"You have to pay cash for that" at hotel bars
Jan 15, 2015, 1:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cambridge, UK
Posts: 261
"You have to pay cash for that" at hotel bars
Is anyone else finding hotels in Europe (especially in the 3* category) less willing to charge bar and restaurant bills to your room, to be paid when you check out?
Many places have told me this recently. It isn't a problem, but they often don't take credit cards in the bar. I try to pay by card as much as possible abroad to reduce the amount of foreign currency I bring home and to avoid carrying round loads of change.
One wonders if this is because:
a) they think I'll do a runner, especially as my room is always paid upfront through a travel agent
b) they won't get a tip
Many places have told me this recently. It isn't a problem, but they often don't take credit cards in the bar. I try to pay by card as much as possible abroad to reduce the amount of foreign currency I bring home and to avoid carrying round loads of change.
One wonders if this is because:
a) they think I'll do a runner, especially as my room is always paid upfront through a travel agent
b) they won't get a tip
Jan 15, 2015, 2:16 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
Tipping is generally an American concept, so a European is much less focused on tipping, so that's unlikely to be it.
More likely is something like different accounting systems for the bar and hotel, and non-integration of all of the various services. Also, it may just not be customary.
More likely is something like different accounting systems for the bar and hotel, and non-integration of all of the various services. Also, it may just not be customary.
Jan 15, 2015, 2:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
"You have to pay cash for that" at hotel bars
We don't tip in Europe. Keep your hand in your pocket!
It's likely to be because the bar is run by a third party. Or, the staff just don't know how to charge to a room.
It's likely to be because the bar is run by a third party. Or, the staff just don't know how to charge to a room.
Jan 24, 2015, 11:31 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Closest I've come to this was in the States, where I was told explicitly, "You can add it to your hotel bill, but you will not get points for it!"
Jan 25, 2015, 5:25 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,292
I ran into this Thursday night over in Panama City Beach when I was the first to arrive for a business dinner. Fortunately my boss showed up next and grabbed the tab. The bar was definitely part of the restaurant. I did not ask for an explanation but it did puzzle me.