Leaving for France soon and after we leave Paris we will be staying in several Relais Chateaux properties throughout the country (Loire Valley, Rhone, Provence, & Cote d'Azur). I booked these hotels via internet and after recieving confirmations from them I noticed that all require you to have either their continental or American Breakfast! The rates range from 18-22 euros per person.We will be traveling with 2 children and the thought of spending almost $100.00 for breakfast for bread and cooffee is outrageous!! Has anyone encountered this and is there any way out of this breakfast obligation? We would like to enjoy a cheaper breakfast at a little cafe.

Hi Mary,<BR> I have never heard of this mandatory ADDITIONAL charge for breakfast. If it is mandatory it is usuaally just included in the room price and offered then as "complimentary." Most reservation confrimations do list the price of breakfast, as an FYI, but it is not compulsory that you indulge. This would seem especially strange at Relais & Chateaux properties, I've stayed at many of their partner establishments in France and elsewhere and never encountered this arrangement.<BR><BR>Perhaps you should e-mail one or more of the properties directly to confirm your reservation (not a bad idea generally) and inquire if the room rates quoted include breakfast. I'm looking at my confirmations for an upcoming trip and they either say includes breakfast or just list the breakfast prices, no mention of required purchase. We never eat breakfast even when it's included and have certainly never been charged.

Mary: As a veteran of many Relais & Ch&acirc;teaux stays in France, this sounds very odd to me. But given another similar thread on Fodor's about booking hotels on the internet and being required to pay for breakfast, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe there isn't something going on with the internet booking sites. <BR>You should not have to pay for breakfast in a French hotel - it should always be optional. I would call the hotel directly and inquire. Especially considering that children are involved - and that a French breakfast is worth maybe 3 euro at best - the hotel should be able to accommodate your request for no breakfasts. If it's the internet site that is requiring you to pay for breakfast, I'd cancel the reservation and book directly through the hotel, requesting the same rate. It's business - they should honor it.

Double checked the confirmations at 4 of my hotels. Each one lists the accommodation and the price followed by: "Additional cost for continental breakfast is --- euros per person. The first time I read these I assumed that it was a mandatory additional charge for breakfast but maybe they are just listing the price. Reading it you would assume you will incur the extra charge---hopefully not. Thanks for your interpretation!

"Additional cost..." is the key. You don't have to have breakfast, and you don't have to pay for it. Go to the local (if there is one) caf&eacute; and have a coffee and croissant. I don't know which properties you're staying at, but do be advised that there have been R&C places we've stayed that have been pretty remote, and one that was in a fairly large town outside Poitiers but where there was not a single caf&eacute; (sacr&eacute; bleu!), so it may not be possible to get an alternative breakfast. But you'll be in France, after all, and food will never be far off.

Mary,<BR><BR>Last year I stayed at one of the R&C hotels in Beaulieu sur Mer, and your second-look interpretation is correct. The breakfast is not mandatory, and it's a good thing! Yes, about $20 for breakfast left me stunned.<BR><BR>I went down to the harbor at Beaulieu for breakfast. There's a row of cafes facing the boats at dock -- you can enjoy your coffee & croissant while watching the folks on board wake up. Some may wander into the same cafe . . . If you're at Beaulieu, I'd recommend this.<BR><BR>s

Mary, I agree that the breakfast is not manadatory. Since many hotels, even in France, do offer complimentary breakfast it seems natural that those that do not would mention its cost and its availablitiy. Often breakfast is available even if no restaurnat to serve other meals. If you are remotely located as St. Cirq mentions, there might not be an option if you like your breakfast first thing but I can't imagine they'd charge you for the children or would provide something for them at a nominal fee.