Is it also "theft" if two people go to the buffet and one EATS a lot MORE or more than the "average" than the other one does? Especially if both of them paid the same price to stay in the establishment?

And while we're at it, would someone please tell us the date when airfares to Europe from the US are definitely going to get cheaper so we can count on that, too.

I don't really get the argument that because you have paid for food from a buffet, you are entitled to take extras for later.

When you are in a restaurant and a basket of bread is brought to the table (free of charge, as in France for instance), do you slip a few slices into your pocket for later?

Or when the cheese board is brought around, do you ask for a few extra slices of brie to wrap up in your napkin and stash in your bag in case you get hungry later?

So in response to the OP, I would say no, it's not good form to take extra food for lunch, and certainly not without asking permission.

From my experience with breakfast buffets is with the children. My two children now 14 & 16 tend to eat very little at breakfast. Though, within an hour, they want to eat when we just leave the hotel room. Most the time they tend to want the unhealty snacks.. Therefore, my wife tend to make a couple of sandwiches for them to eat at later on. However, I do feel embarressed and so discourage her. The issue is not only for paying for breasfast but not eating it - but ready made sandwiches tends to be with salad or pickles where sometime the children refuse to eat it. I think one of the reason that I have put on weight is because I tends to finish their unwanted foods!!
Does similar situation applies to you as well ?

This summer on 9th July will be going with the family to Germany for 3 weeks and then to Switzerland for few days to Wengen and Crans-Montana with half boards. From now I promised myself to keep my cool with their eating habits. I hope will be surprised as they may would enjoy the foods. I used to discourage them to eat at McDonalds when we travel to Europe - but a week ago when I was in London on my own, went to McDonald for a burger without the coke. Now I think not only the price is good but probably cleaner than most other foods whether takeaway or sitting in restruants. In Germany as I remember you can even order a beer but not in UK or US to my knowledge .

McDonald's in Switzerland is very expensive.

Go to Coop or Migros self-serve restaurants for good quality at reasonable prices. The kids can pick and choose and you pay by plate or weight. You can even ask for a glass of tap water and you'll get it for free.

>>>>>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."<<<<<

That is why many hotels have "written rules" in breakfast tables. Those signs say something like "Please note that the food served in this room is meant to be consumed here. If you want a picnic lunch, please say it, and the staff will be happy to make you lunch."

>>>>>>It is certainly NOT theft. Some people merely consider it impolite.<<<<<<

Just SOME people? I would say the % is close to 100%.

So, to answer lorelle: No, please don´t take food from the brakfast buffet umless you want to be considered a real low-class.

>I don't think that taking food off the buffet for later is an accepted practice, at least not anywhere I have been.<

Y'all haven't been to Southern Florida, where sweet, little old ladies bring plastic-lined purses to buffet breakfasts, buffet lunches and buffet dinners and take home a week's worth of food.

I don't think that it is because they are impoverished, as I have seen them do this on cruise ships, where there is free food 24/7.

((I))

>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?<

No, it is not.

The hotel is offering you your fill of breakfast in the breakfast room. It is not offering you full board.

>Perhaps this is one of those "unwritten rules."

It is a very old rule, and it is written.

Deuteronomy 23:24
When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes until thou have enough at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

((I))

I'm American and I think it's just plain old tacky. And can be ruinous. When I was much, much younger I took an extra chocolate and put it in the pocket of my pants, promptly forgot about it and walked around all day in the hot sun and it melted. And left a bit of a grease stain on the pants.

Sure, theft is too strong a word for this (but might be one the hotel thinks).

Try boorish, vulgar, tacky and ill-mannered.

I'm with pegontheroad,
If you can afford to go to Europe, you can certainly find something affordable for lunch without STEALING breakfast food from the buffet.
Even a picnic from a grocery store is only a few euros.
I just think it is really tacky and it would never cross my mind to do it.
Part of the fun of traveling for me is finding inexpensive places for lunch where I can find different foods that I might not have at home.

Anyone who thinks this practice was originated by or is exclusive to Americans needs to be disabused of that notion.

"Signora said that since they served cheese at breakfast (in their Rome hotel), people often made themselves a little sandwich to eat later in the day."--from Evening Class (1996), by Maeve Binchy, best-selling IRISH author.

She writes fiction, doesn't she?

I have taken a piece of fruit (I actually eat 6 times a day, so it's like I eat twice for breakfast!) But that is about it. Even if it was allowed, I wouldn't feel safe taking food off the buffet in the terms of meat, etc.

Why do people want to eat warm, old sandwiches made with meat or cheese that has been sitting out on a buffet table all morning anyway?

I hated them when I was in elementary school, in the days before insulated lunch boxes, so why would I waste a meal in Europe that way?

And has anyone been to a Hampton in or similar in the US when a bustour comes through? Yikes! I was expecting them to wheel coolers up to the buffet. I saw one old gent put six hard-boiled eggs into a soda cup, then fold his newspaper (also free from the hotel) around!

I remember the number of eggs because I really wanted one and he cleaned out the bowl, leaving none for me.

Yes, of course, but the character who advised people to take breakfast buffet items had lived in Italy for decades and was supposedly an expert on Italian customs.

I highly doubt Ms. Keyes got the idea for this bit of the novel from talking with Americans or reading Rick Steves guides.

fuzzypuppy1234 - I think the general census is against this practice.

thereyet
Yes I sure do need to come over the pond and check you guys out, especially the little old ladies down south with the plastic lined purses LOL.

One point of corretion it was my Father that ran the B&B not my Brother and the German woman DID NOT thank him as she passed him carrying the plate of food he challenged her and then she returned with the food to the Kitchen.

So an Irish fiction writer describing what people do in Rome proves something? What exactly is that? Maeve Binchy might have learned this idea from watching Americans.

I think Maeve may have eaten a few too many sandwiches in her time.

I really find it hard to believe that people really don't think it's theft.

Of course if the owner urges people to take some food for later, that's fine. Or if you want a piece of fruit for later I see nothing wrong with asking the owner if it's OK.

But just to take extra food for later when it's a BREAKFAST buffet is nothing but theft.

Oh, as to Rick Steves and his misspent youth: I think almost all of us believed, said, or did things in the past that we now see as wrongheaded.