Who here always stays at hotels that offer breakfast packages? If anyone else does, let's high-five because I always choose a package that includes breakfast when staying at a hotel. Why? to sample and get a feel for the hotel's food. It could be a reference for future stays, that's the goal.
Especially since I'm a picky eater, finding new foods through hotel breakfasts and then discovering foods that suit my taste buds is a blessing or even a miracle. It will be remembered, and I will return. Breakfast at the hotel has become one of the most critical moments for me to try each hotel's signature dishes.
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However, to enjoy breakfast at a hotel, as a guest staying there, we must pay attention to some rules or etiquette for breakfast at a hotel. There are many basic manners for breakfast at a hotel that people don't know. Or even if they know them, they still break them. So let's learn together to apply the etiquette for breakfast at a hotel, because using these basic manners will benefit us in the future.
I learned these basic hotel breakfast etiquette rules when I took several hospitality courses and gathered information from several websites that discuss basic manners when staying at a hotel. Here are some hotel breakfast etiquette rules that you should know.
Hotel breakfast etiquette rules that you should know
1. Only wear slippers in your room
Hotel room slippers are only for use inside the hotel room, not outside. Regardless of their design, hotel slippers are intended for use only inside the hotel room. Additionally, hotel floors are usually a bit slippery, and hotel slippers are designed to be thin, making them even more slippery, as they are only meant for use inside the hotel room. Therefore, using them outside the room can be dangerous, as you could slip and fall.
2. Don't wear pajamas for breakfast
You will meet many people at breakfast, so wear modest clothing. Don't wear pajamas or nightgowns for breakfast. Hotel staff and other guests may not say anything, but respect yourself by dressing neatly and modestly. Pajamas are for sleeping, not for eating breakfast in public.
Therefore, wear modest and proper clothing when having breakfast at a hotel. We cannot predict who we will meet, so dressing well anytime and anywhere is the right choice. Even The Times, a British national daily newspaper since 1785, does not recommend wearing jeans when having breakfast at a hotel.
This attire is so important that some hotels abroad prohibit their guests from wearing certain clothes when entering the hotel area, such as sportswear, clothes that expose the stomach area, shorts, or sleeveless shirts, because they disturb the comfort of other guests. Some hotels have even determined a dress code for guests in the hotel area.
3. Report to the staff which room you are from
Before entering the restaurant, the staff usually asks guests where they are from. If they are not there, do your duty by reporting to the staff when they arrive. This is because they will usually make a report on the number of guests eating.
4. Look around first
To find out what food items are available, look around the entire restaurant area so you will know which food items to choose. This also prevents you from missing your favorite items or trying new foods at a new hotel. You can also ask about the favorite foods at this hotel and try them.
5. Queue up when taking food
Sometimes when we have breakfast at a hotel, it coincides with many other people. So, queue up when taking food. Or you can choose another quiet menu with no guests queuing.
6. Take only what you need
The following hotel breakfast etiquette is to take only what you need when taking food, don't take too much, and don't waste it. Take small portions of food; once you've finished, you can add more or choose another menu item. Don't fill up your table by taking too much food at once, especially if you won't finish it.
Eating in moderation or taking small portions at a time also allows you to sample all the available foods. This allows you to have a new experience with new foods.
In addition to taking only what you need, the goal is to finish your food. This way, no food is wasted. Remember that many people out there don't have enough to eat, so finish the food you've taken.
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7. Do not touch food or drinks with your hands
Another etiquette tip when having breakfast at a hotel is not to touch food or drinks with your hands. Not only are your hands not necessarily clean, but if other guests see you doing this, it will disturb their comfort.
Use the spoons or forks to take or taste something, and use the plates provided.
8. Return the cutlery
Remember to return the spoon, fork, or other utensils provided to their original place after eating. This will make it easier for others to bring food.
9. Use a clean plate to take the other food
Use a clean plate if you have finished eating one menu item and want to eat another, but do not use the same plate repeatedly. This will keep the taste of your food neutral, meaning it will not mix with the seasoning of the previous dish.
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10. Do not sneeze or cough in front of food or drinks
This is another rule of etiquette you should know when having breakfast at a hotel: never sneeze or cough in front of food. Not only can this spread bacteria, but it will also disturb others.
11. Eat and drink slowly.
Eat and drink carefully. Don't rush, as this can cause you to choke or not enjoy your food. Don't eat loudly so as not to disturb others.
In addition to respecting yourself by applying ethics, you are also respecting yourself and protecting others from discomfort. I am one of those people who is very disturbed when I hear people eating loudly. It can reduce the enjoyment of the food we are eating.
12. Do not wrap up your hotel breakfast
We have to pay extra for breakfast at the hotel, but that does not mean we can wrap up hotel food or drinks as we please. So do not wrap up your hotel breakfast outside the restaurant area, whether food or beverages.
This unwritten breakfast etiquette is a sign of respect for hotel rules. If you want the food but it is already full, you must ask permission from the restaurant staff first. If you take it reasonably, the staff will gladly allow it.
I once asked permission to take one of my favorite green apples with me, and they even offered to pack it for me if I wanted more. I said one was enough. However, I once saw a mother wrapping a lot of food in her box, and the staff refused. The insight is to ask permission from the restaurant staff first and ask for the food you want, but not excessively.
13. Take care of your children
Another hotel breakfast etiquette you must pay attention to when bringing children. If you are having breakfast with children, you can find a comfortable seating area for them, or if there are children’s chairs, seat them there.
Help your children choose their favorite foods. This will make them comfortable and prevent them from disturbing other guests. Also, help your children eat neatly so they don’t dirty the dining area and its surroundings.
14. Avoid breakfast at the hotel after exercising
Exercising causes our bodies to sweat, which can cause an unpleasant odor if we don't clean up immediately. So when you exercise at a hotel, don't go straight to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. This may disturb the comfort of other guests who are having breakfast. Clean yourself up first and wear comfortable and modest clothing for breakfast.
15. Maintain the comfort of other guests
When you have breakfast with friends, never be noisy; maintain the comfort of other guests. Several times, I have seen people having breakfast at a hotel, chatting and laughing loudly without regard for the comfort of other guests. They even chat with other guests at tables far away.
16. Have breakfast on schedule
Hotel breakfast is usually served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. local time, except during Ramadan, when those who are fasting can usually adjust their schedule. So, have breakfast right on time; don't wait until the restaurant is about to close.
Not only will you run out of food, but you will also disrupt the restaurant's schedule. They should be tidy and close at 10:30 a.m., for example, but because you are late, they have to delay closing, which automatically disrupts their lunch preparation schedule.
17. Help tidy up after eating
In our country, we are not yet accustomed to self-service in hotels. Let's get used to helping the restaurant staff by tidying up the chairs we sit on, not leaving food or drinks scattered on the dining table, or putting leftover food in one place so that the staff can just throw it away later.
So, you should know those breakfast etiquette rules at hotels. You can apply them gradually. Usually, the above etiquette rules are generally used in 4-star or 5-star hotels. Considering that most stay at these hotels for business, the above etiquette rules are more strictly enforced as a form of respect for clients or guests.
I obtained some information about basic manners or etiquette at hotels from a hospitality course, personal experience, conversations with several hotel staff members, and reading several references.
The application of the above etiquette ultimately depends on each individual. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Please feel free to adjust to your circumstances if it does not violate the existing rules. But of course, etiquette is there for the common good. This includes breakfast etiquette at this hotel, which is also for our own good.
If you have other tips or experiences about breakfast at hotels, please feel free to share them in the comments section. Even the most minor details will definitely benefit readers.
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