Hilton HHonors - $23 for a mini-fridge in room!

Did a search on fridge, mini-fridge, refrigerator and Doubletree Montreal, and did not find a single relevant thread! :(

Stayed at the Doubletree in Montreal this week and asked to have a mini-fridge sent up to the room. (It's on my profile at Marriott, and I always ask at the Starwood when I check in, and there's never been a charge.) DT Montreal wanted $23! I passed, and filled my sink with ice instead. :rolleyes:

It gave me satisfaction when they forgot to charge me for the valet parking. :D

I would much prefer for the users of extra services like refrigerators to pay for them, rather than spreading the cost over to non-users. I have only had the need for a refrig a few times, and paid accordingly without any qualms or whining. Better that than a higher rate every other time.

That said, $23 is high. But OP's point seems to be more that he was even charged in the first place, a point which I disagree with and consider wanting something for nothing.

When a room service cup of coffee and a roll is $15, the refrig fee seems perfectly reasonable. I know which order is the more difficult to carry.:rolleyes:

I think it's perfectly reasonable to charge for a fridge. If you were running a meeting in their conference room and wanted an easel and markers, they'd charge for that too. Probably more than $23. Which is about the price of two six-packs of beer in Montreal... not so awful from a relative standpoint.

rolleyes:

It gave me satisfaction when they forgot to charge me for the valet parking. :D


... and you did not correct this mistake !!!

Hmm ... guess my questioning this fee was unwarranted based on the responses here. Many hotels have a mini-fridge in the room, and when they don't, they can have one sent up. I have NEVER been asked to pay for this service before, so therefore my surprise. Guess I was wrong. :confused:

Did a search on fridge, mini-fridge, refrigerator and Doubletree Montreal, and did not find a single relevant thread! :(

Stayed at the Doubletree in Montreal this week and asked to have a mini-fridge sent up to the room. (It's on my profile at Marriott, and I always ask at the Starwood when I check in, and there's never been a charge.) DT Montreal wanted $23! I passed, and filled my sink with ice instead. :rolleyes:

It gave me satisfaction when they forgot to charge me for the valet parking. :D


Margarita girl--was that for a week's stay or just a one night charge? If you only stayed one night, you may not know the answer.

I don't think that $23 is too much if it is for the entire stay, but if I stayed a week, which is often the case, and the charge was $23 per day, then I could go out and buy a small refrigerator for less.

I never use the shampoo, soaps, NEVER EVER their coffee....and I would suspect that I am paying a small portion toward those amenities. When I'm traveling for business, I never even bother with the housekeeping. I use my towel for a week (I do at home, why would this be any different) and if I need more washclothes, which is the only thing I ever really need more of, I stop a gal in the hallway and get a couple more. So I'm not so sure "everyone" would be paying for this "service" (microwave) if she were not charged.

Most hotels that I have been to that do not have a refrigerator already in the room, do have a few in housekeeping for guests to use. I can't remember being charged as a Diamond. But if they don't have any available (other guests have already requested them), then there simply are none available and I just have to wait until one becomes available or use the old ice in the sink routine.

Dawn

The cheap hotels often come with a free refrig, a free microwave, free wifi and the full service hotels almost always ding you $10-$50 for each. Go to a local walmart or supermarket and buy a $2 foam lidded picnic chest and add some ice to it. I do it at least 6 times a year and leave it by the ice machine when I leave. Another reason(s) hate the greedy full service hotels more and more.

MisterNice

Margarita girl--was that for a week's stay or just a one night charge? If you only stayed one night, you may not know the answer.

I don't think that $23 is too much if it is for the entire stay, but if I stayed a week, which is often the case, and the charge was $23 per day, then I could go out and buy a small refrigerator for less.

I never use the shampoo, soaps, NEVER EVER their coffee....and I would suspect that I am paying a small portion toward those amenities. When I'm traveling for business, I never even bother with the housekeeping. I use my towel for a week (I do at home, why would this be any different) and if I need more washclothes, which is the only thing I ever really need more of, I stop a gal in the hallway and get a couple more. So I'm not so sure "everyone" would be paying for this "service" (microwave) if she were not charged.

Most hotels that I have been to that do not have a refrigerator already in the room, do have a few in housekeeping for guests to use. I can't remember being charged as a Diamond. But if they don't have any available (other guests have already requested them), then there simply are none available and I just have to wait until one becomes available or use the old ice in the sink routine.

Dawn

I have always though about starting a hotel chain that is a la carte pricing, and reading your response it seems like a good concept. It would be similar to what the airlines are now doing already.

The barebones price would include only the room, make your own bed, no fresh towels, etc.

Extra charge for daily maid service.

Extra charge for a "toiletry kit"

etc., etc.

I think it might fly.



