Free breakfast is a common feature of many hotel brands, especially in the limited service category. You’ll find it at Hampton Inn, Best Western and Holiday Inn Express among numerous others.
Here’s the thing: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel actually check that you’re a guest before giving you access. If you look like you belong there, you can park in the lot, walk in, and eat.
In the fall I stayed at the Aloft near Dallas Love Field and selected breakfast as my Marriott elite member amenity. Breakfast was served in the Element hotel next door. I simply walked into that hotel and no one checked that I was a guest or eligible for breakfast. I could have taken the elite check-in bonus points and still had breakfast!
In a sense, I’m surprised that so few people show up at these hotels and have breakfast! Then again, maybe people do?
Here’s a woman on TikTok explaining and millions of people have watched this: “They make it so easy to get the free hotel breakfast when you’re not staying at a hotel.”
@itssofeeyuh
What’s more, this seems to be a common meme on TikTok. Here’s two people who showed up at a Drury Inn just for breakfast, eating up eggs and sausage, waffles, juice and more that are meant for guests.
@destinyshaude Lol we just wanted free hotel breakfast 😭🤣 #fypシ #foryoupage #fyp #explore #explorepage #grwm #funny #hotelbreakfast #hotelroom ♬ Players – DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix – Coi Leray
Most limited-service breakfasts, though, aren’t going to be so good that you’d show up for it if you aren’t already on premises. But if I was nearby, and hard up, maybe I’d go for a meal justifying it like hero Jean Valjean steals the bread in Les Miserables.
It’s likely that I could get away with this, as a middle-aged white business traveler who knows his way around hotels. I simply feel comfortable in a hotel lobby, like I belong. But if you stand out, and don’t look like someone who stays in the hotel and knows your way around the lobby you might get questions. So a free breakfast hack only for those who don’t need the free breakfast?
Some hotels – notably Hyatt Places – have tried to verify eligibility for free breakfast. Hyatt keeps changing who is entitled to free breakfast, and to which items at breakfast. Though when they made breakfast only for loyalty program members booking direct properties didn’t actually seem to enforce it much.
The only place I’ve ever seen this enforced is the Homewood Suites adjacent to an HGI in Lake Buena Vista.
I assumed it was to keep the HGI people from crossing over the pool area and pilfering.
I have sometimes seen room number and/or name checks done by hotels’ breakfast monitors at some hotels where breakfast is included for all hotel guests. But down market hotels are less likely to have the staff available to check comprehensively and always.
This is why we can’t have nice things. If hotel operators controlled their costs on stuff like this, maybe they could provide better services/amenities to actual paying guests.
@Barry Lieberman
We have second home nearby – and book their sister HS property up on Westwood – near Sea World for overflow family/friends visiting when we’re down there. Les the G.M. (who manages all three locations) and Janice the morning breakfast kitchen manager at Westwood HS do a fantastic job!
In the past, the Westwood HS had a problem with Sea World guests parking at their hotel, and next door at the Hampton Inn lot – because they had free parking – and some of the folks would wander in to graze at the breakfast buffet.
Now that they charge $25 a day for parking – and tow during the day – has basically eliminated the problem. HI next door of course has free breakfast for their guests, plus the Staybridge on the other side of HI has breakfast.
You would think a fair number of Golds and Platinum’s at HGI would already have free breakfast, but many could be tourists without status.
I do remember during COVID that HGI Golds/Plats were offered free breakfast next-door at the HS, (the Westwood HS was closed). Both hotels have same ownership – that being the Tishman family – long-time and original owners of the Dolphin and the Swan.
I dislike the new-ish parking fees – if you have a longer term stay, they will waive it. At least for now – no resort fees!
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
I don’t think I’ve ever had a free breakfast in the USA that I would have chosen to eat if not for the convenience. However, I’m likely not among the big spenders and frequent travelers who frequent this forum.
On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed excellent breakfasts at boutique hotels in Europe and Asia. But there’s no chance of anyone sneaking into these places, as they’re so small and exclusive.
I often go walking very early in the morning and eat breakfast afterwards. I always put my room card out on the table so anyone walking by will realize I’m likely not some loser walking by that decided it was time for a free meal. But I’ve only once I’ve seen people (a couple) caught, called out and kicked out.
Yeah, let’s glorify and encourage theft. The downward slide of western civilization continues.
Criminals shop lift from stores as well, no difference.
Chefstore, Sysco, USFoods (where I buy in bulk, they welcome civilians) … if you eat out, you’ve almost certainly had their food in the past few days. Pancakes, biscuits, egg whites (and others) in milk cartons, potatoes, etc., in 10-20-40 pound boxes, omelets/eggs-meat-in a tortilla, etc. Their chili and bbq are pretty good, real salty, but that brings more soft-drink sales. Ever wonder why all Chinese buffets have the same food? Point being, ‘free breakfast’ per would likely be under $3, it’s cheaper to give it away than pay somebody to supervise. And then have a scene where you ask them to pay or leave.
Free hotel breakfasts are rubbish. The Embassy Suites is an exception. So are some hotel breakfasts in the Far East, such as Singapore or Taipei.