Is Breakfast Included Actually Worth It When Booking a Hotel?

Hotel breakfast can be one of the loveliest parts of being away.

You wake up, wander downstairs and someone else has already made the coffee. There are no dishes to wash, no supermarket to find and no need to decide where to eat before you've properly woken up.

But that convenience comes at a price.

When comparing hotel rates, travellers are often presented with two options: a cheaper room without breakfast and a higher rate with breakfast included.

Which one actually offers better value?

The answer depends much more on your trip than you might think.

Start by Working Out What Breakfast Is Actually Costing

The easiest place to start is with the difference between the two room rates.

Imagine a room costs £130 without breakfast or £158 with breakfast for two people.

You're effectively paying £14 per person for breakfast.

Now ask yourself what you would realistically spend elsewhere.

If breakfast at a nearby café would cost around the same amount, the convenience of eating at the hotel could make the included rate worthwhile.

If you normally have coffee and a pastry for a few pounds, paying significantly more for a hotel buffet you barely touch makes less sense.

Do the calculation before assuming "breakfast included" automatically means better value.

Think About How You Actually Eat in the Morning

Holiday versions of ourselves can be strangely optimistic.

We imagine waking early, having a leisurely three course breakfast and starting the day refreshed.

In reality, perhaps you normally don't eat until 11am.

Or maybe you're perfectly happy with coffee and fruit.

If you aren't usually a big breakfast person, an impressive buffet isn't suddenly good value because you're on holiday.

Book for the traveller you actually are.

When Hotel Breakfast Is Usually Worth It

There are trips where having breakfast included can be incredibly convenient.

It can work particularly well for:

• Families who need everyone fed before leaving
• Resort holidays
• Remote accommodation with few nearby options
• Early sightseeing days
• Business trips
• Trips where you want slow, relaxed mornings

It can also make budgeting easier because one meal each day is already accounted for.

When Skipping Hotel Breakfast Makes Sense

There are equally good reasons not to include it.

On a city break, exploring local cafés can be part of the experience.

You might discover a neighbourhood bakery, have coffee somewhere beautiful or simply enjoy trying somewhere different each morning.

Skipping hotel breakfast can also make sense if you have an early flight, planned brunch reservations or expect to sleep beyond breakfast service.

There's little value in paying for something you won't use.

Check What "Breakfast Included" Actually Means

Not every included breakfast is the same.

Before paying extra, look at what the hotel actually offers.

It might be an extensive buffet with cooked options, fresh fruit and pastries.

Or it might be a very simple continental breakfast.

Neither is inherently bad, but the value changes considerably depending on what you receive.

Recent guest reviews can be particularly helpful here.

Don't Forget Location

Location can completely change the calculation.

If you're staying in a neighbourhood filled with affordable cafés and bakeries, skipping hotel breakfast gives you plenty of alternatives.

If you're staying somewhere remote where the nearest breakfast option requires a taxi, paying for breakfast at the hotel suddenly looks much more sensible.

Always consider the wider surroundings rather than comparing room rates in isolation.

Breakfast Can Be Part of the Experience

Value isn't purely about finding the cheapest possible meal.

Sometimes breakfast itself is part of what makes the hotel enjoyable.

A beautiful terrace, sea view or relaxed breakfast room might encourage you to slow down and enjoy the morning in a way you wouldn't at home.

If that's part of the trip you want, it has value.

The important thing is choosing it deliberately rather than automatically ticking the breakfast box.

Compare the Total Stay

This principle applies to hotel booking more broadly.

The cheapest room rate is not always the cheapest trip.

Breakfast, transport, parking and other extras can change the true cost considerably.

When comparing hotels, look at what the entire stay will cost and what you're receiving in return.

Secret Stays members can explore hotels and holiday homes around the world at exclusive rates, which means there may be more room in the travel budget for the extras you genuinely value.

And if a long hotel breakfast is one of your favourite parts of being away?

Order another coffee.

If it isn't, save the money and go find the little bakery around the corner instead.