Regarding the charge for the fridge - I wonder if you could have gotten away with no charge if you said you needed it for "medication".

Margarita girl--was that for a week's stay or just a one night charge? If you only stayed one night, you may not know the answer.

I don't think that $23 is too much if it is for the entire stay, but if I stayed a week, which is often the case, and the charge was $23 per day, then I could go out and buy a small refrigerator for less.



I was only there for one night, but it was $23 for the stay, whether 1 night or 1 week, if I understood correctly.

I have always though about starting a hotel chain that is a la carte pricing... The barebones price would include only the room, make your own bed, no fresh towels, etc. Your concept already being test-flown -- the pilot property is in Kuala Lumpur:

http://www.tunehotels.com/

Goodness knows what THEY charge to send up a fridge.

MG, I agree with you, $23 was way out of line. They already provide some things in room, like coffee makers and irons. For a 1 day stay, they already have the fridge, it's not like they had to go buy one. Mini-fridges are maybe $100. To charge $23 for one night was wrong.

To charge $23 for one night was wrong.

It was high, not "wrong." No one forced OP to rent the equipment. I wouldn't pay that much under most circumstances, but it would be my choice.

I guess I am on the outside of this one.

If I want a room with a fridge, I book a hotel that shows a fridge in the room.

Asking or paying for a fridge to be brought to my room is so far out of my spectrum, I can not even begin to comment.

I have found a daily charge for fridges pretty common. For example, its $25/day for a fridge at Hilton San Francisco Financial District and $15/day Hilton San Francisco.

May I suggest a name? How about "RyanSleep?" ;)

On a slightly more serious vein, it's amazing how some Hilton brands always have a fridge (e.g. HGI, HI, Embassy Suites) and some don't, and then- a charge for one. But I do understand a charge for a non-standard item like a fridge - they have to amortize the cost over a period of time, and it is an item that is nonstandard.

I have always though about starting a hotel chain that is a la carte pricing, and reading your response it seems like a good concept. It would be similar to what the airlines are now doing already.

The barebones price would include only the room, make your own bed, no fresh towels, etc.

Extra charge for daily maid service.

Extra charge for a "toiletry kit"

etc., etc.

I think it might fly.



Regarding the charge for the fridge - I wonder if you could have gotten away with no charge if you said you needed it for "medication".

$10-15 is the going rate for a fridge at a hotel, should they choose to charge for it.

So, $23 is high. Fans of Disney World resorts have a whole fridge exchange and adoption program and in a funny twist due to the popularity of the sharing programs - Disney will charge you a disposal fee if you leave a fridge in their room.

I have always though about starting a hotel chain that is a la carte pricing, and reading your response it seems like a good concept. It would be similar to what the airlines are now doing already.

The barebones price would include only the room, make your own bed, no fresh towels, etc.

Extra charge for daily maid service.

Extra charge for a "toiletry kit"

etc., etc.

I think it might fly.



Not far off what easyHotel does. They charge for remote control for television, they charge you for extra cleaning etc.

Hmm ... guess my questioning this fee was unwarranted based on the responses here. Many hotels have a mini-fridge in the room, and when they don't, they can have one sent up. I have NEVER been asked to pay for this service before, so therefore my surprise. Guess I was wrong. :confused:

Having purchased a few "mini-fridges", I checked my old supplier. "In Bulk", and with current inventory excess, I can buy them for less than $100(US) plus freight from a nearby warehouse. Given the cost of furniture, I'm not sure why every hotel doesn't install them in every room, if for no other reason to take the load off of (and reduce the mess around) ice machines. Certainly, a mini-fridge is far more likely to be used than a microwave (but then I recalled that I carry one of theose "French-Press" insulated mugs and some coffee when traveling by car, and the hot water from the microwave comes in handy).

Based on experience, any resembalnce to cleaning a mini-fridge may be beyond the capacity of a broad spectrum of housekeeping staff.

I cant see why a hotel would charge for a mini fridge??

How much does it cost them to bring it up from the storeroom, after all it is just sitting there, so why not let a guest use it for free?

I cant see why a hotel would charge for a mini fridge?? Ummm... to make money?

That's like saying, "I can't see why a hotel would charge to use its parking garage. The parking spot is just sitting there empty, so why not let a guest use it for free?" Or: "I can't see why a hotel would charge a corporate meeting for the use of its projector. The projector is just sitting there in a closet somewhere, so why not let the meeting leader use it for free?"

And let's not bring up the issue of wi-fi, which is always there, ready for use, so why not just let guests... etc.

That's like saying, "I can't see why a hotel would charge to use its parking garage. The parking spot is just sitting there empty, so why not let a guest use it for free?" Or: "I can't see why a hotel would charge a corporate meeting for the use of its projector. The projector is just sitting there in a closet somewhere, so why not let the meeting leader use it for free?"


