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

[Footgoose]

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 .

@Footgoose which hotel are you at?

Happy birthday 🎂

NRTFT. But of course it's not free.

I presume a credit card was taken at reception. And any guzzling will be changed.

Pre-pandemic, Sofitel Heathrow had free minibars in the suites.

[quote RedDots]@BarbaraofSeville it was Craig Johnston, South African footballer who played for Liverpool who invented the 'thing' that charges you if move things in the mini bar.[/quote]
Thanks for that. I know I said an England footballer, possibly someone like David Seaman, but I did have an inkling that wasn't right, which was probably why Google wasn't helping.

Anyway, glad the OPs wine was free and happy birthday. I've also noted the name of the hotel in Glasgow as I need to stay there soon but no doubt it will be too expensive for my tightarse employer on the wrong side of the city for where I need to be.

@BlackberrySky

I used to work on the reception desk of a fairly posh hotel. OP, I am having a smile to myself that you were embarrassed to ask if the minibar was free. Let me tell you, some of the things people ask reception about are astounding; a simple question about the minibar would be welcome! No hotel receptionist would bat an eyelid.

Plus the people who work in even posh hotels won't earn very much, so will completely understand the fear of unintentionally spending £10 on a mini bottle of wine that is £2 in the Tesco Metro down the road.

@BarbaraofSeville

Sure but if you’re paying 1500£ a night for a suite it seems unlikely you’d be concerned re 10£ for mini bar wine!

Who said anything about £1500 a night? The Glasgow hotel mentioned on this thread, which looks very nice btw, is under £100 a night and includes 'All 64 bedrooms of our boutique hotel include a complimentary minibar and decanters offering a "few wee drams" of vodka, gin & whisky'.

‘was the one you wanted grin

Page 6 and I can't believe no-one has said this yet. Check your booking/ the website you booked it through/ the hotel website in some cases. If there's a free mini bar then that's a feature they'd normally be trumpeting about.

I wouldn't wholeheartedly agree with this, though. They'd most probably advertise 'A complimentary glass of wine' or something, but nowhere is going to publicise the fact that they offer you a whole fridge full of free booze, even if they do once you've booked and arrived - no surer way to bring all of the undesirable boot-fillers out of the woodwork and swiftly get your hotel a very unadmirable reputation!‘

I suggested checking this at the start of the thread, so the first op missed it. it’s always been listed under types of room. The ones I’m looking at are executive rooms or suites starting at £250 a night and include complimentary alcohol minibar.
I don’t understand why people keep staying with such authority that mini bars are never free / all hotels are the same / and that old tripe that if you have to ask you can’t afford - the wealthiest people I know would always know how much things cost and never chuck cash at an overpriced Prosecco in a slightly warm mini fridge. So unless all your mates are billionaires that’s not really a thing.

Had a night away and was impressed that the 2 cans of soft drink and 4 bottles of water we're free (yes I did ring reception)

*were

They are NEVER free

If complimentary there would be sign by it
Not necessarily. I just phone reception. I’ve been doing that for years. I want to be informed if I’m going to be ripped off!

@BarbaraofSeville

OP said she’s staying in a suite in a nice hotel! The price was my assumption based on nice hotels I’ve stayed in 🤷🏻‍♀️

@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.

Brilliant yes this

Enjoy

And you're allowed to drink your own wine in your room. Its not smuggling

@TonTonMacoute

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

I always take my own wine.

This.

We always take our own winne for drinking in the room.

I've never stayed in a hotel with complimentary booze. Self catering cottages frequently come with a "free" bottle of wine. Hotels, never.

Sorry, wine.

Deffo not freebies. Reception know when you open the fridge and know what was in it to start. Anything you take will be added to your bill.

RTFT folks

The OP has confirmed that the goodies are free, on account of it being her birthday.

Which I agree is most unusual.

Why don't you call down and ask for the price list to be sent up?

I stay in very nice hotels a lot and only once have they been free

Anyone who thinks hotel mini bars are free, needs their head testing. Reception KNOW when you open the fridge and when you remove an item and you WILL BE CHARGED automatically.

Just ring to check. We don't normally touch mini bar but once in Gent we were told afterwards it was all free and topped up daily so were gutted! Better to know in advance. X

One memorable occasion we had interconnected rooms with our 7yo. He found his mini-bar after bed time. Go into his room the next morning to find him surrounded with half eaten and half drank, well everything, but all of the alcohol neatly put into the ice bag on the other bed in his room as a ‘gift’ for us!

Looked mouth open for about 2mins, before I sat to explain that while I’m not angry this time as it my fault for not checking or telling him, please DO NOT EVER do that again without asking. Put all of the booze back and the receptionist had a giggle at our expense on check out!

@Footgoose

I asked, it’s a complimentary mini bar For my Birthday . To be fair , there was a little card wishing me a Happy Birthday from guest services but no where near the fridge Bless ‘em .

For the benefit of those who haven't bothered to RTFT.