StCirq

<<shame on the rest of you for projecting your own breakfaast preferences on others.>>

Cripes. she ASKED for our preferences!

denisea

I did the hotel breakfast only once when it was paid for by the company I worked for, but it was amazing!

From what I have seen, it is usually fruit, yogurt, a few croissant/pastries and maybe cheese. We did eat this Christmas morning last year (only because our usual place wasn't open).

I much prefer to get pain au chocolat at a local bakery or eat at the cafe on the corner...but it's a matter of preference and we want to people watch, etc...I also find it my personal mission to find the best pain au chocolat in Paris, when I am there.

nytraveler

It depends on a couple of things:

1) what is included in the buffet - is it just coffe, tea, rolls and butter jam - or do they include cereal, fruit, hard boiled eggs, juices, yogurt, etc.

2) what do you usually eat.how much do you want? If this is a full buffet and that's what you want (versus a hot breakfast) then it's conveninet and do it. If all you want is coffee and a roll it seems pricey.

We almost always do breakfst in the hotel - since we often have it in the room and really don't want to head out before we've eaten. That said, we're not pinching pennies - so convenience is more important than cost - assuming the food is good.

uhoh_busted

Depends on the hotel and what they serve. Don't get it the first morning, but check to see what they offer. Then head out and see if you can satisfy your needs and budget better elsewhere.
I was thrilled last Spring when our Paris hotel actually offered a free breakfast, and it turned out to be more than just coffee, half a baguette and a croisant. They had juices, fresh fruit, fresh pastries, cereals, cheese and lunch meats. Plus really good coffee.

Ackislander

"Shame" was never meant to be "flame", folks. Sorry that some of you took it that way. I suppose I should have followed it with whatever the emoticaon is for "just kidding" but I was trying to make a point.

The OP asked whether it was a good deal to eat in the hotel or to go out when breakfast is 12 euros. The appropriate answer is "it depends on what you want for breakfast and what they offer where you are staying." Some people gave that answer, some people said what THEY do. Yes, it is cheaper to go to a cafe or a chain bakery like Paul's for cofee and a pain au chocolat, but it is a good deal only if that is what you would eat for breakfast at the hotel. And once you start adding juice and turning it into the "tourist breakfast" so beloved of menu cards, it goes up quickly.

But we rent apartments now precisely to avoid this and similar issues.

denisea

One more thing to the OP, at our hotel you did not have to tell them that you were planning to get breakfast.

Michel_Paris

Last time, I walked down the street from my hotel, to 'my' local cafe. Coffee, OJ and croissant for ~9euro. While there I could watch the day start, people popping in and out, Madame welcoming the regulars. I read newspaper and planned my day.

This seemed like a better way to "be" in Paris than sitting in a hotel dining room or my room. And cheaper.

annhig

I don't understand why people are so emphatic. It's not a big deal either way.>>

well, it is if you end up paying €12 pp for a cafe au alit and a croissant!

and it's not just Paris. We just stayed in Brittany for a few days, and at our otherwise excellent hotel, breakfast was €14 each. for 3 of us, for 4 days, that would have added a sizeable chunk to the budget. from what I could see, no way was it justified, and we didn't want that much anyway. so we walked down into the port and went to a little bar where for €3.50 each we got coffee of hot chocolate, o/j, and a croissant or pain au chocolat straight from the bakery - when we told the patron what we wanted, he nipped across the road and bought it! by the last morning he was shaking our hands as we arrived, and waving us a fond good bye when we left for the last time. doing this we saved over €100 - the cost of a decent dinner for all 3 of us, and got to practice our french to boot!

annhig

cafe au alit? what the .... is that?

but this d...d computer wouldn't write cafe au lait and now it won't write anything else!

Christina

There are some hotels in Paris with big buffet breakfasts and you probably couldn't buy such a thing for 12 euro in a cafe. Cafes aren't that cheap, a cup of coffee can set you back 3-4 euro. If you don't really want to eat much and want to eat on the run, etc., sure, you can eat a lot cheaper by buying a roll at a bakery.

This isn't just in Paris, it's true of hotels about anywhere that I've been, but definitely in Europe. They make a lot of money off breakfasts, that's why they do it.

It's just a personal choice, though, no need to really ask anyone, just look at what is offered and decide if that price is worth it to you compared to what it costs elsewhere.

Christina

oh, I've never stayed in a hotel where you had to decide this before arriving. In fact, in my hotels where I stay that have a breakfast room, you don't always have to even tell them the night before, but some places do what to know.

Julie7963

I often take the hotel breakfast because I like my coffee early and leisurely. On the other hand, I won't pay more than 8-10 euro for the convenience. I look for a reasonable spread of breads, cereals, yogurt and cheeses. And yes, I sometimes enjoy an omlette later on anyways!

You can decide on a morning-by-morning basis. No need to know ahead of time!

Julie
www.juliesparis.wordpress.com

LSky

Typically I get coffee at the hotel and then scout around for my 2nd cup and some breakfast later. Or keep some fruit and a little bread in the room.

I don't like spending 12 e for breakfast

pdx

Twelve euros is $17. If I spend $17 on a breakfast in the U.S. it's a pretty special day at a pretty special place.

TPaxe

RuedeBuci, sorry to override your recommendation, but I went to Breakfast in America, it was awful, powdered eggs, frozen industrial desserts, coffee was watery. It was not expensive, but it was awful.

Rather have breakfast at café, croissants and coffee around €5 or so.

Padraig

I like the convenience of having breakfast in the hotel, but would not pay €12 for it. So when I am deciding where to stay, the breakfast deal is a consideration in my choice.