inn. We enjoyed the pre and post firework entertainment of watching swarms of cars, people, and traffic scrambling to get a parking spot, get to the beach, and get back from the beach.. all the while tow trucks and law enforcement were hooking up and leaving with illegally parked cars and having big sum penalty parking tickets being written. My car was safe from that debacle in the driveway and anxiety nowhere to be found as I rocked back and forth watching the evening's entertainment. Success? Very much so.
Romantic Birthday:
I placed a special order to Marie Louise for banana pancakes in the morning (the very first edible meal I ever made for my fiancee) for breakfast and left it to Steve to have a birthday cake by evening as a surprise to end what turned out to be a day full of laughter and romance. After returning to the cottage from dinner the birthday cake was already set up with silverware, plates, a knife and necessary utensils. The only thing that needed to be done was light the candle already in place. YOU CAN'T FIND SERVICE LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ANYMORE! Success? Check and double check.
BOTTOM LINE: the kind-hearted souls that run Barclay's will go the extra mile(s) to ensure that your stay at their B&B will the most memorable and accommodating. They will earn your business; they've certainly earned mine and without doubt have in their clientele list two additional lifelong guests. The least I can do is return their service with the best compliment any patron can give: referral, reference, and recommendation to anyone with eyes and ears for their business.
Last Words:
Steve and Marie Louise run this home away from home in an old-fashioned and honest demeanor that seems to be lost amongst local competitors. My personal conviction is that the honor of being #1 is reserved for those that deserve the title of "best in business" solely through the merits of service-rendered. If that isn't the only method of receiving the honor than it becomes a disservice to those that play the hospitality game by the rules.