My family and I have booked a room at the Charing Cross Hotel in Paris for about 9 days. Everything has gone fairly well as far booking goes and the hotel has a great location in the city. Unfortunately there always seems to be a catch. We recently contacted with the hotel via email and without directly asking about this issue, they informed us that we are not allowed to eat or have food in the room. This is definitely a bummer to us, because it takes away some convenience and flexibility. A great example of this is that I don't like to swallow pills so I crush them up and take them with some kind of juice. It can also be nice to eat breakfast in the privacy of your own room without having to get everybody dressed and ready to go before going out.

This is hardly the worst thing in the world, but I was just wondering if this is typical of most hotel rooms in Paris or Europe for that matter. This information would help us know if we should be prepared to switch to a different hotel if there is anything else wrong with the room when we get there. This will also be our first time to Europe so we're already a little bit nervous about everything anyway. Your knowledge and/or opinions would really help put us at ease before we finally head to Paris on Monday.

I guess I have never specifically asked, but I don't think I have ever stayed at a place that didn't allow food. Why don't you rent an apartment if you are going to be there for nine days, you'll probably come out ahead. Also that hotel has mixed reviews on tripadvisor, I think you could do better.

We kept wine, cheese and crackers (and water) in our Paris hotel room. We made no attempt to hide it when the maid came in. I would be very surprised to hear that your situation is typical.

I wouldn't give a hoot for this hotel's rule about food in the room. I can't remember a hotel in France that did not have a notice that eating is not allowed in the room. I do what I like and don't leave crumbs around. Bring some wine, cheese, a baguette, sausage, and fruit to your room and picnic. Just clean up.

I have traveled all over the world and have stayed in many different kinds of hotels and have never heard of this. Seems very strange?

I have heard about this before. I treated it as a no speeding type of rule.
Be reasonable and there are no problems.
Just be clean and do not leave a mess.
Walking by reception with a grocery bag was never a problem.

Maybe they've had issues with bugs and/or mice or rats in the past, or really strange people who likes to have pickled herrings on a hot day, or just messy people in general?

I would look into renting an apartment. 9 days in one hotel room with your whole family does not sound fun! An apartment can cost the same as a hotel and will have a kitchen separate bedroom(s), probably laundry facilities too.

I have seen this rule in a few hotels in various countries and always completely ignored it.

Food in a hotel room is not at all a problem in France. In the cheap hotels, it's expected, and in an expensive hotel, why do you think room service exists if not to eat in the room?

Many times the hotel will let you eat or drink in its breakfast room. However, if you discreetly and carefully eat or drink in your room, just don't leave any food garbage behind. Put the scraps in a plastic bag and take it out with you and throw it out there.

I understand the hotel's point of view. In a miniscule room, guests are likely as not to spill food on the bedspread, the carpet, etc. and that would really be a pain to clean.

When I've been to Paris, though, I've stayed at chain hotels, and these did not have that rule.

It is really great to hear there are other savvy travelers, who are not so keen on this rule either. When I first heard of the rule, I figured they were using the favorite business tactic of the concessions at most concert venues and sporting events. As I'm sure you all know, many of these won't let you bring in food, but make you pay $5 for a bottle of water that costs a dollar or less in a grocery store.

I had just started really checking into the mixed reviews of the Charing Cross Hotel after I found out about the no food rule. I have to admit that I am now genuinely concerned that staying at this hotel will damper our trip to Paris. The apartment idea sounds like a much better alternative to hotels that are overpriced for what you get. Does anybody have any suggestions on where to look for affordable apartments? I just hope it isn't too late to find one that is available!

lanterjd, I don't have any experience with apts in Paris. But I know that many people on this board do. I hope that you'll get some responses from them. But, meantime, try doing a search here. Type apartments Paris in the search box and see what you come up with. If I read your post correctly, you're going Monday. So, obviously, you don't have much time.

Fruit juice and other drinks aren't 'food' so don't worry about bringing that in to take your pills.

I think this is quite a common rule. I've always interpreted it as 'we don't want people making a sticky greasy mess/stinking the place up with takeaway pizza/burger/Chinese/Indian etc.' Perfectly reasonable really.

Discrete cold food shouldn't be a problem. Just don't make a mess and remove the trash - how will they know?

We ate sandwiches, chocolate, bottles of wine, cheeses, fruit, etc in our rooms without giving it a seconds thought. I wouldn't worry about it.

Hi L,

We always bring wine, cheese and bread up to our room for snacks.

The hotel doesn't want you carting in a roast chicken, a pizza, a gallon of ice cream and 4 liters of Coke and leaving the leftovers in the trash can.

Don't make a mess and you'll be fine.

How strange. I just came back from Paris, and nothing was ever said to us about not eating in our room.

Of course, we aren't messy people. All our garbage was tied in 1 little bag and placed in the garbage bucket in our room.

Strange, TripAdvisor under "Amenities" says mine-bar, etc.

What's so special about this hotel for you? Its medium priced, not too high, yet its not budget. For 140E's a night, you could get a very comfortable apartment...for you and the family.

If you're leaving on Monday just book another hotel. Apartment rentals normally take longer to confirm etc.

Call the hotel and tell them you're considering cancelling as you wished to store juice and snacks in your room. Maybe they'll change their mind about the no food rule rather than lose your custom!


Also check Paris hotels on this site and on Tripadvisor. You can do better!

The rule(?) makes a lot of sense to me. Think of the positive aspects.
Hotel Monge is one place that makes this request. They invite you to use their breakfast room.
We stayed at Mas de Carassins in St Remy (considered an upscale place) and the room was over run with ants. The manager informed us that they were fighting a losing battle with guests not following their no food requests. It made the stay less than enjoyable.

I haven't been in a hotel that expressly forbade bringing in food, but have read others' comments about being told such. We do as above, cleaning up well, and taking the trash out ourselves the next time we walk out.