Can I eat in my hotel room?

Can a meal be delivered to a hotel room or eat?

The specialists are without appeal. “Food and drinks should not be taken to the hotel room or consumed”says Jürgen Benad, lawyer and managing director of the German Association of Hoteliers Dehoga. This is understood to be primarily for reasons of hygiene and this measure must apply in all hotel rooms, regardless of the category.
“In order to quench thirst or satisfy hunger in the room, many hotels have drinks and snacks in the mini or maxi-bar”the lawyer continues. In addition, travelers can take advantage of room service in most hotels. But even more, guests are invited to scrupulously respect the internal rules of these establishments: for legitimate reasons, a hotel can define its own policy. And, if it is forbidden to bring food, travelers must accept it. In the same way that some organizations refuse access to domestic animals. So, just FYI, if you ignore the rules and order a pizza or burgers, for example, the hotel reception is fully entitled to fire the delivery person. You are warned: it is always better to inquire about this point when you arrive at the hotel in case of doubt.

– How to eat at the hotel?

So, of course, on vacation, there are different types of accommodation. That’s why you have to think carefully at the time of booking: either you are tempted by a classic hotel, in which case you must respect the imposed regulations, or you turn completely and opt instead for holiday apartments where most rooms are equipped with a small kitchen. And, of course, they are exempt from regulation. In other words, travelers are free to prepare food themselves! Generally, this type of room with kitchenette is available in establishments specially designed for longer stays, such as a boarding house.

– The minibar is not intended for your own drinks and snacks

As soon as they enter their hotel room, many tourists have the habit of emptying the mini-bar and setting up their own drinks and snacks. Yes, it’s rather cheeky, but, in addition, it’s not without consequence. “The mini-bar is a property the hotel. It is intended to cool the drinks offered by the establishment and not the products that the customer brings with him, “adds the expert. Many travelers had the unpleasant surprise of having been charged for certain drinks on the pretext that they were no longer installed in the mini-bar. This is the rule: any product taken out of this small fridge is considered consumed! « In some cases, however, there is no uniform legal basis for correct behaviour in hotels (…). For example, you may be allergic and drink a special milk to cool or have medication to keep cool! ” he says. However, we strongly advise you to ask the reception what is allowed and what is not.

Can I cook in a classic hotel room?

No, as we have pointed out, you cannot cook in your hotel room. So don’t consider taking a mini-oven or juicer with you. ! Especially since it can cause some damage: these kitchen appliances can overheat. And even if you do things skillfully, you won’t be able to avoid the smoke detector, or the unpleasant odors that will embalm your entire room. No need to think about placing these devices near the window, you will not go unnoticed either and you may even disturb the neighbors around. And don’t forget that behind it, you’ll also be doing some cleaning chores. After all, you’re here on vacation to relax and unwind, right? Isn’t this an opportunity to take a break and leave the household chores at home? However, for those who really insist on getting their hands dirty, there are a few small exceptions in which the hotel itself provides you with kitchen utensils. What are these cases?

– Coffee machine or kettle

As you may have noticed, in high-end hotels, you are provided with a coffee machine and even a kettle, accompanied by several glasses of water. For coffee and tea aficionados, who ingest several during the day, we make it easier for you so that at least you can prepare them yourself as soon as you feel like it. Most often, you will also find a few instant coffee capsules and tea bags. Special mention: every day, when the room is cleaned, the staff hands over the same amount of coffee and tea so that you always have access to these drinks.

– The microwave to heat food and sandwiches in the hotel room

Against all odds, among these services, some hotels (aparthotel type) even offer the possibility of having a microwave in the room. It is indeed very convenient to heat dishes ordered at room service, if you have not been able to eat them on site.

So when you stay in a villa, apartment, or even a spacious guesthouse, you’ll probably benefit from a cooking system. If you are a large family, this is surely the ideal option not to ruin yourself on vacation and avoid the restaurant every day. In this case, whether you have a kitchenette or a fully equipped kitchen, you will be able to cook everything you want using the utensils you have or even by borrowing specific equipment from the managers of the premises. The advantage of a villa with garden, in summer, is that it is even possible to have an outdoor barbecue. Also be aware that some modern hotels, although they do not offer in-room cooking, have barbecue areas that you can easily book to enjoy with your family and have a great experience.