Am I a CF to expect free lunch for my DD?

[jasminemaya]

Booked a two week holiday with DP and DD (3).

The hotel has advertised 'kids stay and eat for free'.

We have booked half board. Me and DP won't need lunch but obviously DD will.

Am I a CF to assume she can have a little plate from the buffet at lunch time? Or do I need to budget an extra fiver or so a day to buy her lunch?

Going against the grain, OP, I don't think you're being massively CF. When visiting family, we've stayed a few times with our toddler in hotels on a club room deal (mainly in the Middle East/Asia) where breakfast and a light dinner and drinks are included, and we generally don't need lunch in between. If we pop for a drink or coffee at lunch, the hotel is often pretty relaxed about sorting out something light for DS - and can imagine them being even more so if it's a buffet and you're clearly not taking advantage. We go in with the attitude of being friendly and expecting to pay, and then it's a happy surprise if we don't have to. Depending where you are going (and for how long), I'd definitely recommend taking some snacks from home and possibly scoping out if there's a small shop nearby where you could pick up some staples for the little one at lunch. Have a brilliant time, and really don't stress too much!!

What a sheltered life you lead bleary if this is depressing.a query about food and some snacks taken away from breakfast cart
I have absolutely no qualms about taking some small snacks away
I’m veggie,I don’t Gollop huge piled plate of meat fry up etc so yea I have no compunction taking fruit and breads rolls

Nobody would care or even notice if you took an extra muffin/croissant and some fruit from the breakfast buffet as long as you're not stuffing yourself silly. I never eat breakfast unless we're on holiday, so don't need anything else until dinner time generally. Even then I feel stuffed by day three and can barely manage a bowl of cornflakes. Half board sounds sensible.

It's swings and roundabouts really. Firstly, the margins on breakfast tend to be quite healthy.

Secondly, not everyone will actually have breakfast. I don't tend to, as I'm fond of a lie in. But it is included in my rate regardless.

And yes, great point about the volume of waste from people with eyes bigger than their bellies too!

The only buffet place I eat at weighs the excess food left on the plates and you pay extra for it.

Some of these responses are hysterical !!! If it were me I’d definitely get her a small plate of food. If the hotel kicks off then you can politely say you weren’t aware.

Yes on that note - why not all have a "small plate of food" & say none of you were aware!

i do not understand people who dont eat lunch in holidays
that’s the WHOLE point of holidays
..
the not eating lunch thing is for real life when we never have time !!

Why would you be in the hotel all day every day?

😂 I just love how things get blown wayyy out of proportion on MN.

*Why would you be in the hotel all day every day?

Because that’s what some people do. There’s no obligation to do anything else.

Make her up a little lunch from the breakfast buffet?

That's just as bad .

Ok to take a couple of snack things I think but not nice for the daughter having old stale breakfast food shoved in mums handbag for her lunch

OP we travel a lot with our kids. Half board is usually breakfast plus an evening meal but some hotels will let you have lunch instead of an evening meal. We always have a big breakfast - my kids are very good eaters - and it tends to be towards the end of breakfast service as they are not early risers. However, they often will want something at lunchtime which usually involves us ordering from the pool bar menu. You mentioned it was a posh resort. Five star resorts are generally expensive from food even from the pool par. It’s not unusual for a burger or club sandwich to be around the £20.00 mark. I would allow at least £10 per day if you are going to buy something from the hotel. Have you checked whether there is a supermarket nearby? If there is, go in there and buy loads of snacks. The shop in the hotel will charge you silly money for snacks as will the mini bar. Alternatively, put lots of snacks in your suitcase.

Me and DH don't drink and to keep costs down we once went half board thinking it'll be fine and we'll have a big late breakfast and an early big dinner.
Bloody hell, swimming a bit and lying round the pool is boring and lunch breaks up the day. By 11am most days we were starving. We spent most our spending money on the cheapest lunches we could find. There was a cafe where DH had tuna on toast and I had a burger with no sides, every single day.
We soon learned AI was the way to go, even if it meant going to cheaper holiday destinations.
Nothing worse than spending the holiday starving and penny pinching.
Regarding your DD I'd say lunch time isn't included, as PP said she could refill her plate and be giving it to you to eat. There wouldn't be an easy way to keep an eye on what people are doing but phone them and ask.

Following on from this question I'm also not sure on etiquette regarding meals on holiday and hoping someone can help me as I don't want to be a CF. We are going on our first all inclusive next week to a family friendly complex in Spain, me and DP are all inclusive and we have 8 month old DS with us, what usually happens with his food? Is it acceptable to feed him the same food and if so do we need to be discreet and feed him from our plates or do they let you get a small plate of baby friendly food if you are all inclusive? Happy to pay extra for him just didn't think to ask as he isn't at the stage of having his own meals yet he usually just shares ours and obviously for convenience hoping he can eat what we are

I’ve nevee taken a baby AI but I’m sure you can get him some food. For ease of carrying at a buffet I’d pick up two plates, keep them together, fill one and then move his stuff onto the underneath plate while you’re settled at the table. Unlike OP you are entitled to food all day so I think the baby is an extension of you.

OP I’ve booked half board with a 4 and 1 year old. I plan to clear the mini bar out and get croissants/yoghurts/fruit/ham/cheese/milk in from a shop. I suspect mine might want to eat breakfast first thing in the room and then have another go at a more civilised time.

In life sometimes there really is no issue with being a CF, especially when no one is getting hurt!!!!! It’s a five star resort, she’s a little girl. No one is going to miss a small plate of pasta fgs!!!!

Going out to lunch is one of the nice treats on holidays. I'm betting within 2 days ye will be all out to lunch as it gives you a little walk/ change to browse around/ get a cold drink or coffee/ sit and have a nice chat with dh/ people watch/ eat icecream etc.
My holidays would be boring without lunch.

I’ve been to many hotels where kids under 4 eat free and you can order for them in certain places and the meal is not charged for (not usually room service etc). They aren’t always very clear about it though.

OP I’ve booked half board with a 4 and 1 year old. I plan to clear the mini bar out and get croissants/yoghurts/fruit/ham/cheese/milk in from a shop

Just be careful to ask that the mini bar is emptied for you in case it’s one of those ones where the item is charged for automatically even if you move things around in the fridge.

You won't be able to anyway.

The hotel will ask for your room number and check what board basis you are on.

Even if there isn't anyone at the desk outside the restaurant door, the waiter who comes to the table will also ask your room number.

On recent package tours I've been on, the only people wrapping the bread rolls in napkins and sending the kids back to the breakfast buffet for half a pound of cheese were Brits. It's just a bit embarrassing to watch really, all for the sake of a couple of euro. When you've paid 2 grand for the holiday.

It has become very expensive for brits in Europe though because of the exchange rate. I really noticed it on a camping holiday in France this summer, even just in the supermarket. No one wants to get caught taking food from breakfast but I really don’t think there’s anything wrong discreetly taking something small for a small child. Be discreet and don’t take the piss.

At first glance I too was amazed at you asking this. On seeing your kids stay/ eat free bit now not so sure. You should definitely check your booking conditions as perhaps kids can eat for free at all times. If you are at the hotel all day e.g. pool lounging a child could easily eat free. There may be a system for adults to not be entitled but kids may be different. Check the terms and condition, I know will be a pain.

Just be careful to ask that the mini bar is emptied for you in case it’s one of those ones where the item is charged for automatically even if you move things around in the fridge.

Those ones are a bloody nightmare!