I like the breakfast in Italy but would never be eating it without my Pjs. What a sight some of you present.

Mostly "Don't" but sometimes "Do."

"Do" circumstances are
1. When it's included in the room price
2. When time is tight in the morning, e.g., have to be somewhere at an early hour.
3. When we discover that it's better than what we find outside for about the same price, e.g., Hotel du Lutece in Paris.

Before you decide, check the breakfast in your hotel. If it's what you want and the cost is reasonable, have it there. If it is expensive or doesn't cover your needs, eat someplace else.

Our last hotel in Paris had an adequate breakfast for a reasonable price so we ate there a few times although we prefer Paul's around the corner. It's easy to pop upstairs and brush your teeth! 8^)

Have a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with Marilyn & StCirq and a few others.

My 1st visit to Paris I stayed at a hotel that included the breakfast in the price. The cafe decor was cool & eclectic, the cafe & croissant were fresh & perfect, the fresh-squeezed oj was superb. I wasn't as comfortable then as I am now seeking out a nice place for breakfast so I opted for the breakfast there.

Second year I went with a friend, she wasn't feeling adventurous, the breakfast was included in the price, but it was so so. We ate in the hotel every morning.

Last trip, the breakfast at 5.70 euro was ok. I did like having it brought to the room while I was getting ready. That was nice. But after the first morning I chose to seek out local cafes & boulangeries for my first meal of the day. Cafe & croissant at Miss Manon on rue Saint-Antoine was about 1/2 the price of the hotel's, so that was a good choice on my part. Plus I got to see the locals walking past the window as I sipped my coffee and got to check out the locals as they were preparing for their day. An added advantage was the wider selection (one morning would be plain croissant, another day would be pain au chocolat) at the boulangerie.

We prefer to have breakfast in a cafe, although we often end up eating at the hotel on the day that we're leaving.

On this last trip, we followed a trio of Paris streetsweepers into Au Bouquet St. Paul and had an excellent petit dejeuner.

Beatchick, the next day, we went to Petit St. Paul (right across the street from Miss Manon) and the owner went over to Miss Manon to buy our croissants.

The Hotel de Banville in the 17eme has hot chocolate that was so out-of-this-world that I did not want to leave for breakfast.

In the country, yes, we usually take it at the hotel.

I like how Marilyn put it: Mostly "Don't" but sometimes "Do."

If, for example, your hotel provides with you a pot of coffee -- along with your croissant, etc. -- then it may not be a bad value compared to paying for the same amount of coffee in a cafe.

There's also the matter of atmosphere, what your hotel's breakfast room is like compared to a local cafe. People-watching is likely much better at a local cafe but you may be able to meet, and swap stories with, fellow travelers in your hotel's breakfast room (if that's something that would interest you.)

One of my fondest memories of breakfast in France was having it at our hotel in Arles, the Hotel le Cloitre. Served in a gorgeous breakfast room, we had a pot of coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, croissants, and jam made by the delightful co-owner Agnes. Even if we had paid a little bit more than a comparable breakfast elsewhere -- and I'm not sure we did -- it still would have been well worth it.

Elle,

I SAW that yesterday in your trip report!! I just didn't get a chance to answer it. I do recall that you went to a lot of places that I wanted to try and I was tickled you mentioned Miss Manon. I'll have to try Au Bouquet St Paul next time I go. I'm surprised that I didn't notice it last time. Where did you stay in the Marais? I was at the Jeanne d'Arc last April. I love that area.

Hi, Capo!!