4 Ways to Avoid Exorbitant Room Service Prices

People seldom check out of hotels without having a few supplemental charges to deal with. It could simply be a movie from the pay-per-view system or a drink from the minibar, but those costs stack up and room service charges are the worst of them all. You can end up blowing a bundle on room service – here are four ways to prevent that from happening.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Above all, you need to plan out your time – this is particularly important if you’ll be visiting a relatively unknown area. If you’re going out, make sure you know where there are acceptably-priced restaurants, and see if you can buy some cheap sandwiches and snacks from a supermarket. If you’re staying in the hotel for most of your visit, look around for local convenience stores and restaurants. If you don’t plan, you’ll end up getting back to your hotel starving and more than prepared to order room service.

2. Go Self-Catered

The best way to avoid paying for pricey hotel food is by going self-catered. With a fully-fitted kitchen at your disposal, you’ll be able to save a bundle by making your own meals and snacks – you’ll also be able to store any leftovers in the fridge for later. When you’re looking for self-catered accommodation, try searching for serviced apartments.

3. Stay Close to the City Centre

Plenty of people pick cheap accommodation far from the centre of town and then realize there’s nowhere to eat close by. The only thing left to do is spend a fortune ordering room service. It’s better to pay a little more and have plenty of eateries right on your doorstep.

4. Opt for All-Inclusive

If all else fails, you can always pick an all-inclusive option. Most hotels will offer to provide at least breakfast for free if you pay an added charge each day, and many will have similar deals that include lunch and dinner for a little more money. It’s not the most cost-effective way to eat since hotels still like to make a profit, but you should end up paying far less than you would ordering room service.