?about hotel reservations and breakfast charges
 

It's been slow going with reservations. I am confused about the breakfast charges. They tell me the price in euros and then they mention an additional charge for breakfast.

When I accept the reservation does that mean I am saying I want the breakfast too? Or can I tell them when I get there? Or should I state it in the letter of acceptance?

Lois

Reservations going very slowly.

in my experience you can tell them when you get there. also, i've always been able to decide day by day. good luck with your trip planning! :)

Ditto that advice.

However, maybe it's worth calling/e-mailing (although I always find that a phone call has more effect) them to find out a breakfast inclusive rate. As it stands, of course it's an optional charge.

It can vary and of course it depends not only on the hotel itself but the city where you are talking about.

Mostly in Paris and Rome for example, we've found that breakfast was extra. At Relais St. Germaine in Paris, however, breakfast was included. I remember a very overheated argument from a woman checking out there who had not eaten breakfast there at all who was DEMANDING a refund for the uneaten breakfasts, but since there was never a separate price listed or an option to skip it, they were holding firm that there was no refund.

It's standard routine for French hotels to tell you the main prices for things, and that includes breakfast. All hotels I contact list the price of breakfast in their response to me, in addition to the room charge. They also list prices for parking, if extra, etc. It's just something a lot of people want to know as a lot of people like to have breakfast in the hotel.

Accepting a reservation for a room does not mean you are saying you'll have breakfast there. There's no reason to say anything, they aren't preparing breakfast months ahead of time.

Hi,

It is my understanding that in France the guest is not required to have the hotel bkfst.

That is why it is listed as a separate charge on the little notice on the back of the door to the room.

If the hotel has given you a room price and a bkfst price, they are waiting for you to tell them if you want bkfst.

((I))

My experience is only with two hotels in Paris but the breakfast charge was optional, and in addition to the room charge.

"letter of acceptance" - - is this an e-mail? or acknowledge on a form on their website (and if so, does it have a "notes" field)?

I would include something to this effect:

"Is it correct that I can decide about breakfast on each day that I am there?"

Best wishes,

Rex

This last hotel didn't even tell me the amount of the deposit they wanted nor the canellation charges....!!

I think sometimes the website will say "breakfast included"...but these I am talking about don't..

Thanks for the help. I will have to muddle through. I think getting the hotel reservation is not easy to do and I am getting ready to use the phone..

I would do all this by fax, if you have chosen places that are not e-mail friendly.

Well I did do fax...this is my second go round and I am trying email...!!

I wonder what is going on...

Christina, you said: "Accepting a reservation for a room does not mean you are saying you'll have breakfast there. There's no reason to say anything, they aren't preparing breakfast months ahead of time."

That MAY be fine, but in case you didn't read my post, in the example of Relais St. Germaine (which admittedly may not be the norm), you may choose not to eat breakfast, but it is included and you will pay for it whether you choose to eat it or not!

Definately do it by fax. You'll want your reservation in writing in case anything goes wrong. Don't forget to fax them back confirming that you have accepted their terms even if they don't ask for a credit card. (I've never made a reservation when they haven't asked for it)

>>I would do all this by fax, if you have chosen places that are not e-mail friendly.<<

It's my experience that hotels in France respond to FAXes more "enthuastically" than e-mails. We've tried e-mail a couple of times with little/no success.

We always call (wife speaks French), and then follow up with a confirming FAX.

Lois - try calling and if you can't understand them or they don't understand you, hang up & try a FAX. They can probably read English better than they can speak or hear English. I can figure out a French written description, but certainly can't understand if the same thing is spoken to me. Call early in the morning (6:30) Calif. time so you get their "first string" desk help.

Stu Dudley

yes, I did say that Patrick, and did read your post, but so what? I stand by what I said. The fact that this particular hotel you know includes it in the rate and will not deduct it makes it even less important to tell them, as there is nothing you can do about it.

I don't understand your point re this hotel and then objecting to what I said.

Hotels really do not have to know months ahead of time if you are going to eat breakfast there. The only thing I would make clear upon checking in that you may be deciding on a daily basis or not at all, if that's your decision, to make sure they don't charge you for it automatically, and make sure you check the bill upon leaving. For that Relais place, I presume they were honest enough to tell people ahead of time that breakfast was no extra charge and cannot be deducted.

I think it's only been in the last few years that some Paris hotels have been including breakfast in the room rate; it used not to be allowed. If the breakfast is included in the price, you'll pay for it whether or not you take breakfast at the hotel. But you can always ask in advance whether it's possible to have the cost deducted.

When we stayed at the Madison last September our Orbitz rate specified that breakfast was NOT included.