Any hotel employees give me advice?

TonyMMM

Have you discussed your diet with the hotel and asked if they can cater for you in some way - most chefs I know are more than happy (and used) to catering for all sorts of diets and see it as a bit of a challenge to find dishes that suit you.

bundly

TonyMMM wrote: »

Have you discussed your diet with the hotel and asked if they can cater for you in some way - most chefs I know are more than happy (and used) to catering for all sorts of diets and see it as a bit of a challenge to find dishes that suit you.

I would if money was no object. A main course in the restaurant is about £25. I consider that a waste of money for one plate of food that I will have forgotten I had half an hour later. At £17 for breakfast and two meals @ £25 each, I'd be spending £67 a day on three small portions.

Sorry to sound mean but I live for a week on £25 :-)

And this is MSE :-)

Errata

Hotels don't like mini bars being used by guests for their own food for hygiene and health and safety reasons.

duchy

bundly wrote: »

I would if money was no object. A main course in the restaurant is about £25. I consider that a waste of money for one plate of food that I will have forgotten I had half an hour later. At £17 for breakfast and two meals @ £25 each, I'd be spending £67 a day on three small portions.

Sorry to sound mean but I live for a week on £25 :-)

And this is MSE :-)

And this is a four star hotel ......what were you expecting pricewise ?

Perhaps more planning PRIOR to booking a non refundable room would have been prudent rather than witching now that people think your planning is poor. Still hopefully you've learned for the next time .

As for POLICY (not sure why it is in capitals but you seem to think it should be) as we have no idea which hotel chain it belongs to (or indeed if it is a chain and not a one off hotel) how on earth would we know their specific policy? All people can tell you is what is customary -but that doesn't mean your hotel will follow custom....Their hotel their rules.

duchy

bundly wrote: »

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!)

I suppose if you are on a restrictive diet seeing people enjoy a lot of food is quite hard - but three courses is hardly gorging and the prices you've quoted are hardly OTT in a four star hotel.

I think you are probably realizing now that the reason it was such a good deal was because they were offsetting the food costs (eg- room at cost - profit on food) which is pretty common in the hospitality trade in general.
If you intend to use the leisure facilities on Christmas Day itself - do make sure they will be open - not all are-as again not many people bother with them on Christmas Day and the hotel may not consider it worth paying the leisure club staff premium rates for such a quiet day.

LEJC

I've been having a think about this,this afternoon...and I think its perfectly possible to have food on christmas day...some of the things I did wonder about was...how about hard boiled eggs using the inroom kettle...I've no idea if it would work but its worth thinking about.

Or even taking a disposable bbq with you and cooking your own meat or indeed fish would work really well, whilst out on a walk during the day...

With the time that you have between now and christmas I'm sure you can think outside the norm and come up with some good ways to enjoy your christmas break without having to rely on the food produced by the hotel.


I also wondered if reviews on trip advisor for the hotel might give you an idea of how accomodating the staff might be or whether other guests have found the hotel hospitable..there may be some clues as to whether additional charges are made for certain items ie the use of plates/meals taken in the room/charges for ice or ice buckets etc....

Sometimes we have stayed in hotels that almost actively encourage the importing of food into the hotel by leaving plates etc in an accessable place ...its usually the ones who dont operate a full resturant but its worth finding out as much as you can about the place before you go.

Hope you have a lovely/peaceful/reflective/festive (delete as appropriate ) time!

redcard

I find it extremely ironic you're on a 'strict diet', yet are quite happy to live on sausages and kebabs just because they're low in carbs.

bundly

duchy wrote: »

I think you are probably realizing now that the reason it was such a good deal was because they were offsetting the food costs (eg- room at cost - profit on food)

If you intend to use the leisure facilities on Christmas Day itself - do make sure they will be open

It wasn't a "good deal" it was just their normal room rate. It's the most I have ever spent on a room only booking.

Yes thanks for the reminder and I did ask on the phone when booking - twice - to make sure the leisure facilities are open.

bundly

redcard wrote: »

I find it extremely ironic you're on a 'strict diet', yet are quite happy to live on sausages and kebabs just because they're low in carbs.

I don't "live on" sausages and kebabs.I have not tasted a kebab in over a year, and I don't eat sausages because of the rusk. I eat mostly fish and seafood, in many different types and forms from pickled to smoked to fresh, and eggs. About once a week I have something like a pork or lamb chop.

Takeaway/food delivery shops are not going to be able to bring me a cheese omelette or a roast lamb dinner, are they - DUH! And I don't think it will kill me if, on the rare occasions that I am away from home, trapped in a hotel and no cafes open to get the breakfast or dinner that I want, I have the odd skewer kebab and salad (no pita) or a couple of sausages at breakfast.

It's a very strict diet - no bread, alcohol, fruit, potatoes, ready-meals, cereals, sugar, chocolate, cake, pizza, Chinese, Indian, chips, crisps, baguettes, fizzy drinks, coffee etc. How many people do YOU know who could go even a day without one of those items?

But I fail to see what is "IRONIC" as you call it, about someone who avoids carbs because they make her ill.

I think I am very sensible in finding out what my body needs and sticking to it.

supermum4

Hi I have asked hotels many times to empty the mini bar prior to my arrival and they have always done so without even asking why,( I mean you could be a recovering alcoholic for all they know) so don't worry just have a great time