Or... why won't the hotel let me STAY there for free... I mean the hotel is sitting there, probably at 50% capacity anyway. Maybe a room for cost or something, right?

I'm not sure why every hotel doesn't install them in every room, if for no other reason to take the load off of (and reduce the mess around) ice machines.
Many lmited-service (midscale) brands do just that.

One possible reason not to do it at a full-service hotel: The hotel may fear they'll lose restaurant income if it's too easy for guests to keep and heat food in their rooms. (If such hotels do have a mini-fridge in room, they all too often call it a mini-bar and stock it to almost full with stuff that they then charge you for if you remove it.)

However, there may a bit more to the cost of a mini-fridge than the cost of the mini-fridge. You not only have to make space for it on or near the floor (unlike a microwave, it's typically not practical to put a mini-fridge up on a counter or a shelf!), but you may also feel you need to put it inside some sort of cabinet (with a door) to insulate the sound, especially if the only place to locate the mini-fridge is right across from the bed.

Many hotels have a mini-fridge in the room, and when they don't, they can have one sent up. I have NEVER been asked to pay for this service before, so therefore my surprise. Guess I was wrong. :confused:

I would say that most of the motels probably have a mini-fridge on the room but quality hotels have a minibar. Prefer it that way.

In my experience most hotels have a mini bar that's big enough to double as a fridge for most short stays if you pull a few bottles out of it.

It can get amusing when they are the automatic type. When I was staying at the Cavalieri in Rome we wanted to have a lunch on our balcony with incredible cheese and smoked proscuitto and red wine we'd picked up in town, so I called the front desk and said I'm going to remove all the bottles from the computer-equipped fridge and can you please make a note that I've told you in advance of actually doing it. He said oh yes sir no problem I will make a note right away.

Of course, two days later on checkout I was presented with a bill for several hundred dollars, as their computer showed I'd consumed every single thing in the fridge. And of course no notation or memo in my record of my call. Needless to say I sorted it out fine but with some delays.

Regardless, high end hotels in my experience almost always have a decent sized fridge. If I've been of the inclination to need one I never hesitate to use it. A cameraphone shot of you removing and then replacing the items might be a good idea if you're paranoid, but the above story is the only time it's even been an issue, and it was taken care of fine.

Regardless, high end hotels in my experience almost always have a decent sized fridge. If I've been of the inclination to need one I never hesitate to use it. A cameraphone shot of you removing and then replacing the items might be a good idea if you're paranoid, but the above story is the only time it's even been an issue, and it was taken care of fine.

Huh? I dont know which "top end hotels" you have been staying at or what constitutes a top end hotel for you:rolleyes:
But since this is the Hilton board lets just stick to their top end ... the Conrads.
I have stayed in I bet will over a dozen Conrads worldwide and I have yet to see one with "a refrigerator".

Make it habit of emptying the minibar so you can fill it with your stuff do you?
Oh well... it perhaps best that I reserve my honest opinion of that practice:rolleyes:

mike

Huh? I dont know which "top end hotels" you have been staying at or what constitutes a top end hotel for you:rolleyes:
But since this is the Hilton board lets just stick to their top end ... the Conrads.
I have stayed in I bet will over a dozen Conrads worldwide and I have yet to see one with "a refrigerator".

Make it habit of emptying the minibar so you can fill it with your stuff do you?
Oh well... it perhaps best that I reserve my honest opinion of that practice:rolleyes:

mike
Actually the poster said "high end" and according to th hhonors site DT and ES are both considered "upscale" locations per Hilton. And all ES and some DT's have fridges. Maybe your view of "upscale differs from Hilton.

Actually the poster said "high end" and according to th hhonors site DT and ES are both considered "upscale" locations per Hilton. And all ES and some DT's have fridges. Maybe your view of "upscale differs from Hilton.

DT and ES upscale? You just make me laugh. :D :D :D :D :D

Given the cost of furniture, I'm not sure why every hotel doesn't install them in every room, if for no other reason to take the load off of (and reduce the mess around) ice machines.

Energy use, for one. Those little noise makers are staggeringly inefficient compared to the standard (U.S. kitchen) size of 18-26 cubic foot models. A hotel could blow $120 in electricity use per year per fridge in NYC.

DT and ES upscale? You just make me laugh. :D :D :D :D :D
Glad to make you laugh, but that is exactly what Hilton says about those two brands.

Glad to make you laugh, but that is exactly what Hilton says about those two brands.

