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 have a friend who always has a plastic box upon her person to 'liberate' leftovers. Be that a meal out, a party, a buffet.

I over catered for a party a couple of years ago. I caught her throwing all sorts into one of her (several) boxes. I offered her some more boxes if she couldn't fit in enough.That was funny! She blushed and refused, but a guy said he'd take a few bottles of wine...I pointed them both to the door. Her with her tupperware and him empty handed.

They'd arrived empty handed btw!

I do this as a pilot as you can end up in places with no food and be on the go for 12+ hours at a time. Every other pilot I have toured with does this. The French even ask the waiting staff for cling film 🙄

By taking additional food out of the hotel? Instead of going to a shop and buying them some lunch?

Sounds like stealing to me...

It's embarrassing to be honest. A piece of fruit or a pastry is acceptable, but to take the equivalent of another meal is just poor form.

The buffet is for that meal, not a grocery store for the day's provisions. Taking more than you can eat during that meal is stealing.

I think that culturally it's more accepted in Scandinavia - in fact, I think I've once seen paper bags laid out so people can take things away with them. I've only ever filched a banana or (very occasionally a miniature jam). I'd say outside places where it's accepted/encouraged/facilitated hotels would be ok for very small kids (who might needs snacks, esp in remote places that might not have easy to access cafes...)

The principle of taking anything is embarrassing what it is doesn’t matter.

What if you find yourself full but have food left on your plate? Surely taking it and not wasting it is preferable?

Very cringey and cheap

I have seen people take food / make sandwiches for later and recently did it for myself.
In fairness two pieces of bread and an apple etc doesn't seem to be taking the mick too much. Maybe if someone took a whole loaf of bread / the whole fruit bowl it might be different.
I am more of a grazer so never eat much at meals , so didn't really take anything extra.
Definitely agree that people piling there plates and then leaving it seems much worse.

No a piece of fruit or a pastry is not acceptable and just as embarrassing.

I'd take a croissant or muffin or maybe a banana for DS

Slightly different but I’ve been in a hotel executive lounge during their evening free hours (you can have a glass of wine or two and a few snacks for nothing). The last time I was in there a guy just picked up a full bottle of wine, popped it in his suit pocket and walked out of the door!

I think BC of my financial circumstances and eating habits I'd probably be inclined to take a few bits and bobs.
Just subtly make a couple ham/cheese rolls and wrap in tissue or I guess a small sandwich bag.
If there's no rules against it then you should take a little extra if you fancy. It's included in the price if you have one or take five sandwiches worth of meat and cheese. But only take enough for yourself personally.
I don't like eating first thing so I'd probably grab a sandwich for an hour later else I'd only end up having coffee when paying for food as well.

It is not the hotels fault, but given that people can take as much as they like and it is effectively all you can eat, why does it matter if I eat an orange and banana now or a bit later. I do not pile food up and leave it. If you order at a restaurant you can get a doggy bag, it’s no different. What you put in your plate is what you have ordered and you can take anything you haven’t eaten.

There’s a whole gransnet thread about this from a few days ago…..it was about 50/50 who would and who wouldn’t take food for later

It's theft as far as I'm concerned.

Yes we did the same

Had a fridge in the room

It was convenient as it was so hot and saved going out

Eat as much as you can, fine.
Take maybe a muffin or something which you picked up when 'eyes greedier than tummy', fineish.
Filling a tub, not fine.

I think it's OK to take away something that is part of your breakfast - for example, if you come down and use the free buffet but have to get back to your room to pack or do some work or get ready to check out, it's OK to take a drink or a piece of fruit or pastry back up with you. If you're taking things you are going to use for lunch that's not OK because lunch is not included.

I’ll admit to doing this at Disney Paris. It was tricky to get lunch (huge queues) and we’d paid a fortune for the hotel. Only me and one child so I just popped a couple of rolls and some cheese in my bag and a banana each. That easily kept us going until a very expensive dinner in the park. Staff certainly didn’t care there were people full on making piles of sandwiches from the sliced bread by the toaster.

I can live with myself to be honest!

Perfectly normal on the continent to make up a roll or two for later from the breakfast buffet.

It wasn’t.

I once stayed in a hotel in Norway (half board) which put paper bags on the tables at breakfast so people could make sandwiches for lunch!

I will sometimes make a sandwich for later from the breakfast buffet...they're generally £17-£20 a head with no child rate. My child would eat a bowl of cereal and maybe some fruit and I generally would just have some fruit so I can't see the harm in taking something else to eat later. Especially when you see how much other people eat at breakfast!😯