Alright, so I’ve been on a mission lately: finding the absolute best way to book hotels that include breakfast. Sounds simple, right? Turns out, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole. Let me walk you through what I did and what I found.
Phase 1: The Obvious Suspects
- Started with the big names, like *, Expedia, *. I figured they’d have filters for “breakfast included.” And they do! Sort of. The problem? A lot of times it wasn’t clear if it was a full buffet, continental, or just a sad coffee and a stale muffin. Plus, the prices seemed all over the place. I spent a good afternoon just clicking around.
- Next up, I tried directly on the hotel chain websites – Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt. Sometimes booking direct gives you perks. And, again, they had breakfast options, but the descriptions were still kinda vague. I even called a couple of hotels to clarify. Who has time for that?!
Phase 2: Diving Deeper (and getting frustrated)
I started Googling things like “best websites for hotels with free breakfast” and “hotel booking breakfast included tips”. That led me to a bunch of travel blogs and forums. Here’s what I learned:
- Read the Fine Print: This sounds obvious, but seriously, hotels love to hide details. Look for the words “complimentary breakfast” or “breakfast buffet included” in the room description, not just a little “breakfast available” line.
- Check Reviews: People complain about everything online. Use that to your advantage! Search the hotel’s reviews for mentions of breakfast. If everyone says it’s amazing (or terrible), you’ll know what to expect.
- Consider Package Deals: Sometimes booking a “bed and breakfast” package deal is cheaper than booking the room and breakfast separately. This is where I started to see some potential.
Phase 3: The Winners (and the one I’m sticking with)
After all that digging, here’s what I found worked best for ME:
- Google Hotels: I know, I know, Google owns everything. But honestly, their hotel search is pretty good. What I liked: it pulls prices from multiple sources, has a decent breakfast filter, AND links to reviews. I could quickly compare prices and see what people were saying about the breakfast. I used it to identify the best options.
- * (with a twist): Okay, I know I mentioned them earlier. But here’s the trick: use their “Rewards” program. You get a free night for every 10 you book. If you travel often, it adds up. I use Google Hotels to find the hotel, then check the price on * and book there if it’s comparable (to get the rewards).
The Bottom Line
Booking hotels with breakfast included isn’t rocket science, but it takes a little effort. Don’t just blindly trust the filters. Read the descriptions carefully, check the reviews, and compare prices. And honestly, Google Hotels is my go-to now. It streamlined the whole process and saved me a ton of time.
Hope this helps you on your breakfast-included hotel adventures!
