Why get bottled water in hotels?

[Hvr]

As I read (and enjoy) the Hilton stay thread and see comments about either getting or not getting bottled water I wonder why it is even offered.

When in the US I checked in at a hotel and was offered some bottles of water. I asked if the tap was potable. Yes of course it is was the reply. Then why would I need bottled water? They didn't have a real answer, in fact they were slightly bemused at this upstart Australian who declined the bottled water and was prepared to drink water from the tap! The nearby pilots laughed but still accepted the water.

So why is bottled water so important when there is a perfectly good and cheaper alternative?

In countries where the water supply is a bit dodgy (Cambodia comes to mind) then I agree that bottled water is essential.

Am I the lone wolf here or do other people decline the bottled water?

 

[TonyHancock]

I enjoy sparkling water rather than still.

 

[moa999]

Because in many parts of Europe and the 3rd world the water is not pottable, so people want to stay cautious.
Also tap water around the world can have some unique taste...

Mind you you might ask why so many bottles of bottled water get sold in Australia more generally,

 

[here2go]

I enjoy sparkling water rather than still.

Soda Stream in every room?

 

[jetlagger]

Soda Stream in every room?

However, in the LOTFAP there appears to be a 7/11 or equivalent on every other corner selling the oversized buckets of Slurpees or Big Gulps.. to match the ever expanding waistlines & enterprise profit values.

 

[TonyHancock]

Soda Stream in every room?

I normally have one in my carry on!

 

[RWJ777]

Have you recently drunk water in Adelaide? Potable or not, it's most unpleasant.

And I think that's the point--while drinkable, sometimes (not always), tap water's not very nice; whereas bottled water is usually pleasant tasting.

 

[JohnK]

I prefer not to drink tap water and drink bottled water everywhere I go including Sydney and Brisbane.

 

[Fantic125]

Have you recently drunk water in Adelaide?

Why do you think Coopers Sparkling and Pale is cloudy? Nothing to do with it being brewed in the bottle, it's the Adelaide water.

Most of EU, UK and USA, no issues.

Mexico, South America, India, Asia (China, Indonesia, Philippines, etc), happy to drink bottled water

 

[mannej]

You don't go to mexico to drink the water do you

 

[anat0l]

Ultimately, it's a choice luxury that the hotels avail to their guests.

Most people seem to be caught in the bottled water thing, mostly for fashion, but all jokes aside - and I'm guilty of it too - the quality of bottled water is at least guaranteed (provided that the bottled water "manufacturer" has responsibly "prepared" the product and not just filled it up with any old water or dirty water). For me sometimes, it's also handy to have the bottle there so I can take it with me. (Yes, I could just get one as I'm out from the supermarket......)

In some parts of the world, that quality of water within the bottle may not be significantly better than that from the tap, but that said in other parts of the world it definitely is. People are creatures of habit so that's why it's fairly consistent in that manner (and thankfully there are some regional variations, e.g. in some places you get sparkling water as well / instead of still water, or you get more than one or two bottles of water (viz. areas where water quality is questionable)).

Note also that water quality not only depends on the treatment and what not, but also depends on plumbing, storage and so on. The former is far more easily handled by the relevant authority than the latter (which is more managed by the owner of the property). That all said, if the water quality is mostly not questionable, then usually a pipe whose quality is tending to left field a bit will not really kill you, so big deal - drink up - or if you're a bit more conscious, boil it (though that said if your electric jug is the type with an exposed element that heats the water, it's most likely that in the process of heating the water, the element will leach trace metals into the water, including iron and nickel). But... once again, if it doesn't kill you....

 

[markis10]

Bottled water is insurance against the chance something does go wrong with the supply, and when your traveling it's not a bad policy. It was not that long ago Sydney and Brisbane had issues with its supply and that news took time to get out, as I type this post I note there are a number of similar issues across the US, a supposedly developed world with safe drinking water, although Erin does not think so:

Viewpoints: It's past time for California to make water safe from dangerous toxin - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee

 

[tuapekastar]

Where the water supply is potable and reliable I don't see any point in bottled water, though if hotels want to provide them to me gratis I'll drink them. I detest paying for bottled water and only do it if I really need a drink of water and there is no alternative supply available.

To be honest, I'm in the Penn and Teller camp when it comes to bottled water.

 

[kyle]

I actually get annoyed if the hotels don't offer compliementary bottled water.

It's just like any other consumer good. There's always a cheap alternative available, but people are afforded the choice to go down the luxury route if they choose to.

 

[k_sheep]

I'm a bit of a greenie at heart, so never have bottled water unless there is no safe alternative. In Asia I'll boil the water and then store it in my (non disposable) water bottles that I take with me travelling. If I can't do that, then I'll buy the biggest bottle I can find (or will need) and portion it out as needed. Most 7-11s have 5L bottles in asia which are good. Otherwise I can often find a water cooler and fill up there.

I get completely racked with eco-guilt when I have to go for those little 500ml bottles of water.

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm a bit of a greenie at heart, so never have bottled water unless there is no safe alternative. In Asia I'll boil the water and then store it in my (non disposable) water bottles that I take with me travelling. If I can't do that, then I'll buy the biggest bottle I can find (or will need) and portion it out as needed. Most 7-11s have 5L bottles in asia which are good. Otherwise I can often find a water cooler and fill up there.

I get completely racked with eco-guilt when I have to go for those little 500ml bottles of water.

Do you realise how much CO2 you have created by posting that?

 

[Katie]

I used to be much happier drinking tap water, even in London in youth hostels in the 90s - I rinsed my mouth with the non-potable tap water while brushing!!

Nowadays, I'm really sensitive to the taste, and tend to prefer bottled or at least filtered water. Hate sparkling. I travel with a 500mL+ SIGG water bottle (empty through security), and fill it with filtered water where I can. For hotel stays, e.g. in the US, I'll purchase a 3-4L bottle of water and drink that. I can drink 3L of water a day, and feel dehydrated when I drink less. I try to encourage recycling of the plastic waste by separating it from the regular rubbish, but I'm sure my efforts are ignored.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, this is just what I do when I travel.

 

[burrco]

In many places I have no concerns about the water quality - but I do have concerns about the cleanliness of the glasses provided to drink it.

 

[Blackadder]

As for the LOTFAP it is also expected to have water with meals etc.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'm a bit of a greenie at heart, so never have bottled water unless there is no safe alternative. In Asia I'll boil the water and then store it in my (non disposable) water bottles that I take with me travelling. If I can't do that, then I'll buy the biggest bottle I can find (or will need) and portion it out as needed. Most 7-11s have 5L bottles in asia which are good. Otherwise I can often find a water cooler and fill up there.

I get completely racked with eco-guilt when I have to go for those little 500ml bottles of water.

When i lived in JKT one of the myriad of scams was to fill up bottles with tap water, seal them then sell them. So you are better off boiling your own, if you dont mind the full environmental accounting of this practice.

We are all hypocrites when it suits!!