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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this a free mini bar. Answers quick. I’m feeling thirsty

227 replies

Footgoose · 02/02/2022 17:28

Not well travelled but we have paid full price for a suit in a posh hotel in UK . There are single bottles of alcohol and soft drinks in the mini fridge. One of each ie one white wine one red wine one water one coke one beer and a packet of pretzels . No price list anywhere . I know I could ring reception but I’m a bit cringe about that. So Mumsnet…. Are these freebies? If not, can we plead ignorance if they charge us? If I believe what I’ve heard , it’s about a hundred pounds worth of goods and I shouldn’t even nudge them for fear of being debited a small fortune . Grin

OP posts:
GoBrookeYourself · 02/02/2022 17:30

Is there like a welcome pack or anything anywhere? One with numbers for reception, a menu etc in? If so, that usually has prices in and I would presume that no, you need to pay except for bottles of water which are usually free.

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 02/02/2022 17:31

I would assume you'll be charged if you drink them, did you check around the fridge as sometimes the price list is in the fridge / other times in the folder of nonsense about the room. I got away with the ignorance excuse in a hotel in Denmark when I was 15, haven't thought to try since.

user1471517900 · 02/02/2022 17:31

I'm gonna say yes, drink it all.

Mainly because it's not my money and I want to be a creature of chaos.

user1493494961 · 02/02/2022 17:32

I wouldn't assume they're free or that you will be able to plead ignorance to get them for free.

Christmas1988 · 02/02/2022 17:32

They won’t be free, they will be very expensive too £3 for a can of coke sort of prices.

glassesblob · 02/02/2022 17:33

Call reception and ask for a price list for the mini bar, as there doesn't seem to be one in your room. They will either provide one or tell you it's included! Avoids you asking outright if it's free.

TheHaka · 02/02/2022 17:33

Have a look on their website or TripAdvisor to see if there’s anything on there.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 02/02/2022 17:33

I would ring reception and ask if they are complimentary.

Abcdefyouandyourmum · 02/02/2022 17:33

I would assume you have to pay and they’ve removed the price list/info pack due to covid.

Sunsetsupernova · 02/02/2022 17:33

I’d say they’re not free unless there’s a card or something that says “with compliments”. Also be careful just picking them up to check them out. Sometimes the fridge has technology that lets them know when something has been removed from its place and they will charge you for it.

TonTonMacoute · 02/02/2022 17:34

AFAIK there's no such thing as a free hotel minibar.

I always take my own wine.

Laila747 · 02/02/2022 17:34

Unlikely they’ll be free….I’ve been to lots of hotels and they’re usually overpriced

ThettaReddast · 02/02/2022 17:34

I would assume you have to pay for them or something would make it clear if they were free. Have a look at trip advisor reviews and see if it’s mentioned?

Abcdefyouandyourmum · 02/02/2022 17:34

@glassesblob

Call reception and ask for a price list for the mini bar, as there doesn't seem to be one in your room. They will either provide one or tell you it's included! Avoids you asking outright if it's free.
Genius, do this.
ProfYaffle · 02/02/2022 17:34

I wouldn't assume they're free. I'd call reception and ask for a mini bar price list. On one memorable occasion I stayed in a fancy hotel with a reasonably priced mini bar Shock Such a nice change to just take wine from the fridge rather than tit about finding a shop and filling the sink with ice.

eurochick · 02/02/2022 17:35

Very unlikely to be free. I've stayed in all sorts of hotels all over the world and never had a free mini bar unless it's an AI resort.

MulticolourTulips · 02/02/2022 17:35

They are very rarely free even if there's no price list.

twominutesmore · 02/02/2022 17:36

They could be free (have had similar several times, complimentary) but if you want to ask reception, ask for a mini bar price list rather than asking whether they're free and cringing when they laugh.

opinionminion · 02/02/2022 17:36

Just ask reception for a price list - you will then have it clarified !

Original poster
Footgoose · 02/02/2022 17:38

Ah, ok . I’ll stick to the wine box we smuggled in . Absolutely no information either way if they are complimentary or not. But I liked @user1471517900 answer as it’s not my card details they have on holdGrin

OP posts:
Original poster
Footgoose · 02/02/2022 17:39

Or ask for the mini bar price list. I could manage that . Grin

OP posts:
SeeminglyOblivious · 02/02/2022 17:41

Also be careful just picking them up to check them out. Sometimes the fridge has technology that lets them know when something has been removed from its place and they will charge you for it

Yes...dh and I were charged for the entire contents of the chilled mini bar, about £85...because we nudged all of their wine over to cram our own bottles in that we'd brought from home 😂

Thankfully they did remove it from the bill but it was a faff when checking out, having to wait for them to go check then get the manager down to process the adjustment etc 🙄

boardbored · 02/02/2022 17:41

OMG if they are free then you have to tell us what hotel it is ! Will book asap.

Hamjamwich · 02/02/2022 17:59

Just ring reception and ask 🤷

Giraffesandbottoms · 02/02/2022 18:14

Interesting thread; I would have assumed contents are free as it’s a nice hotel and no price list!