Use of hotel minibars

[dajop]

Just wondered, do others use minibars, avoid or place some criteria on them?

When travelling for work I often will have a Coke from them, if reasonably priced. But I have my limits. This week in VN it was $8 for can of coke/any soft drink from minibar, I refuse to pay that, especially here. At the convenience store next store it's 60c. I'm OK with $5-6 in Australia, when it costs $3 in a 7-11, but here not so much. (A bit like the transfer $80 for hotel SUV to get the airport, it cost $8 in UberBlack SUV ... hmmm)

 

[russ]

I almost never use the minibar. The reason is to force myself to get out of the hotel.

One hotel suite I stayed at had a full-size fridge. When I opened it to put a jug of water in it, I saw it was full of chocolates and other stuff. I had to ask housekeeping to clear the fridge because it was just too tempting to see all those chocolate bars every time I wanted a glass of cold water!

 

[Foreigner]

It's far more tempting when you see contents of mini bar fridge with a glass door!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I use on the odd occasion when desperate. I hate automated mini bars though.

 

[NZflygirl]

Just wondered, do others use minibars, avoid or place some criteria on them?

When travelling for work I often will have a Coke from them, if reasonably priced. But I have my limits. This week in VN it was $8 for can of coke/any soft drink from minibar, I refuse to pay that, especially here. At the convenience store next store it's 60c. I'm OK with $5-6 in Australia, when it costs $3 in a 7-11, but here not so much. (A bit like the transfer $80 for hotel SUV to get the airport, it cost $8 in UberBlack SUV ... hmmm)

No thanks! Hate the cost......although I have succumbed infrequently. I generally think they are a rip.

 

[Flysense]

I use them... But only to cool the stuff I bought at the store next door

 

[RooFlyer]

Occasionally use the soft drinks in them. Like this afternoon - a warm metro/tram trip from the airport in Istanbul. Cold coke on arrival .

 

[NoName]

I use on the odd occasion when desperate. I hate automated mini bars though.

Agree. Can't stand them either. The idea that if you pick up an item then you bought it doesn't sit well with me at all.

 

[AnnaB]

Generally not, except if I arrive late and want a coke. Like someone else mentioned, I hate the automatic mini bars. I like filling it with my water bottles as I like my water cold and not luke warm. I have also heard of hotels charging you for using the mini bar for your own purposes. That would just make me stay somewhere else.

 

[Austff]

Agree. Can't stand them either. The idea that if you pick up an item then you bought it doesn't sit well with me at all.

Is there a time limit before the automated mini bar charges you ?

 

[eric2011]

Is there a time limit before the automated mini bar charges you ?

Usually it registers as soon as you remove an item. It doesn't delete the charge if you put the item back

 

[eric2011]

I will often use items like water and coke etc then buy replacement from the servo or 7-11 when I go out for dinner

 

[amaroo]

I don't touch them unless they're an open bar included in the room rate.

 

[Major]

Very rarely touch the booze but sometimes go for a soft drink.

I like to be able to chill my 711 purchased drinks.

I don't go anywhere near the automated minibars

 

[Warks]

As a tightwad (paying all my own work expenses) I never use anything from the minibar. I usually stock it with my own drinks and food for breakfast (milk, fruit, yoghurt) but there's just so much junk in these fridges nowadays I can barely fit it in there. Usually end up pulling out some of the drinks to make space. I hate those automatic minibars too but I haven't seen one in ages. Probably don't stay in expensive enough places any more.

 

[Hvr]

Is there a time limit before the automated mini bar charges you ?

Einstein apparently asserted that nothing is faster than the speed of light. The charges imposed by automatic mini-bars regularly challenge this assertion with their speed.

 

[snabbu]

Is there a time limit before the automated mini bar charges you ?

Depends on the vendor and the preferences of the hotel on how they want to set the system up. Luckily in AU/NZ there are very few properties that use this type of minibar system.

Some hotels have zero tolerance and will want the charge on the guest account as soon as the item is picked up. Others set a delay so you have time to put the item back. It's completely up to the hotel in this regard.

 

[kermatu]

Hate the automated minibars too. At least I have seen a few where there is a dedicated personal space to use. Too small for any large bottles or cartons, but better than nothing.

Where I have moved items or placed my personal items into an automated mini-bar, I have always had the charge removed without question. Front desk always note "yes, they are very sensitive, so no problem".

In some hotels where I'll be staying for a few days and want to put some milk and cheese etc in there, I will get the automated bar cleared out so there's no confusion. Or you can ask for a separate fridge to be placed on the floor (if advertised as being available).

But on the original question - it's only if I'm desperate and arrive very late will I grab a juice or soft drink from the mini-bar. Very rare.

 

[Denali]

Usually we will buy bulk water and some cokes BUT yes, we do use the mini bar for water or a coke when we have none because my thoughts are I spend $$$$+ on a holiday so Im not skimping on water (or laundry service).

A couple of hotels we have stayed at had free mini bar - we asked them to remove the alcohol as we don't drink it and replace it with water/cokes. Last place we stayed at that did this (Cambodia), we guessed we went through about 250 bottles of water during our stay. Wouldn't do that with a usual hotel mini bar.

 

[Foreigner]

I don't touch them unless they're an open bar included in the room rate.

Reminded of So in Singapore. All minibar stock (sans alcohol) was gratis.