Continental Breakfast or not?

[maslex]

When traveling do you prefer to use the hotel's continental breakfast or do you prefer to go out to a restaurant?

At home, I do usually eat breakfast, maybe a bowl of cereal or bagel or oatmeal. But it's not a big meal for me.

But when traveling, I do enjoy to hit up an Ihop or other restaurant for a nice big breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, hashbrowns, juice or french toast, etc)

My husband on the other hand would just as soon as grab stuff from the hotel. I don't think it's because he loves the continental breakfast, I think it's more that he doesn't want to spend the money.

But to me, vacation is all about splurging and doing stuff that you might not usually do while at home. I'm not saying that I don't mind eating at the hotel a couple times during the week to cut down on costs, but I also think it's nice to enjoy a nice breakfast out (that's hot and good instead of grabbing a bagel or cold cereal at the hotel)

What do you enjoy?

 

[mamacatnv]

We pick hotels with hot breakfast buffet options, not just the continental carb offerings. Its cheaper for this family of four and we like the flexibility of eating at different times in the mornings. We indulge at restaurants for lunch and dinner while on vacation but generally not for breakfast but we all like that we can have just about anything we want at the breakfast buffets.

 

[abdmom]

We pick hotels with hot breakfast buffet options, not just the continental carb offerings. Its cheaper for this family of four and we like the flexibility of eating at different times in the mornings. We indulge at restaurants for lunch and dinner while on vacation but generally not for breakfast but we all like that we can have just about anything we want at the breakfast buffets.

This.

We stay at Marriott Residence Inns as much as possible.

 

[aprilgail2]

But when traveling, I do enjoy to hit up an Ihop or other restaurant for a nice big breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, hashbrowns, juice or french toast, etc)

We really don't eat breakfast on most days- if I ate all that for breakfast I would be sick the entire day! My daughter will grab a cereal bar to take to school with her and eat during 2nd period- it takes a couple hours for us to want to eat/drink anything after we wake up!

 

[maslex]

We pick hotels with hot breakfast buffet options, not just the continental carb offerings. Its cheaper for this family of four and we like the flexibility of eating at different times in the mornings. We indulge at restaurants for lunch and dinner while on vacation but generally not for breakfast but we all like that we can have just about anything we want at the breakfast buffets.

You know, I don't believe we've ever stayed at a hotel that had a hot breakfast buffet. Maybe that would have made a difference. I'll have to remember this when we book a hotel again. Thanks.

 

[anniemae]

We will do the breakfast at the hotel if one is offered. As others have said, it really helps with the cost for a family of four. I know you pay for it somewhere in the room price, so I can't see not taking advantage of it. I do agree that a big breakfast of eggs and bacon or waffles is nice while on vacation. We will do that if we stay at a hotel that does not offer breakfast.

 

[Poohforyou]

We eat at the hotel. I don't like spending precious free time in restaurants. Dh would probably like a big hot breakfast but that's a splurge he can't afford more than very occasionally. Give me a giant coffee and some yogurt and I'm good for hours.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We pick hotels with hot breakfast buffet options, not just the continental carb offerings. Its cheaper for this family of four and we like the flexibility of eating at different times in the mornings. We indulge at restaurants for lunch and dinner while on vacation but generally not for breakfast but we all like that we can have just about anything we want at the breakfast buffets.

Same here.

I am a morning person and I read, watch tv, drink coffee, surf the web, plan the day, etc... and eat the hotel breakfast while everyone is sleeping.

Now if the breakfast offerings stink, I will go out alone sometimes and get breakfast.

Or if there is somewhere special I want to go I WILL wake up dh and we will go out for breakfast. The kids sometimes go.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't seen a Continental breakfast in several years, even the least expensive hotels have switched to some sort of hot breakfast. Love the automatic pancake makers that Holiday Inn uses.

 

[Pigeon]

I opt for the free breakfast, if possible.

I'd rather not waste the morning with breakfast in a restaurant, and I like to save the money so that we can enjoy a nicer dinner later on in the day.

 

[Janepod]

I opt for the free breakfast, if possible.

I'd rather not waste the morning with breakfast in a restaurant, and I like to save the money so that we can enjoy a nicer dinner later on in the day.

I agree.

My ideal breakfast is one scrambled egg or half a grapefruit. I'd be sick if I ate more than that in the morning anyway.

 

[mombrontrent]

We have stayed at ALOT of different hotels over the years (we take road trips every year where we stay in at least 3-5 different hotels each trip). We try to always get a hotel with a free breakfast (with a family of 5 it really saves a lot of time and more importantly money). We have stayed a cheaper hotels such as the Days Inn or Super 8 and more expensive hotels such as Marriot or Hilton. Even the cheaper hotels offer a lot of breakfast variety now such as waffles, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit ect. There is always something there to satisfy all of us and fill us up until lunch time. Plus we will all grab an apple or a banana for a morning or afternoon snack on the way out. I would NEVER pay to go eat out for breakfast somewhere else since I am paying for it in the price of the hotel rate, I'd rather spend my money on lunch/dinner.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I opt for the free breakfast, if possible.

I'd rather not waste the morning with breakfast in a restaurant, and I like to save the money so that we can enjoy a nicer dinner later on in the day.

Same

 

[mombrontrent]

I agree.

My ideal breakfast is one scrambled egg or half a grapefruit. I'd be sick if I ate more than that in the morning anyway.

You do realize that a lot of times when people are going out for breakfast and eating a large meal it's probably not at 6-7am but more likely 10-11am. Besides breakfast is the most important meal of the day. One egg or half a grapefruit isn't enough to get your body fueled in the morning. I always eat breakfast within a half hour of getting up (6:30-7am), something like a bowl of cereal with bananas and blueberries or a slice of peanut butter toast and an orange, a breakfast pita and pineapple ect. It always includes fruit. Then I have a mid-morning snack or smoothie around 10am. and again at 2-3pm (no lunch). I never feel sick, I feel energized

 

[jgh]

Continental breakfast for sure. We always stay at Marriott (unless we're at Disney), and they have some AWESOME Belgian Waffle maker's and some good batter. You make yours fresh. YUM!

I'm not big on breakfast food anyway. I would rather eat lunch food for breakfast, however most people don't agree. But those Belgian Waffle's are pretty good!

 

[cluvsdisney]

It mostly depends on what's around or specifically a Cracker Barrel. I love their pancakes but don't get there too often since there really isn't one convenient to where I live. Otherwise, I'm good with grabbing something at the hotel.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You do realize that a lot of times when people are going out for breakfast and eating a large meal it's probably not at 6-7am but more likely 10-11am.

True, but you're certainly not getting free breakfast at your hotel at 10 or 11

 

[mombrontrent]

True, but you're certainly not getting free breakfast at your hotel at 10 or 11

True and I'd classify a meal at 10-11am "bruch". Brunch seems like more of an appropriate time for a large meal anyways

 

[Gumbo4x4]

True and I'd classify a meal at 10-11am "bruch". Brunch seems like more of an appropriate time for a large meal anyways

I agree - little something at 6 or 7 and then bring on the buffet about 10:30

 

[soccerdad72]

We usually just eat a little something at the hotel before heading out for the day. My wife hates breakfast food, so she goes and finds a Diet Coke and gets a bag of pretzels while the boys and I eat whatever the hotel has. Most we stay at generally have some sort of hot breakfast option, like others have said.