Any hotel employees give me advice?

bundly

LEJC wrote: »

you could reseach local takeaways in the area with a free delivery service

LEJC wrote: »

Another option you could consider is a cool box...most hotels have ice machines located in the corridors

Brilliant idea. I checked out the fish box and that is fabulous - it weighs nothing and only costs £8.50. Would just throw it away afterwards.

LEJC wrote: »

your hotel is not near shops you could reseach local takeaways in the area with a free delivery service

I'm hoping that some kebab shops are run by Turkish Moslems and will be open Xmas day :-)

Thanks for the great ideas LEJC and MCJA

Voyager2002

bundly wrote: »

I can't believe you wrote that. Is it a joke?

You are saying that WE exist to serve multinational, multimillion-dollar hotel chains, rather than the other way round?

Perhaps I should also stop going to Sainsbury's because, as a single person who eats very little, I am taking up floor space, adding to the length of the check out queues, and wearing out their flooring, when this same space and amenity is better deserved by someone who is spending more.

If they are ONLY interested in making money from food they should not offer room-only bookings, but ONLY take bookings that include breakfast or DBB.

Obviously they are a business and interested in making money. And this applies equally to small, family-run operations as to giant chains.

Anyway, I was serious. Your post sounds as if you are not looking forward to your Christmas break but have made a non-refundable booking: I was suggesting that if you ask them not to hold you to your contract they might agree. Of course, if you want to take your holiday then ignore what I said.

Valli

bundly wrote: »

You are saying that WE exist to serve multinational, multimillion-dollar hotel chains, rather than the other way round?

Well - yeah - inasmuch as they are a money making enterprise and they aim to make money from their customers.

duchy

bundly wrote: »

I know what you mean though. I was toying with walking a few miles to a Toby Carvery for xmas dinner, reckoning that I could manage to eat say 6 to 8oz of meat and a few veggies and that would justify the cost of about £8. I rang them to check and the usual menu is not available. All diners in Tobies on Xmas day can choose only the set three course meal, which costs £48. That is why I ditched the idea. (I don't know how people can eat enough food at one sitting for it to be worth £48 a head.)

That's quite cheap for a Christmas dinner meal out ON Christmas day ......staff have to be paid a large premium - and even then most prefer to spend it with friends or family rather than working.......and who can blame them. Most places aren't open at all. Speaking as someone who DOES work Christmas Day it makes me laugh when people who wouldn't dream of working on the day themselves are so outraged when other people don't

Frankly you've really not thought this through........are you staying solo or as part of a group? I assumed solo -if that is the case have you spoken to the hotel general manager and asked if you can change dates or even cancel with just partial loss of money paid if they can resell your room ? Have you asked the hotel if they can meet your dietary needs -and just buy proper meals direct from them? (probably work out less expensive than losing all your money on the room)

joerugby

Take tinned food (meat, fish etc), fresh fruit, dry biscuits, long life milk and bottled water plus a knife and plate. Store in the bottom of your wardrobe. Stop worrying and have a good time!

Inner_Zone

OP does the hotel room actually have a fridge, most I stay in don't.

bundly

I didn't ask for advice on cancelling. I would not dream of doing so. I don't see why I should not be "allowed" to go away at Christmas or on holiday anywhere the same as anyone else.

May I remind you that this board exists to help people to live a good life on a budget.

When people come onto this Money Saving Forum asking for advice on how to do something -- not to be told NOT to do it!

duchy

bundly wrote: »

Brilliant idea. I checked out the fish box and that is fabulous - it weighs nothing and only costs £8.50. Would just throw it away afterwards.



I'm hoping that some kebab shops are run by Turkish Moslems and will be open Xmas day :-)

Thanks for the great ideas LEJC and MCJA

Hoping ?
And what if you find they aren't...........I think you need to plan a bit better than that. Certainly outside of major cities you can expect no takeaways to be open on Christmas Day itself (and in cities very very few if any). For most fast food places it simply isn't economically viable ......not enough customers to justify opening .

I'm at a bit of a loss to understand why you are going away to be honest -this sounds more like it could be a miserable food foraging expedition than a nice break-even the cost of breakfast is outraging you ....and £15 is standard in a hotel of this grade.
Where are you actually going - perhaps if we knew the area suggestions could be made so you don't actually starve !!

As for your comments about "not been allowed" that's just silly. You've obviously made a poor choice of hotel (several miles walk to other eating places ....and expensive for food on site) . Moneysaving isn't always about paying as little as possible - it's also about getting the best value for your money - eg if you end up paying £20 for a cab on Christmas day for food (or more as cabs if you can get them will be double or triple fare) the £15 breakfast may turn out to be a bargain.

As an example - had you posted saying "I want to go away for Christmas but have no car and a strict diet- and don't want to pay hotel prices for food" I'd have suggested you look for a hotel deal in say North London where there is a large Jewish community so some food places (not many) WILL be open..... or if you wanted a rural location - something with catering facilities. You found a cheap hotel deal but are finding that it isn't the bargain you hoped because you didn't research the food side before booking - and another possibly more expensive deal may work out cheaper and more relaxing than this one once you look at total costs.

bundly

duchy wrote: »

That's quite cheap for a Christmas dinner meal out ON Christmas day ......staff have to be paid a large premium - and even then most prefer to spend it with friends or family rather than working.......and who can blame them. Most places aren't open at all. Speaking as someone who DOES work Christmas Day it makes me laugh when people who wouldn't dream of working on the day themselves are so outraged when other people don't

I worked for 35 years in jobs that included nights, weekends, Bank Holidays and Christmas and had to work my share of all those days. For some of those years I was a hotel switchboard operator in London. I am not religious and used to volunteer for Xmas Day, actually, enjoyed the double time and the day off in lieu. Plus it was a great atmosphere and the bosses were always lenient and the guests in a jolly mood.

£48 might be cheap if you are able to gorge yourself on three massive courses, wine etc, but not when you only eat only a few ounces of meat and a small bit of veg, actually. I'd be just as happy with a can of tuna and a packet salad (which is probably what I'll end up eating!)

bundly

duchy wrote: »

Hoping ?
And what if you find they aren't...........I think you need to plan a bit better than that.

I am asking advice and making enquiries at the beginning of September for a hotel stay that does not begin for almost 4 months and you accuse me of not planning?

duchy wrote: »

Where are you actually going - perhaps if we knew the area suggestions could be made so you don't actually starve !!

Read my OP. Not asking for food suggestions, asking about HOTEL POLICY AND RULES about fridges and Tupperware boxes, actually.

If I cannot get a fridge then another way to get food is to eat non perishable, and yet another way is to ring around the takeways and find out if any is open over Xmas, and another is to find out the exact Xmas opening times of the nearest supermarket. There are lots and lots of options and I will not be in the least bit miserable.

I am going to the hotel primarily to enjoy the use of the leisure facilities, the pool, sauna, gym, steam room, etc, to go for walks around the grounds, be in beautiful surroundings, etc, NOT to gorge myself on food, like most people seem to over Xmas. Food to me is not entertainment, but sustenance.

The day I leave the hotel I fly to North Africa on a package holiday. I am trying to enjoy life as much as I can, and I resent being told I should just stay at home.

But thanks everyone for the kind and intelligent suggestions.

Someone sent me a message saying if I wear a TripAdvisor Reviewer's badge prominently on my lapel they will give me anything I like lol....