I will always buy a nice bottle of wine from outside to bring back to the hotel as I don't like being ripped off with mini bar prices, also when going on holiday to Dubai which we have done a few times a stop off in the duty free shop when arriving is an absolute must if you like a tipple.

By the way not a problem for me if staying in an IC as a Royal Ambassador as mentioned above mini bar is free. A few weeks ago on a 1 night stay at IC London mini bar bill should have been £170 I wouldn't mind we did not even near empty it! must do better next time