I have read a post or two in which someone said that it was possible to take extra food from the breakfast buffets in Norway to have for lunch. I am surprised that this can be done. What I want to know is this: how do you know if this is permitted or not at the hotel breakfast buffets? Is it possible all the time or just sometimes
and how do you decide?

This i believe was one of Rick Steves original tips so it must be OK

I just returned last night from Bergen and saw a few people fixing an extra sandwich to take with them. They were discreet. Of course, if everyone starts doing this, the price of the breakfast buffet will go even higher.

Duck everybody...Get ready for the food (Rick Steeves) fight.

A buffet is all you can eat while in the restaurant. I always take a few egg rolls home from our favorite buffet when no one is looking.... heheheheheh.

all those armies of Steves fanatics traipsing across Europe swiping lunch from their Breakfast buffets ( "but rick said it was OK!!" )

I can see it now -- "can you believe those ugly Americans - ripping off the B&B like that?"

Would that not make these B&Bs "full-board" (or is that half-board?), which would mean a higher price? B&Bs are bed and "breakfasts" not bed and "multiple meals" IMHO.

I don't think RS endorses that any more. An early mistake he has never lived down.

lorelle---it's only OK if you ask and they say it's OK.

I usually take a piece of fruit with me from the breakfast buffet and bring it to my room. I like eating fruit at night after dinner.

A piece of fruit is all I would consider taking away. Buffets here at home do not allow taking out (unless you pay for 'take out' and are given the containers to do it) so I don't think it would be any different elsewhere.
Note: sometimes buffets are not even "all you can eat" style - sometimes you are meant to make your selections on one pass.

This is a question asked by my husband Brad. Our hotel in Paris (The Mayfair) says we have the option of having our breakfast (Included in the room rate) served in our room? How can they serve a full American breakfast buffet in our room?

Try it both ways to find out..

I have, but that was in my wild college days! Oh wait we were talking about breakfast buffets.... Never mind.

>How can they serve a full American breakfast buffet in our room?<

They wheel it in on a huge cart.

If it's not enough, they bring you another cart.

You have to ask the hotel. Some places offer this for an additional fee. I would never just do it without asking.

<I don't think RS endorses that any more. An early mistake he has never lived down.>

or about taking off his shoes and letting his dirty socks stink up a train compartment to force others out - this or something to that effect was in his early books.

Yeh like politicians they change for public consumption but the spots on a leopard never..... one reason i still can't stomach RS - he was an ugly American and to take food from a buffet is being an ugly American tourist IMO

signed Ugly American Tourist

yk,
If you like fruit at night before you go to bed, do what you do at home: buy it in a store!

I don't think that taking food off the buffet for later is an accepted practice, at least not anywhere I have been. If you can do it without anyone seeing you, and want to risk it, then go for it.

On my first trip to Europe I was rooming with my brother and one morning I was running late and didn't make it down to the breakfast buffet. My brother brought me up a croissant and coffee, bless his heart, but he said the looks he got from the staff were...we'll lets just say "ugly American" doesn't even begin to cover it. This was in Paris by the way. I've stayed away from the Left Bank ever since...LOL.

I've done what your brother did but only after asking... and if i have an early train i will ask if instead of sitting down can i take something with me and they always understand.

Is this the same thing as taking the bar of soap you didn't use in your room along with you when you leave the room?

Yes, you paid for that just as you paid for the food on the buffet table.

No, you didn't use the soap right away but you plan to use it later.

No, you didn't eat all the food offered but you plan to eat some of it later.

How do people know the food-taking practice "is against the rules" if they never have asked what the "rules" are?

Perhaps this is one of those "unwritten rules."