Mini Bars
 

Does any (expense account excluded) use hotel mini bars?<BR><BR>It seems to me, especially in a place like Hawaii, that if they lowered the prices people might actually use them. I'd gladly pay $1 for a coke, but not $4.00. <BR><BR>Are there many other people who go to the local Safeway and empty the fridge and fill it with your own stuff? Or am I the only cheapskate?<BR><BR>CoachBoy

I'm with you CoachBoy. In fact I'm so thrifty (cheap is so tacky sounding) that I refuse to pay a buck a phone call in a hotel room. I take my two quarters and head to the lobby to make a call. Besides the exercise is good for me.

You are not a cheapskate. The people who consume those expensive drinks in the frig are either lazy or have too much money to blow. If I went on a trip with someone I would rather go with someone like you.

Just depends how much I want what's in the mini-bar. I can think of many times where I don't need a thing or had the time to pick up something on the way up to the room. But then I can think of a few times where I gladly would pay even more than $4 for my Diet Coke (or the rum to go with it!) :~) It's all about demand baby.

Kate, isn't that a fact! CoachBoy, I know in theory I should never pay $4 for a diet Coke, but sometimes it's the only hangover cure within reach, and that doesn't require me to get dressed first! <BR><BR>I have a problem with the minibar systems that don't let you replace that diet Coke you drank earlier in the day. <BR><BR>I recall when we checked into the Venetian in Vegas, the desk clerk warned us not to even *touch* anything in the minibar or we would be charged for it -- because they have these sensors that automatically charge you when you move something. Scary!

I just thought of another one. I actually drink water out of a drinking fountain or tap! Egads, I'm sure I'll get some hideous disease for that...or I won't get cavities 'cause the tapwater is flouridated.

The mini bar is the single most frequently errant charge on my hotels bills. I never even touch the thing, but I'd say I have some type of charge on my bill for it 1/3 of the time.

I agree with CoachBoy. I'd use them if the prices were anywhere near reasonable, but won't pay triple the normal price for a soda. I suppose they appeal to someone who just doesn't feel like going out for one reason or another. I know that sometimes I'm tempted when I get in to a hotel late at night, but I usually resist the urge to grab something from the mini-bar.

My opinion is that it is extremely tacky to clear out the mini bar and put your stuff in it. How about the person daily that has to check it? You can call housekeeping and they will do this for you.<BR><BR>In most cases, the hotel will provide you with a fridge upon request. Especially if it for a medical reason (insulin).

My fiance was just came home from a business trip in Miami and was telling me that the hotel that charged him $5 for a candy bar from the mini-bar that he never took. His co-workers found similar charges on their bills during the week that they were there. How many people just sign their charge slip and never notice the charge? In my opinion, this practice is equivalent to pick-pocketing people. Is there anything that can be done to hotels that swindle people like this?

You know, I've had the opposite experience a couple times, where I ate or drank something from the minibar and wasn't ever charged for it. It happened twice overseas though, maybe they're not as diligent about checking it as they are here.

I also was charged for a mini bar item which I didn't take. Checked out at 5am so I didn't examine the bill very closely. Guess they knew it wouldn't be worth my time to challenge such a small amount later.

I never use mini bars, but have been charged a couple of times. There is normally no problem when I tell them I didn't use it and then the remove the charge. But I think the maddest I ever got was when I did that in one hotel and the woman said, &quot;OK, if you don't feel you should pay those charges, the hotel will just have to write them off&quot;. It was as good as calling me a liar to my face. I was fuming.<BR><BR>When the mini bar has a separate key, I always refuse it, but that seems to be happening less often these days.

Sick? No, it's stealing.

Once when I was in Switzerland I thought I was being very clever by emptying out the minibar and filling it with drinks and snacks from a nearby grocery store. Then I got the hotel bill and they'd charged me hundreds of dollars for the entire contents of the minibar. What a disaster. Late leaving for the airport, rude hotel manager screaming at me in French, frantic trip back to room with employees from the hotel to show them the mini bar was full. Very embarassing and definitely not worth the few bucks I saved.