When I'm on business breakfast isn't as important because I can generally expense breakfast to a client or my employer.

When I'm on vacation having a free breakfast is important to me, which is why I've never understood Marriott's stupid policy of denying a free breakfast to elites at so-called resort properties. By the end of 2017, I'll be at 150 nights with Marriott. I've already re-qualified for 2018. Giving me a complementary yogurt parfait, medium-sized latte, and maybe an egg-white with spinach omelet at a resort property isn't going to bankrupt Marriott.

I was in Los Cabos at the wonderful J.W. Marriott recently. The breakfast buffet was a rip-off at $30 per person. Off the menu, I had an egg-white with spinach omelet and coffee, including tax and tip, for under $20 in the restaurant. Other days I had a yogurt and oats bowl and cappuccino in the coffeehouse cafe, by the lobby, for $15-ish.

What's even worse is that an increasing number of properties, as has been documented on FlyerTalk, seem to be skirting the spirit of a complimentary breakfast by providing only coffee and a doughnut/pastry.