Why are some hotel breakfasts so bad? I just have to say….

Breakfast is something I can take  or leave at home. Nothing special, important yes but a banquet, no. There’s never time. So when away, for me the breakfast really is the make or break of a great hotel. Hotel Breakfasts are very important. It’s often the last impression as we eat breakfast before leaving. It’s the way for hotels to really sing and dance but …. often it’s very disappointing.

Hotel La Gastocasa Breakfast
Hotel La Gastrocasa

A great hotel, and I presume most hotels want to be great at what they provide, have to lay on a finale – the final spread. A great breakfast. So why don’t they? How often have you looked over the selection and felt let down?  With no real desire to eat because it’s so uninspiring. What about the coffee machine? Does it grumble like an old man? Take ages? And then the coffee is just plain awful.

Hotel Viento 10
Hotel Viento 10

For larger hotels, yes it’s more difficult but I’m talking about those small, boutique, charming hotels that forget their charm in the morning, like a lover who sneaks out in the night.

Hotel Los Castaños
Hotel Los Castaños

What does it for me? Juice has to be juice. Freshly squeezed. Personally grapefruit or orange or the chance to have a mixture. I don’t want bacon and eggs but hubby would if on offer and freshly cooked but not when congealing and only lukewarm.

A choice of wholemeal bread and a toaster that doesn’t take forever then spit the toast out or loose it down the back. Extra virgin olive oil, fresh tomatoes preferably grated,  a choice of chopped fruit  and good coffee, made to order or maybe an Earl Grey tea (but I often have ‘my’ brand tea bag with me.)

What makes a good to fabulous breakfast for you?

Hotel Breakfasts are Very Important – to me. Are they to you? Please leave a comment and  let me know what you think and/or some great and not so great breakfasts you’ve experienced.

The Hotel Breakfasts in the photos are ones I have particularly enjoyed and rated highly, you can find these hotels on my Only Spain ~ Boutique Hotels site. I’ve linked each to its page below.

Hotel Viento 10, Cordoba

Hotel La Gastrocasa, Gandia

Hotel Los Castaños, Malaga

See my post on Two Great Small Hotels.