Taking food from a hotel breakfast buffet- cheeky??

[Nannyogg134]

Was chatting with Brother and SIL about their upcoming holiday. They've got a long drive with 2 young DCs, so they've booked a chain hotel with free buffet breakfast part way along (to break up the drive.) DM said "Oh good, don't forget to make sandwiches for the drive later.".
This led to a whole family breakdown of what it is/isn't cheeky to do at a breakfast buffet 😂...

• DM would happily take tupperware with her and fill up because 'it's been paid for' (I don't think she does take tupperware, I think it was a figure of speech!)
• DH said he's too embarrassed to take anything more than a banana for later.
• DSIL confessed that she can't resist taking pots of jam

I just wondered what everyone thought- Is it unreasonable to take from the buffet breakfast for 'later'?

I mean my 8 year old loved it! But yes wouldn’t be my first choice. I felt like they were trying to squeeze every last euro out of me. They’ve just changed the dining rules again and now you don’t even get a soft drink with meals under the (expensive!) dining plans.

I did not witness the carnage others describe (people were definitely making themselves lunch but there was never a shortage of food nor was it ever difficult to access) but was at the most expensive hotel and it was February. Maybe worse in summer.

It can be a bit tricky, I find the sausages tend to roll off the plate unless it is held flat (and then it is more likely to be spotted by staff), bacon, if crispy can be slipped into the breast pocket of a jacket or if flexible, wrapped around each wrist like a watch strap. Baked beans - you just have to leave these. Black pudding and hash browns, under a baseball cap. Toast/fried bread (cut in half NOT triangles) in trouser pockets.
The outfit of choice is one of those 'fishing jackets' as they are positively smothered in individual pockets.

This ! I like to have a cup of coffee in the morning and eat a couple of hours later.
I've been to a couple of hotels where there's no in room coffee option and no café so you have to pay for breakfast in order to get a coffee ! I'll therefore take a yoghurt and pastry or something like that to eat later. I don't want to pay twice for something

I just don't understand this argument.

If you don't want a buffet breakfast then don't pay for a buffet. Go elsewhere and buy a coffee.

At a few hotels in France I have stayed in they put out the leftover pastries at reception, which I think is a nice idea as I don't often fancy a mini pain au chocolat at breakfast, but it's sometimes a nice afternoon snack after a day of skiing in winter or hill walking in summer.

This is what normal people do. Not MNers though who are outraged at such lower class practices. 🤣

Cheeky beyond belief.

This is not what normal people do

It depends. If, for some reason, I hadn't managed to eat breakfast before I headed out for the day or if I had only had a tea/coffee, then yes, I might grab a few things to take away for later. But not if I've already eaten.

I took teen dd to an all day sporting event, we had a nice big breakfast and each took a piece of fruit out with us in our hand and popped a mini muffin in our bag.
I wouldn't make up sandwiches!

It's funny how people think it's more acceptable to take out fruit which could last a few days and be put out the next morning, versus perishable items like rolls and cheese which are presumably binned after service.

Yeah I know. A pp wrote how she brought her tuppaware to the hotel breakfast..

110% 😂

It’s what a pp wrote, she brought her tuppaware to the hotel breakfast to fill up. This is what I will say from now on. 😂

It’s interesting isn’t it? I think it’s a hangover from childhood where you were always allowed fruit but had to ask for other food. Could be just my mother 😂

A colleague did it in Spain once, just an orange. The staff went mad! I think it’s unfair to take food for later (imo) because there’s food put out for breakfast, not for you to just help yourself to whatever for later. The cost would be astronomical if everyone did that unless it’s encouraged as it appears to be in Scandi countries according to this.

@WotsYourExcuse

saying 'no offence' doesn't make it non offensive. It's just means you already know it is offensive.

I eat low low carb. I don't count calories. I admit my diet is very restrictive but this is what I eat most days in spring/summer

coffee

greek yogurt with a few berries

Dinner: salad (rocket, radish, cucumber, green pepper, silver skin pickled onions, few small tomatoes, olive oil dressing, some cubed cheese on top) & a handful of nuts.

(I'm vegetarian)

On come on. If you just ate that you'd look like Vic Beckham🤔

Am at a norwegian hotel and yes I can see big boxes provided for takeaways.

I don't eat a massive amount at breakfast so I don't think it's remotely unreasonable for me to take a pastry or a piece of fruit for the day. I probably only eat about 50% of the average person having a big cooked breakfast so why shouldn't I get my money's worth?

A couple of weeks ago we were staying in a hotel for our son's graduation - he is staying in the same city for a postgrad course so he stayed in his house. I took a pastry from the breakfast buffet for him on our last morning.

I am sure the hotels don't care unless you go around making full blown sandwiches for later!

That's because scandis are sensible and civilised

This argument makes no sense.

I have a bowl of yogurt and granola and some french toast for breakfast. And then I take an apple with me for later on (or a pastry).

Someone else has a bowl of cornflakes, a pastry, a full cooked breakfast and two slices of toast.

Who has consumed more food?

Indeed. And not influenced by sanctimonious MNers who like to post crap on here but behave completely differently in real life.

Absolutely. 100% correct

This. You can usually book on a room only basis.