Swan/Dolphin mini-bar question....

[poppee1]

We are staying at the Swan in August for 7 nights (me, DH, DD, DS). We will need to have use of the fridge, but will not need the items in the fridge. Can we remove them ourselves and hope that DS doesn't find the items, or can we ask them to be removed ahead of time?

 

[Blondie]

I believe that there is a charge if you ask them to remove the contents for you.

 

[stringercapecod]

A few years ago on our first stay at the Dolphin (we've been back 3 times since then), we paid the 20.00 to have housekeeping remove everything from the minibar only to find it didn't keep things very cold. The beer which was warm going in was still not cold days later. The kids complained the milk was warm. We ended up putting ziplock bags full of ice in the minibar to get it colder. Now we bring a softside cooler and do the ice thing every day.

 

[jgates]

If you run into that, ask maintence to replace the fridge. Ours at the Swan kept things nice and cold. We removed enough from the front ourselves to stash soda in and it cooled off well.

I would suggest maybe moving the mb stuff into one of the dresser drawers and then covering it with a bath towel or something. Depends on how curious your little one is.

 

[poppee1]

Will they really charge me to remove their own items? That seems strange.

So what you are saying is that I should take out some items and put them away and then leave some items in the fridge? Won't they charge me ?

 

[tjmw2727]

They will charge you a one time $20 fee to empy the mini bar so you can use it for personal items. You can rent a mini fridge for$15.00 per day or you can take a chance that they won't charge you for removed items from the mini bar (very expensive!). They check every day or every other day for items removed from the mini bar - fridge.

For us we removed the items the first trip and it kept everything very cool. The second trip we stopped at the grocery store and bought what we needed along with a $2.50 styrafoam cooler and some ice and avoided all charges. Every floor has at least one ice machine - filling the cooler 1x per day kept even the milk icy cold.

Tj

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by poppee1
Will they really charge me to remove their own items? That seems strange.

So what you are saying is that I should take out some items and put them away and then leave some items in the fridge? Won't they charge me ?

If it happens to be a day they check the mini bar they will charge you full price for whatever is missing from the mini bar. They will assume you used it. ie ate or drank the item. They check every day or every other day at the most. Generally speaking right around the time housekeeping is making your room the mini bar "personnel" will check the items and make the appropriate charges for the missing items. If you take something out you will be charged - there is no replacing it later!


TJ

 

[Minnie's Mate]

We have stayed at the Swan twice within the last 5 mos. and both times were told at check in to remove enough items to make the room we needed and place the removed items on the top of the counter and we wouldn't be charged. Both times, the desk clerk voluteered this without being asked (different person each time). We did this on the first stay, but the fridge wasn't cold enough to keep my wife's lactose free milk cold, so on the second trip we just brought our oscar cooler in with our luggage (we are within driving distance and use it in the car anyway) and added ice each day.

The fridge locks, so you don't have to worry about the children getting into alcoholic beverages. If you put the items from the fridge in one of the drawers, you will be charged for them. The fridge police don't go looking through your personal items for wayward miniture liqure bottles or cans of beer; just leave them in clear view to avoid the charge.

 

[futomara]

Go for the cheap styrofoam cooler.....it is cheaper than any other option the hotel provides and will do a better job than their mini-bar keeping things truly cold. If you are driving, bring your own. We always drive and it is such a convenience, both in the car and the room to have your own cooler.