After a long day of traveling, cuddling up in clean hotel sheets and ordering room service for dinner might be tempting. But, while some hotels after top-notch room service, many hotels hike up the prices of sub-par sustenance. Unconvinced? Consider these three reasons why you should skip the room service before calling for your broccoli cheddar soup.
1. Your food might arrive cold
While the idea of not having to move an inch for a piping hot plate of food might sound heavenly, it’s likely your food will arrive lukewarm or even cold. If you’re lucky, your room service restaurant is nearby. But, other room service restaurants can be all the way down in the basement or even across the hotel. Some dishes might survive the commute, but a plate of eggs will be stale and rubbery if delivery takes more than a few minutes.The opposite goes for cold dessert dishes like ice cream, which will resemble soup by the time you dig into it.
2. There’s a slew of hidden fees
One of the most common complaints about room service is that it’s expensive. And, it is. But it isn’t always the food prices that drive up the bill; often it’s a bunch of add-on fees at the end of your receipt.
In fact, what drives up the bill is, “…the fine print of service charges, tray charges, and other ways of making you pay for the pleasure of private dining …” says Larry Olmsted, author of a famed culinary book, in Everett Potter’s USA Today article.
3. Even coffee Is a rip-off
“Well, at least they can’t mess up the coffee,” you might say. Oh, but they can. It’s rumored that some hotels simply add a sprinkle of fresh grounds to the heap of ancient coffee urns before brewing you a cup of joe. At the very least, this shortcut will make your coffee taste bitter and burnt. Instead, Men’s Fitness suggests bringing your own portable coffee maker if you really need your fix.
With so many restaurants offering delivery, and numerous delivery apps such as UberEats and Postmates available on your phone these days, there’s no reason to settle. Say “no, thanks” to prehistoric coffee and overpriced, lukewarm soup, and enjoy your hotel stay sans room service.
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