Best hotel breakfast: Full British at family friend's B&B in a small village in the Lake District of Northern England. Cooked with affection, so to speak.

Importance of breakfast included: Important when on business trips in unfamiliar cities, doesn't matter when on leisure in familiar ones.

Essential items: Black/dark bread, cold fish cuts, egg, congee/porridge, fruits or veggies of some sort. I'll take what's on offer but this would be "comfort food" for me.

Preference: Ala carte over buffets