What does your hostel serve for breakfast?
I'm asking because in some countries people eat a very small breakfast, and in other countries (like the USA) breakfast is a significant meal. I'm wondering if some backpackers are unsatisfied when they find out that free breakfast is a few slivers of bread and some jam, or if they just accept that it's a different culture and make do.
Here's a list of reviews on Hostelworld that talk about free breakfast:
http://www.google.com/search?q=reviews+%22free+breakfast%22+site%3Ahostelworld.com&num=100
16 years
We serve a light breakkie which is unofficially all-you-can-eat, we just don't promote it that way.
It consists bread, butter, jam (3 of a kind), cereals (4 of a kind), nutella, honey, milk, coffee and tea. I know it's not that much but ham, cheese or eggs requires special conditions and we didn't want to bother with special licenses.
It is included in the price.
16 years
I was asking this question because the I Hate Hostels group on Facebook was complaining about breakfast:
The “free breakfast”. A plastic cup of coffee flavored slush and an stale croissant isn’t fooling anyone.
I'm thinking about the hostels I've been to overseas where breakfast is one croissant, or the equivalent of one slice of bread with some jam. I'm not complaining about it because I know that breakfast culture is different, but I usually have go out to get some more food by 10:30 :D
Americans are programmed to believe that breakfast is most important meal of the day so I'm wondering if some people think the one croissant breakfast is because the hostel is being "cheap" and if that is reflected in the reviews. (I don't know -- maybe not.)
It consists bread, butter, jam (3 of a kind), cereals (4 of a kind), nutella, honey, milk, coffee and tea.
Sounds good... it's hard to go wrong with cereal.
16 years
I have this problem with breakfast (it's a continental breakfast (bread, jam, hot drink)
That's why this year we decided to upgrade the breakfast with 1 croissant + 1 glass of orange juice.
16 years
What was the problem about?
Cereals seems to be easier to store and also can be more filling than a croissant... People seem to be satisfied with many options than just the one. We started with only cereals and yogurt, then realized that the yogurt started gone missing more... so switched to milk. some people don't want to eat cereals only, so we've got the rest. Since then, no problems... ;) Except the ones who demand ham n eggs but we could skip those.
Something to be proud of, we still've got the same budget for breakkie, even if we've extended the menu and rose the quality as people don't seem to eat much more than what they need. Also wise bulk shopping helps a lot! ;)
16 years
Ther are about 10 types of breakfast. 8 of them are called "Continental breakfast". The 9th is English (or Scottish, etc) Breakfast. The 10th is American.
Continental breakfast can mean one mug of tea/coffee (no refills), and 2 slices of bread or toast (sometimes cold) with margarine and jam. OR it can mean all-you-can-eat cereal, grapefruit, orange juice, muffin, slices of home-made bread and butter with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, ham, jam, marmalade, pate, yogurt, tea/coffee as much as you like. So 'continental breakfast' is not a useful term.
16 years
There's a "I hate hostels" group on Facebook? Thats quite strange.. What's the primary cause of their hatred?
16 years
I am accustomed to carrying my own food. In a British hostel I will prepare my own cereal & milk, boiled egg, toast and spreads. I resented it when some SYHA hostels (which all have good kitchens) started making their breakfast "compulsory" (ie paying for it was compulsory!), which was usually boring. When travelling in other countries, I will pay for the breakfast if it seems good value -- as long as I know what it costs, I am not offended by the idea. A "free" breakfast is welcome of course, but perhaps 20% of them are miserable.
16 years
What do people think about non-free breakfasts?
Ours is non-free, it costs EUR 3,50. That seems to ba a rate people are happy to pay if it´s a good breakfast.
There is no such thing as "free" breakfast. If you include it in the room rate, you have to raise prices for the rooms. I have had both, I worked in hostels where it was included, too. There are always people who check out very early or plan to sleep in and then they ask for a refund for the breakfast they don´t eat which you can´t give because it´s "included".
I´m quite happy with our solution and apparently the guests are, too. What I´m thinking about though is to make tea and coffee "free" - all day long.
16 years
There's a "I hate hostels" group on Facebook? Thats quite strange.. What's the primary cause of their hatred?
From the group's description:
When I “do Europe”, I will do it in hotels or resorts, first class, with my fiancé or my best friend. Leave the dirty dreadlock wearing backpackers to their own sort.
In response I started a group called I Love Hostels :)
What I´m thinking about though is to make tea and coffee "free" - all day long.
If enough people drink coffee/tea in the afternoon I wonder if it would be possible to sell or give out pastries.
At one hostel I worked at we got all the leftover doughnuts from the supermarket for free at the end of the day and put them in the office fridge in a giant bag. Backpackers love free doughnuts, even if they might be a little squashed.
(Actually, I'm just remembering that this hostel gave out a selection of all-you-can eat free food whenever the office was open -- cook it yourself. Bulk dry and canned food is cheap.)
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