Hotel breakfast likes & dislikes

[Hvr]

 

[SeatBackForward]

When they distinguish between paying for Full Breakfast vs Continental breakfast AND actually have a way to enforce this.

 

[Beer_budget]

I only want/use hotel breakfasts if it's an airport hotel, miles from other options or I'm at a conference where breakfast is just another networking opportunity. Otherwise it's the first meal in a new place, and I want to be experiencing that place!

That said, I like a fresh egg option (a la carte or a well managed egg station), properly fresh fruit and coffee and a good local flavour internationally (weißwurst and brezeln in MUC, laksa and congee in SIN etc).

I dislike overcrowded buffets, cold "hot" options and fruit that all tastes like melon. Unfortunately you often get all of the above at hotels with a captive audience, so when those hotels get it right I am extra pleased with them. The breakfasts at the temporarily-closed Hilton Munich Park and former Pan Pacific KLIA are remembered fondly.

Conference breakfasts where I would have had better options around the corner, not so much. Looking at you, every hotel breakfast I've ever had in ADL.

 

[offshore171]

When it’s served until later than 9.30am (I’m at a hotel currently where the breakfast buffet ends at noon and it’s great!)

Yes, but by the same token, please open before 7 or 730!

If you're up early with jetlag, or for an early flight, or have morning meetings on a work trip, a 6am opening is a godsend.

When your breakfast is free, but the server still asks for a tip.

Hilton JFK notorious for this caper!

Asian hotels they consider bread to be toasted if it is exposed to a match flame at 50 metres for a maximum on 2 seconds.

I've encountered this a lot in Japan, and put it down to the fact that Japan runs really low voltage (100-110V). So they run underpowered toasters. Many times I've seen hotels using these little 900w toaster ovens, roughly the size of a shoebox, and take around 5 mins to lightly toast something.

My most intense dislikes are long life milk

Yes. I get that it's unavoidable in some countries, but I agree, LL milk is unpleasant. I typically take coffee black (short or long) when travelling. For things like Muesli, I have it with yoghurt if there's only LL milk on offer.

A small high quality buffet is always better than a large low quality buffet.

100%. My nomination is Hotel Tandem in Strasbourg. Small buffet of beautiful offerings prepared by talented chefs and pastry chefs.

High prices now being charged (50 EUR is common in Europe) - even room rates which include breakfast are significantly higher than without breakfast

And no one's eating €50 worth of food. At buffets, the saying is "your eyes are bigger than your stomach".

But you're right, these days the asking price is often ridiculous. When there's more than 1 traveller, it's usually better value to get breakfast via room service.

Often the case with a couple, and always if it's a family of 3 or 4. You all end up with more than enough for breakfast, and it's half the price of taking everyone down to the buffet.

s I usually find its better to find a decent cafe for usually better coffee and better food options at half the price.

For sure, particularly in Europe where you can usually find a quality bakery within a 5 min walk. Some countries have extremely good fresh food offerings at convenience stores too (Korea, Japan, Austria, Switzerland...) Korean ones even have dine-in seating!

* Saw one person this week pick up a slice of white bread with their hand and then put it back. She then selected a slice of multigrain, again with bare hands, and also put that back.

You ain't seen nothin'!! In my uni days I worked hospitality part time. It's not that uncommon at hotel buffets for older folk to taste things from bains-marie DIRECTLY off the communal serving ladle, and then stick it back in the bain marie of soup, casserole, pasta or whatever.

Saw it myself more than once.

Some other randoms

Likes

Villa Fontaine Haneda airport has a self serve Mr Whippy machine in their breakfast buffet. Not sure why, but this was awesome as a one off.

Dislikes
I love asian food, for everything except breakfasts. Generally in places like Korea and Japan, I take the western options for breakfast, and eat local food for all other meals. Just not keen on the idea of starting the day with the taste of (for eg) dried fish the mouth, that defies extensive toothbrushing!

Nespresso. Tastes like cardboard. OK if provided in the room as a "least worst" option. But wherever possible, beans should be fresh and ground on demand, whether used for filter or espresso..

Buffets that try to tick every box and every possible food option. Usually ends up with everything done poorly, and less popular items developing a weird shiny "skin" on top.


Great thread. Any chance it can be moved to Open Discussion? Lot of users won't find it buried in here I suspect.

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

Any breakfast buffet with one of those huge frames of honeycomb still gets an Oooh Yum from me.

