Declining mini bar key at Swan/Dolphin?

[snels]

Hi,
I don't plan on using the mini bar at the Swan. Should I just decline the key to the bar when it is offered? Have any of you done this?
Will the maids still open up the bar to check on the contents if we don't take a key at check-in?
Thanks for your replies,
Sandy

 

[HM]

If I stay somewhere with a minibar...I don't bother with declining the key. I just place the key on top of the bar and leave it there for the duration. If you don't use anything out of the bar, you won't be charged anything. (Did this at GF and HRH). -HM

 

[Disney1-30-98]

Hi
Just returned from the Swan and declined the key for mini bar. Not sure if maid checked anything or not. We had a mini frig which was the locked part and in a door next door to it was a set of shelfs with other mini bar stuff in it. The unlocked part kind of stinks if you have kids, mine are very curious. One afternoon someone came to our door and asked to check the mini bar out, that was the only tine I saw or heard someone about it.

 

[swilphil]

I declined the mini bar key at the Dolphin, just for the reason Disney1 stated. My son would have raided it. I wished I had taken it though just to be able to use the refrigerator. We had a stryofoam cooler, but I would have rather just used the fridge for our cold items.

 

[mathgeek]

I had this same question so I'm glad someone asked about it! I was wondering about this because the last time I stayed at the Swan, I took the key but set it aside and did not use it the entire time, then when I got home and received my credit card bill there was a mini-bar charge on it. Luckily I was able to call and get it removed. So I was planning to decline the key on this next trip.

 

[tennismom]

With three children, we too declined the mini bar key at check-in. However, after our first night we received a bill/receipt (left on top of the mini bar) for items that we did not/could not consume. We simply stopped at the front desk and they promptly removed the charge from our account. All I can guess is that they must have forgotten to restock after the last occupants of the room?

 

[kda]

When we check in at the Dolphin a few weeks ago, we were asked if we wanted the mini-bar key. That made it pretty easy to decline.

 

[erikthewise]

Great question! I had just been wondering whether I could get away with declining the key.

There is nothing one can do to prevent being charged for items in the minibar. You can use nothing, refuse the key, and encase the entire minibar in stryrofoam, and still get charged. Most hotels that have minibars put charges on peoples accounts, hoping that they will occasionally go unnoticed or unquestioned. If you do question it, they're all too happy to remove it.

(PS: I detest minibars!! )