And its quite obviousl you believed it too.... but then you are mightly impressed by the the crappy Atlanta area Sheraton Suites.:rolleyes:

mike

And its quite obviousl you believed it too.... but then you are mightly impressed by the the crappy Atlanta area Sheraton Suites.:rolleyes:

mikeIt is an older property, but the staff go overboard for me and the breakfast buffet is great. And they do have a fridge in the room along with 32 inch flat panel tv's. Not bad for "crappy".
But we all cannot be travel snobs like others. And with certain folks attitudes, I see clearly why Law Enforcement was called to physically remove a certain person from the HGI St Augustine. I guess they were "crappy" as well.
Last time I was there(even though HI is on the beach, but you know how I feel about HI) I always mention that occurance to the front desk. Every one gets a nice chuckle over it. Thanks for the entertainment Mike.

The cheap hotels often come with a free refrig, a free microwave, free wifi and the full service hotels almost always ding you $10-$50 for each. Go to a local walmart or supermarket and buy a $2 foam lidded picnic chest and add some ice to it. I do it at least 6 times a year and leave it by the ice machine when I leave. Another reason(s) hate the greedy full service hotels more and more.

MisterNice

Yup, that is the way to do it. Especially if you are headed to a destination resort, like a beach or amusement area.

Huh? I dont know which "top end hotels" you have been staying at or what constitutes a top end hotel for you:rolleyes:
But since this is the Hilton board lets just stick to their top end ... the Conrads.
I have stayed in I bet will over a dozen Conrads worldwide and I have yet to see one with "a refrigerator".

Make it habit of emptying the minibar so you can fill it with your stuff do you?
Oh well... it perhaps best that I reserve my honest opinion of that practice:rolleyes:

mike

Maybe I confused you by saying "fridge" here. My meaning was "minibar that is in fact a modified fridge and quite adequate for stashing a few things in as needed."

As for high end my experience was at the Cavilieri Hilton in Rome, which as far as I can tell is pretty high end as far as Hiltons go. I've also seen minibar "fridges" in places ranging from the Imperial in Delhi to the Chedi in Muscat, Oman. Both decidedly high end, though neither Hiltons.

Obviously a mini-bar isn't going to be good for stashing a 22 pound thanksgiving turkey. But without a kitchen either I don't think that's really what people have in mind. It's definitely nice to be able to chill some snacks, cheese, a bottle of white wine, or whatever else you pick up during your sightseeing.

I do it all the time. And opening a drawer and emptying the minibar into it takes about 3 minutes, probably less time than running down to the ice machine.

i think for those of us who use hotels in asia pacific, we are used to mini-fridges in the room which often contain the mini-bar for which you can take the min-bottles out and put your stuff in.(some hotels have tried to prevent this by using high tech fridges that charges the moment items are taken out though).

hotels rooms without fridges do look like something is missing but then again, the culture of paying for drinks in lounges in us seems weird to me every time.

I think $23 is outrageous. My experience has been free or $5 at a Sheraton Four Points. I think the $5 is fair b/c there is the cost of bringing the thing up to one's room...but many lower end properties will do it for free - just one of the free services they offer. Not every hotel will nickel and dime for these things.

I think $23 is outrageous. My experience has been free or $5 at a Sheraton Four Points. I think the $5 is fair b/c there is the cost of bringing the thing up to one's room...but many lower end properties will do it for free - just one of the free services they offer. Not every hotel will nickel and dime for these things.I usually try and stay at a property that has a fridge. And Hilton has many.

In my experience most hotels have a mini bar that's big enough to double as a fridge for most short stays if you pull a few bottles out of it.

It can get amusing when they are the automatic type. When I was staying at the Cavalieri in Rome we wanted to have a lunch on our balcony with incredible cheese and smoked proscuitto and red wine we'd picked up in town, so I called the front desk and said I'm going to remove all the bottles from the computer-equipped fridge and can you please make a note that I've told you in advance of actually doing it. He said oh yes sir no problem I will make a note right away.

Of course, two days later on checkout I was presented with a bill for several hundred dollars, as their computer showed I'd consumed every single thing in the fridge. And of course no notation or memo in my record of my call. Needless to say I sorted it out fine but with some delays.

Regardless, high end hotels in my experience almost always have a decent sized fridge. If I've been of the inclination to need one I never hesitate to use it. A cameraphone shot of you removing and then replacing the items might be a good idea if you're paranoid, but the above story is the only time it's even been an issue, and it was taken care of fine.


Twice at the New York Hilton when checking in I asked the front desk to have everything removed from the minibar as I planned to use it as a fridge. Both times they had a fridge sent up to my room. No charge.

I was only there for one night, but it was $23 for the stay, whether 1 night or 1 week, if I understood correctly.

Even if you got a fridge, would've it been cold enough for storing stuff for one night? Some of the fridges I get in the rooms aren't even cold enough to store perishable items (like yogurt) even after I turn them up.

Next time try embassy suite montreal, its farther away from the airport but it will have a fridge for sure :)