 

[offshore171]

What do people think of the DIY Belgian waffle machines? From what I've seen, these often end up as a gloopy mess. I guess people are overfilling the mould?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I like a big mug of coffee, but the breakfast either diy or the one they bring to your table, the cup is so small.
Not so bad if its included in the $45 breakfast, if paid at the desk, or $38 if paid with the hotel room, but sometimes, the coffee is daringly extra again to the breakfast rate, and extra to the hotel night rate, ... arent they already making much more, and not like I am not already supporting them by eating there and paying.
Some places have noodles for breakfast, the Novotel Auckland Airport...
Some have salmon to add to a morning breakfast, yum.
But really, tho, $45 is a bit steepish.
===

Any breakfast buffet with one of those huge frames of honeycomb still gets an Oooh Yum from me.

Never seen those.

 

[DC3]

Never seen those

Oh, Poochie. Should have gone to Specsavers

 

[dajop]

So it depends if I'm there for leisure or for work.

For work I want quick and convenient, at home it's cereal and toast which is quick, I prefer that when away for work or something equally quick, usually I don't want to overeat at breakfast.

For leisure, I'm much more inclined to take my time to enjoy a big buffet - moreso at a resort or Asian city hotel, less so at a European hotel, ,although have had some really high quality small buffets In Europe that really hit the mark. For American hotels, well silence. I go by the theory if you don't have something nice to say don't say it. (I'm usually staying in Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton or in these chains a rung or two below them, down to Hamptons, Fairfields). Had a couple of good breakfasts in San Francisco hotels that seem to buck the trend though.

Often we will take our own cereal, and some small plastic bowls and spoons, get some milk and have that, plus a good pastry if we can find one (Europe particularly).

Likes
Good variety in buffets
Fresh juices and smoothies
Local specialties (especially in Asia), like noodles, etc
Good crusty breads and quality pastries
Nice yoghurts
Fresh local fruits.
In country motels - the quaint and disappearing breakfast hatch! (you don't have to worry if you're in the shower when brekky arrives).

Dislikes
Having to walk long distances between table and buffet if I'm in a hurry.
Watery/cordial based "juices".
Breakfast that finishes early (e.g 8:30)
Having table cleared when I'm not finished (even though I've left a full glass of juice and serviette on chair).
Breakfast cereals outside of Australia, as a general rule, too heavy or too cardboardy
Oversized apples (here's looking at you USA) and fresh fruit that consists of honey dew melon and semi-ripe pineapple.
Sugary, soft crusted staple bread (options like Brioche OK)

 

[kookaburra75]

All of the Dislikes is why MrsK and I try and stay in serviced apartments or AirBnBs. We can buy something and have it in the fridge. In the morning, we can be pottering around in our pyjamas, sitting in front of the TV eating our breakfast. Rather than having to get ready and dressed to go down for breakfast.

 

[Up in the clouds]

The best hotel breakfast is a lavish buffet with a massive selection of food and drink from every cuisine imaginable. Just sit down and feast. Try a little bit of everything with the option to come back for more of what you liked. No need to look through a menu, no need to call over a staff member to take your order, no need to wait for a chef to cook and plate your food, no need to wait for a waiter to bring it to your table.

DoubleTree KL (Ampang) has a such a breakfast set up.

However, after trying a little of everything, I am still generally stuffed.

Been there love the Indian section for fresh made breads..

 

[lahlee]

What do people think of the DIY Belgian waffle machines? From what I've seen, these often end up as a gloopy mess. I guess people are overfilling the mould?

I will use them occasionally in the US for the novelty value. There's less mess when they have little pre-portioned cups of batter for you to put in the waffle iron. If only they had real maple syrup - I hate the nasty (probably high fructose corn syrup) stuff.

 

[lahlee]

View attachment 496291

I've had similar disappointment in the US where the breakfast was one single stale stodgy donut and coffee with non-dairy creamer as the only 'milk' option... urgh. And this was all to be eaten standing in the hotel lobby... live and learn I guess!

 

[offshore171]

I hate the nasty (probably high fructose corn syrup) stuff.

Oh yeah fake and using an awful sweetener.

It's worth noting that a number of US food and beverage manufacturers are switching back to cane sugar in their products and ditching high fructose corn syrup.

 

[OZDUCK]

Been there love the Indian section for fresh made breads..

We stayed there on a 'opening special' a decade or so ago and I still remember the Indian section in the breakfast room.

 

[Pushka]

All of the Dislikes is why MrsK and I try and stay in serviced apartments or AirBnBs. We can buy something and have it in the fridge. In the morning, we can be pottering around in our pyjamas, sitting in front of the TV eating our breakfast. Rather than having to get ready and dressed to go down for breakfast.

This is why I don't like airbnb's.

 

[lovestotravel]

This is why I don't like airbnb's.

I hate it when due to time/space requirements we have to stay in an apartment, that doesn't have a restaurant on site

Usually in a ski resort in France, but at least a quick visit to the bakery fixes the issue