Paying for breakfast
 

Am I the only one who really resents it and refuses to see the value?

I will happily pay $100/head for dinner, but try to charge me $25 for breakfast and I will run screaming out the door (to the nearest bakery).

I guess it's all the hotels offering 'free' breakfast, but basically if a hotel's breakfast is more than a few dollars I will try to avoid it (if my wife will let me).

There is no value to twenty five dollars for a couple of eggs.

Unless the hotel is in the middle of nowhere and there are no other options near by I never pay that amount for breakfast.

They charge that because so many people don't care about the price and are willing to pay it.

I get it, if it's perhaps a buffet, smoked salmon, eggs benedict, and a mimosa or 3.

But otherwise, no.

Nothing better than a great brunch, and I'm certainly happy to pay for a high quality one, but it's something you only do maybe once per year if you're lucky. Eggs cooked perfectly, prime rib, fresh fruit, hot breads, fluffy waffles, mimosas, maybe some live music and some sort of chocolate fountain. Over eat on every different type of food, have a few morning casuals, take a nice nap, and wake up for football... Now I'm hungry.

A lot can be seen just by looking at the costs of the ingredients. A good steak can run $10+ at the grocery store while a couple of eggs costs about a quarter. Breakfast should be cheap.

Has nothing to do with value and everything to do with market.

A lot of business travellers don't care because they get reimbursed so whether they spend $2.50 or $25.00 is of no consequence and others who may be wealthy simply don't care. Then there are some # of kettles who can't really afford it but also figure it just is what it is so they order, eat and pay.

There are also people who are afraid to venture out, so they just eat where they're staying. Personally, I enjoy venturing around a bit.

A hotel I used to frequent in Minneapolis had this "they'll pay for breakfast" all figured out. Same price as all the other mid-range hotels. The others all advertised "free breakfast", which the business traveler could expense. The "smart" one charged for breakfast, but gave away evening drinks (which many people can't expense). They were always booked solid.

That approach absolutely works for business travelers who are compensated on actual, allowable expenses. That's some, but not all business travelers. Those who are provided a per diem allowance are happy booking hotels with free breakfast. For them a bundled breakfast means more money left to spend on lunch, dinner, or evening drinks, or to keep in one's pocket.

Agree
 

Agree. When I am on business, I get the $25.00 breakfast--you better believe I'm getting it. When I am on vacation, I find the nearest starbucks, bakery, or cafe and eat for less than $5. ^

Given a choice, I almost always defer including the breakfast option. If I'm in London I simply walk around the corner and find the first pub breakfast I see. In the US I have other options by car. I won't pay $25 out of my pocket for a usually crappy breakfast buffet.

Even on perdiem.. staying at a hotel that charges for breakfast doesnt obligate me to eat it, and my perdiem will go much further since a banana and pastry at the cafe or grocery store down the street is going to cost less than an evening drink.

In general, I don't "value" breakfast as highly because its really just something to get through before I can get on with my day. If I'm in a hotel, its likely I'm not lingering over a 2 hour 5 course breakfast (if there is such a thing) because I either need to be working, or I'm heading out sightseeing, or I'd rather sleep some more.

Even on all-expenses-paid, I hate the waste of a €20 breakfast - especially as I'm a coffee-and-muesli kind of guy. I'd sooner have a stand-up coffee and pain aux raisins on the way in than have some overblown buffet.

And as for hotels that don't include it in the rate, but charge you whether you choose to eat it or not... We shall have words.

If I'm in a nice hotel for a few days on business I'll probably get the $25 breakfast at least once, often on morning of departure. If it's a nice buffet with omelette station, good fresh fruit, dairy, bakery, continental options, and most importantly, LOT's of bacon, plus juice & coffee, I find the value acceptable.

On other days, or on personal travel, I might forage locally.