Fee to Empty Mini Bar
Apr 13, 2014, 3:02 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
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Posts: 4,970
Apr 13, 2014, 7:56 am
#17
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
We had all of our sandwiches removed and placed on the dresser to spoil in one of the Parisian Meridien hotels. They left us a message in English which told us that outside food or drink is expressly prohibited in the minibar.
Apr 13, 2014, 12:52 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,174
Apr 14, 2014, 4:44 am
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,153
Good to know it happened to you and not me. Will use this anecdote to remind myself never to stay at meridian hotels....
Apr 15, 2014, 12:21 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Diamond; CCarlson Elite
Posts: 641
I have never, not a single time EVER, encountered that. Where have you heard that?
Apr 15, 2014, 11:22 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MCO/FLL
Programs: AA-gold(MM); Marriott-Lifetime Titanium Elite; Hilton-Gold;
Posts: 503
Happened to me in the Vegas Cosmopolitan. I had asked and they removed it never telling me there would be a charge. When I saw my bill, I asked and mentioned I was never told or I would not have had it done. I guess due to status they waived it that one time.
Apr 19, 2014, 10:15 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 241
I faced this in the Le Grand Intercontinental Paris where I was told it would cost 25 Euro to empty the minibar. Actually I find it weird and unfair to be charged not to use something in the room.
Apr 20, 2014, 7:39 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Try looking at this from the hotel perspective. A minibar doesn't empty itself. The process requires an employee to stop doing his/her regular job, go to your room, catalogue and empty the contents, and store those items somewhere. After you leave, that process has to happen again. That's a fairly labor-intensive process.
You're not being charged "not to use something"; you're being charged the labor costs associated with the request.
Apr 20, 2014, 9:04 pm
#24
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,335
A minibar doesn't empty itself. The process requires an employee to stop doing his/her regular job, go to your room, catalogue and empty the contents, and store those items somewhere. After you leave, that process has to happen again. That's a fairly labor-intensive process.
You're not being charged "not to use something"; you're being charged the labor costs associated with the request.
You're not being charged "not to use something"; you're being charged the labor costs associated with the request.
Apr 20, 2014, 9:19 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 67
The first time I ever encountered one of these electronic counting minibars was when I went to check out and had an astronomical bill from removing said items from fridge (multiple times) in order to put my items in. They reversed the charges.
I think asking for an additional refrigerator to store your medication and pizza in is a reasonable request. When booking a room if the expectation is that there is a refrigerator then you shouldn't be charged to "make it so". Personally I'd prefer to have an additional fridge brought in and pay $10.00 then to pay $10.00 to work around their empty mini-bar set-up.
I think asking for an additional refrigerator to store your medication and pizza in is a reasonable request. When booking a room if the expectation is that there is a refrigerator then you shouldn't be charged to "make it so". Personally I'd prefer to have an additional fridge brought in and pay $10.00 then to pay $10.00 to work around their empty mini-bar set-up.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:02 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
there is no charge not to use the mini-bar...simply leave the items exactly where they are in the mini-bar and no charge will charged