Dear Travel Influencers: Please Explain Floating Breakfasts

Dear Travel Influencers: Please Explain Floating Breakfasts

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If you follow any “travel influencers” on social media, odds are decent that they’ve posted a picture allegedly eating a ridiculously large breakfast in a pool. I just don’t get it, so I’m curious if this is just my (at times) Larry David-esque view of the world, or if I’m the only one who doesn’t find this concept appealing in the slightest?

The trend of breakfast served in the pool

There has been a trend in recent years whereby many people have posted pictures on social media of them eating a very large breakfast in a pool. Rather than getting room service on a tray that you can enjoy in your room, you instead get room service on a tray you can enjoy in your pool. I guess this is supposed to be an evolution of the concept of breakfast in bed.

For example, below is a video from Chalet Al Foss, of the “floating breakfast” (that’s like 18 pastries and some fruit — what a breakfast!). Speaking of Chalet Al Foss, do people actually pay to stay there, or is the hotel primarily designed for travel influencers? And if so, what’s the business model there?

Before I share my primary objection to this concept, I have to point out that I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a hotel that offers breakfast in the pool? Like, I’ve stayed in a fair number of very nice hotels, but I don’t ever recall calling room service to order breakfast and being asked whether I wanted that served on a regular tray or a floating tray, even when I had a private pool.

So is this actually something that’s widely offered, or is the Instagram travel influencer crowd in cahoots with the floating tray industry in an effort to make us request that hotels offer this? I dunno…

Eating in the pool is exceptionally unappealing to me

Eating in the pool has zero appeal to me, and I’m curious if it’s just me:

  • Aren’t we worried about food falling off the tray and into the pool?
  • The trays are always overflowing with food, so how are two people supposed to eat their dishes off a tray at the same time?
  • How do you keep your hands dry, so they’re not dripping with pool water as you reach for various things on your tray? What do you do if your hands get dirty? Just clean them in the pool water?
  • My priority when ordering room service is that the food is still the right temperature when I eat it, and the longer it’s “exposed” and being set up, the less likely it is to be the right temperature
  • What happens if I want a coffee refill?!
  • I simply don’t get the “evolution” from breakfast in bed (which is amazing and logical — who doesn’t like enjoying an effortless cup of coffee?) to breakfast in the pool…

I guess what my question boils down to is whether there’s any appeal whatsoever to eating in the pool beyond getting a shot for Instagram? I can appreciate that there are things that are fun for the novelty (like showering on an Emirates A380 — though I’d argue that never gets old), but I feel like even if I were served a floating breakfast tray, I’d just take it out of the pool and go sit somewhere else.

Bottom line

Based on the frequency with which you see floating breakfasts on Instagram, you’d think you could order one of these via Uber Eats. I get it’s intended to be aspirational, but to me it’s just highly uninspiring, and the logistics side of my brain is triggered by the whole setup. What’s the next hotel amenity — showering in bed, or sleeping in the bathroom?

Where do you stand on floating hotel breakfasts? Would anyone like one of these if they weren’t allowed to take a picture?

Conversations (78)
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  1. Kitty Guest

    Tell me even more how miserable you are and closed minded you are. Also tell us more how you’re so rich. After that tell us how we are peasants for not washing our hands before eating after jumping out the pool. I hope you just stay in your bubble of rich bastards who think everyone else is dirty. We peasants will be enjoying life on earth in the meanwhile.

    People like you who complain about...

    Tell me even more how miserable you are and closed minded you are. Also tell us more how you’re so rich. After that tell us how we are peasants for not washing our hands before eating after jumping out the pool. I hope you just stay in your bubble of rich bastards who think everyone else is dirty. We peasants will be enjoying life on earth in the meanwhile.

    People like you who complain about things like this are obviously not in touch with the real world.

    Too bad you’re so rich but you haven’t traveled the world to learn where this originated from.

    I imagine you can all Asian people “Oriental” LOL.

  2. Foodie Bestie Guest

    Well don't order it. The rest of us who want to try different and fun experiences will enjoy it without being overly picky and critical. Imagine I don't like BBQ's because of burnt food & sticky fingers and tell ppl its a waste of time...

  3. Chad Guest

    You're about three years late with this screed, but it's fully on-point. Floating breakfast trays make zero, ZERO sense. I have commented on more than one witless "influencer's" page how exceptionally dumb it is to chase a tray of food around a swimming pool and try to eat a meal that way.

  4. Laura Guest

    I thought the same thing re; breakfast in the pool in regards to wet hands. However, when offered a floating cocktail tray in our pool in the Maldives - this was a no brainer! Delicious, no concern for wet hands and of course a great picture ;) #notaninfluencer

  5. Emily Guest

    Bill Gates is an influencer. Nelson Mandela was an influencer. Heck, Emma Watson is an influencer. What and who are these guys influencing? I don't understand how an image of a floating breakfast is intended to influence... but then again, I am not a user of the mettaverse (and proud of it)!

    1. George Guest

      I still bet most of them both enjoy such luxurious stays for free and make money on the process. Certainly not a "job" for myself, but if it works for them, then apparently there's an audience and sponsors willing to pay.
      I would even argue that OMAAT is an influential website! For example if it weren't for such influencers I don't think I would ever be in the "miles game" and would still fly...

