To make lunch from the buffet breakfast at our (frankly) ludicrously expensive hotel in Crete

[luverlyjubberly]

We are off on holiday tomorrow and we booked this a year ago.....before my dh lost his job and before we couldn't really afford it. However, it was too late to cancel without losing our money and we didn't want to disappoint the kids, so we are off anyway. This means we are staying in an expensive 5 star resort on a small budget. I'd already paid for the bed/breakfast so I'm thinking, since they have a massive buffet (we've been before) that we ought to stock up on rolls, cheese, ham, fruit etc and feed ourselves this at lunchtime to save money. We have two kids who would be happy enough with this and I reckon it would save us a small fortune. However dh is really against it saying that it's something he'd never do, we'd have to do it on the quiet - which he hates the idea of - and he thinks it's giving our kids the wrong message (like we are stealing or something)....

Views please.. don't kill me please - I'm just trying not to go into mounds of debt...

[CilC]

I too always take extra fruit and sometimes I also make up little rolls with cheese and ham for DD. Have only done thid at these five star all you can eat breakfast buffets and staff have seen me do it and no has ever commented on it. If they did I would say my LO did not eat much so I am taking it with me...like a doggy bag.
I too thought everyone did it. I do not feel any stress or concern doing this...So many five star hotels now have those fridges where if you move anything in side of them you get charged and they have no room for you to store your own items.

[pudding25]

I have always taken food from buffets -I thought everyone did! An extra bread roll, bit of cheese and a banana - which you could have eaten for breakfast anyway - and which would probably go stale if left - can't see what the problem is.Ok, maybe if you take out a big plastic bag and fill it to the brim...
However, going to the supermarket would be more fun, less stress and cheap.

[blithedance]

Well to the OP and ensuing discussion, I have relatives who own a small hotel and the main complaint when clearing up after breakfast is about the people whom they have noticed "discreetly" stocking up their pockets from the buffet for their lunch.

Whatever you choose to do , be sure it doesn't go unnoticed, even if the management are too polite to mention it.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Another thing that might be worth bearing in mind - if you are planning on eating out later that day is that food is often cheaper if you eat out at lunchtime and if you eat about 2pm I never want more than a piece of fruit in the evening.

[jellybrain]

Have a late breakfast on your first day - remark casually about all the left over food and ask what they do with it- if it gets thrown in the bin suggest that you could take it off their hands. Don't need to say you're skint just that it means that the kids can stay all day on the beach and you won't need to stop the fun to go and buy more food (but only if you feel the need to explain yourself. Perhaps you could offer a small payment.
I went on holiday to Thailand with DH before we were married and we ran out of money so, lived on boiled rice which we generously splashed with some lovely spicy sauce and rum(cheaper than coke or water ). Some kind and lovely fellow travellers took pity on us and bought as bread and biscuits from the supermarket. I also stayed up all one night waiting for everyone to leave the bar so I could pick a coconut then realised that the stray dog sitting by tree was infact a small bush! We also ran away in the early hours of our last day leaving a bill for 3 days of £4.50 - o the shame of it.
Went to put dhs trousers in the wash when we got home and found 800 baht in his pocket GRRR

O happy days

[squilly]

Can't do photos, but agree. It's turned into Travel Show and how lovely is that? So much better than Crime & Punishment...though it's getting so long, it could be lumped in with War and Peace if it's not careful!

We went to Crete when dd was 16 months old and it was just the nicest place. We must go back one of these days. And I won't be taking breakfast from the buffet for lunch, cos we don't stay in hotels. That way, I can control my chav-like urges to steal buffet food thus maintaining world order

[DaphneMoon]

This has turned into a Travel show! Nice to hear about other places. It will be photo's next

[ladymariner]

We went to Crete last year, I absolutely loved it. We hired a car for 3 days and drove up into the mountains, it was so beautiful and all these little villages tucked away off the beaten track were amazing. And Spinalonga.....what can I say??? Fantastic and soooo emotional!

[MsDemeanor]

Love the idea of two breakfasts - one when the kids get up, the other two hours later after swimming etc. Brilliant idea.
Take a few bananas and buy a supercheap picnic lunch from a shop and the odd taverna lunch. Greece is so cheap, and Crete is so lovely I am very

[MABS]

goin to middle east fri eve, it will be at least 45 degs!

[ScottishMummy]

Taorminain sicily is wonderful. all walkable and cable car to beach.love it

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

tweeni my op is here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1375/578689

Feckers.

[mm22bys]

Have to admit that when we travelled round Europe 10 years ago on a very devalued-currency, we did do this a couple of times. We didn't get caught, but there were only two of us. It was very embarrassing.

I agree with the others about it being possible to buy lunch cheaply when you're away. Bread is still reasonably cheap, and sitting under the shade by the beach with fresh bread and yummy local cheese can be a lot nicer and so much less stressful than trying to get lunch in a hot crowded taverna...

Lucky you going away!

[ladymariner]

Holidays Hurrah!!!!!!!!!

[ScottishMummy]

ok so y'all ready to put down pitchforks, musings about theft from buffet cart.Whats next then?

[tweeni]

DWP - what happened?

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

They gave me my money back on Saturday, but didn't apologise. I've written a complaint.

[ladymariner]

I use them for pedal-bin liners. Don't take more than I need, though!

[witchandchips]

friend of friends mother used them for nappy sacks!

what happend with M&S Devil?

[DaphneMoon]

Wonder what she was going to do with the bags, the mind boggles!! To me that is definately stealing.

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

I was also once behind a lady in Sainsburys and she had about ten plastic bags around every individual bit of fruit/veg. She then emptied the entire dispenser of carrier bags and put them in her trolley.

[DaphneMoon]

LOL the Devil. Also loving your name, best one i've seen for a long time!

[tweeni]

"Factor 15, only 7% of the harmful UVB rays will get through
Factor 30, only 4% of the harmful UVB rays will get through
Factor 60, only 2% of the harmful UVB rays will get through
So you can see, you are getting some more protection with the most expensive creams, but not that much more. There is no sun cream that can give you total protection. 98% protection (with factor 60) is about the best you will get."

some more info

[DaphneMoon]

I didn't know that Tweenie about the factors. Wish I had known that a few days ago when I spent a small fortune on various different creams. My hotel is Baia Bodrum.