Frequently Asked Questions

Hotel breakfast used to be simple. Now it feels like a weird pricing maze. Sometimes the “deal” is just as expensive as eating at a chain restaurant, except you’re stuck in a windowless room with a bunch of strangers. Prices keep creeping up, stuff disappears, and suddenly the grocery store down the street sounds better—except, who wants to hunt for yogurt at 7AM?

What does a breakfast surcharge at hotels entail?

Honestly, why is there a $15 surcharge for eggs I didn’t even want? Mediocre coffee now costs extra. I talked to two front desk managers who both rolled their eyes about the “premium offerings” excuse. Most of the time, it’s a sad apple and a dry croissant. Hyatt Place recently axed free breakfast at over 40 locations; “complimentary” just vanished, and now there’s a hidden fee in the fine print, according to Fortune.

And don’t get me started on the “signature toast experience.” One place charged me for it—it was literally just plain white bread.

Is it really cheaper to forgo hotel breakfast options?

People say you’ll save money by skipping hotel breakfast and buying something local. But do you? I tried it—grabbed coffee, a banana, and a sad pastry at a convenience store. Barely saved anything. A lot of hotels bake the breakfast cost into higher room rates, and “optional breakfast” can backfire if you’re in an expensive city. The big thing? Always ask before you book. Some places only reveal the paid breakfast after you click “reserve,” which is just sneaky, as pointed out in this FAQ.

Last week, my old college friend bragged she saved $8 skipping the hotel breakfast. Then she bought a $6 cappuccino. Cheaper, sure. If you ignore the math. Who even keeps track of receipts on vacation?

How can continental breakfast affect your travel budget?

Trying to plan meals gets weirdly complicated. Some chains just toss out bagels and cereal, so you’re hungry again by 10am. If you pay extra for something real, that “perk” doesn’t really help your wallet. I did the math for a two-day trip: room with breakfast vs. without? About $22 difference, but only because I wasn’t traveling with my bottomless-pit nephew.

Sometimes continental breakfast just disappears. Booking.com’s surveys say “breakfast to go” and DIY buffets are supposed to make guests happier. Not sure who’s actually happy carrying a prepackaged muffin down the street. Suddenly, $4 yogurt from the grocery store feels like a treat.

Which states offer the most affordable grocery options for breakfast?

Texas, Minnesota, upstate New York—my wallet survived there. Last time I hit Dallas, bulk bagels and fruit at H-E-B were half the price of a Seattle convenience store. The American Farm Bureau’s 2024 survey put a bunch of Southern and Midwest states under $10 for breakfast groceries. Made my sad hotel buffet look like a joke.

But, try finding avocados in a tiny Wyoming town. I paid $3.19 for one and just gave up. Egg prices? Wild swings. California vs. Georgia is like two different planets. Sometimes I feel like I need an accountant just to plan pancakes.

How are increasing food prices impacting meal-skipping trends?

Eggs are up 35% (USDA said so), coffee’s right behind. Hotels blame “rising input costs” every time they bump rates, but I see emptier breakfast rooms. Families just skip it or munch on whatever snacks they packed. At a Red Roof in Ohio, the manager admitted they ditched free breakfast because “nobody was eating”—but I watched a guy fill his travel mug with orange juice three times, so maybe it’s about portions, not price.

Here’s the thing: as prices keep climbing, “breakfast included” is fading. Now it’s all about weird new policies and shrinking menus. People treat breakfast like a splurge, not a given. I’m honestly rethinking if it’s even worth it for just black coffee and a sad banana.

What are the policies on the amount you can eat at hotel breakfast buffets?

Okay, so, let’s talk about hotel breakfast buffets—because honestly, what even are the rules? I grabbed three slices of bacon once (don’t judge), and suddenly I felt like a zoo animal, with staff peeking over like I was about to pocket the whole tray. Some places slap up these passive-aggressive signs: “One trip per guest.” Like, what does that even mean? Is there a breakfast police force? I swear, in Europe, especially at those big chains, they shrink the plates down to toddler size. Are they trying to shame me into portion control or just saving on dishwashing? Who knows.

Marriott, last time I was there for some work thing, put out this supposedly “bottomless” buffet. But then the chef—super friendly, but clearly stressed—just casually drops, “Oh, we’re not really doing refills when it’s busy.” So, bottomless… unless people actually want more? Makes sense, I guess. Or not. I forgot my room card once and couldn’t even get back in for a sad little yogurt cup. Is that a security thing or just a breakfast gatekeeping ritual?

Trying to find the actual policy? Good luck. I went digging through their FAQ page and it’s all vague nonsense. Not a word about how many croissants you can take. Maybe they want us confused. My cousin, though—legend—stacked up a sandwich tower so high it defied physics and nobody cared. So are there rules? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just vibes and whoever’s working that day.