      I still bet most of them both enjoy such luxurious stays for free and make money on the process. Certainly not a "job" for myself, but if it works for them, then apparently there's an audience and sponsors willing to pay.
      I would even argue that OMAAT is an influential website! For example if it weren't for such influencers I don't think I would ever be in the "miles game" and would still fly economy class 90% of the time, instead of the other way around.
      Regarding breakfast in the pool: I have never ever tried eating anything while being up to my neck or at least chest in the water (as a matter of fact I haven't eaten anything with even just my feet in the water, just because it doesn't "fit", like that's not the place for that) and like omaat I would mainly find this very unappealing due to wet hands/face/food and also the feeling of food going to the stomach under water (I mean if you're not supposed to swim after a meal, I don't think it's a good idea to be swimming while eating either!). Just sit right outside and above that beautiful pool and enjoy the view while eating!

  6. Matt Guest

    I don’t understand what you find so nice and “logical” about breakfast in bed, and quite frankly, I’m surprised that you can’t understand how the same tray concept that’s used in a bed can’t be used in a pool. Why would you think you clean your hands in the water? Do you clean you hands on the sheets in a bed? I mean, by your logic, the water and the sheets would both be cleaned,...

    I don’t understand what you find so nice and “logical” about breakfast in bed, and quite frankly, I’m surprised that you can’t understand how the same tray concept that’s used in a bed can’t be used in a pool. Why would you think you clean your hands in the water? Do you clean you hands on the sheets in a bed? I mean, by your logic, the water and the sheets would both be cleaned, right? Stop thinking people can’t be civilized eating in creative places. Can you not also understand Dinner In The Sky? Try it before you speak about it. I personally don’t like eating where I sleep, and have had the floating breakfast in Phuket, but I’d much rather have breakfast at a table.

  7. Iowan Guest

    Ben,
    It’s like the difference between business and first class. There are some that will never get it however hard you try.

    Maybe there is something romantic, exotic or classy about a pool breakfast that you (and probably me) will never get. Btw with hotel status breakfasts why would you skip a ‘comped’ buffet and order be of these (e.g. Conrad bora bora)?

  8. meg Member

    Commenters hating on influencers when they’re on the blog of an influencer makes me wonder if it’s more that they hate influencers, or they hate the young female demographic they associate with the term “influencer.” Yes, bloggers are influencers. Ben influences all of you, that’s why you read OMAAT. Influencer doesn’t mean everything is free blah blah blah - it does for some, but for others, it just means that they are developing written, photographic,...

    Commenters hating on influencers when they’re on the blog of an influencer makes me wonder if it’s more that they hate influencers, or they hate the young female demographic they associate with the term “influencer.” Yes, bloggers are influencers. Ben influences all of you, that’s why you read OMAAT. Influencer doesn’t mean everything is free blah blah blah - it does for some, but for others, it just means that they are developing written, photographic, video or audio etc content that is influencing others (no matter how they have obtained those goods or experiences, paid/points/comped/travel advisor rates/media rates/etc).

    1. Eskimo Guest

      @meg

      You clearly are sexist as no one even mention anything about female demographic.

      And it actually does matter how the influencers obtained those goods or experiences.
      I guess you never hear the story of the receiving end. Properties / companies being threatened by influencers who demand free stuff.
      Or promoting certain status experience and treatment includes 'VIP concerts and sporting events, dine at Michelin starred restaurants'. While in reality, such elite could...

      @meg

      You clearly are sexist as no one even mention anything about female demographic.

      And it actually does matter how the influencers obtained those goods or experiences.
      I guess you never hear the story of the receiving end. Properties / companies being threatened by influencers who demand free stuff.
      Or promoting certain status experience and treatment includes 'VIP concerts and sporting events, dine at Michelin starred restaurants'. While in reality, such elite could be 'denied complimentary breakfast, room isn’t actually available on points, even though standard rooms are available for sale, etc. '

      People hate being blackmailed, mislead, or lied to. The problem is that's what many influencer do to make a living.

    2. Adam Guest

      HUGE difference between bloggers and "influencers". The former actually posts useful, actionable info. The latter typically posts stuff that's all "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! YOU CAN BE GLAMOROUS LIKE ME IF YOU ONLY BUY [this overpriced/ineffective/maybe-dangerous cosmetic/diet-pill/clothes made from slave labor/etc.]"

      I don't even know what Ben looks like and I don't care. And I don't aspire specifically to BE like him, but rather to LEARN from him.

      And if we want to...

      HUGE difference between bloggers and "influencers". The former actually posts useful, actionable info. The latter typically posts stuff that's all "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! YOU CAN BE GLAMOROUS LIKE ME IF YOU ONLY BUY [this overpriced/ineffective/maybe-dangerous cosmetic/diet-pill/clothes made from slave labor/etc.]"

      I don't even know what Ben looks like and I don't care. And I don't aspire specifically to BE like him, but rather to LEARN from him.

      And if we want to talk gender... well, one of the most amazing people I follow on Instagram is Nahre Sol. She thoughtfully offers incredibly insightful, useful, sometimes entertaining tips on playing piano. That's really different than what one gets from oft-scantily clad influencers (of any gender) doing absolutely asinine flexing.

  9. MV Trav Guest

    Oh come on, it does look kind of cool, don't overthink it!

    I love new concepts and ideas, and honestly, they do seem appealing as something to try ONCE.

  10. Alan Guest

    WTAF?
    I've never seen/heard of these before but seems like a totally bonkers concept, no thanks!

  11. Carrie Gold

    Soggy breakfast? No, thank you!!!!!!

  12. Jon Guest

    Umm. Also the basic concept that the morning is literally the coldest possible temperature for the water, since it's been cooling down the prior 12-15 hours???

    So I'm supposed to want to wake up, change into my swim trunks, get in the water and acclimated l, keep my hands dry, and walk around the pool following my floating tray of pastries and coffee, while fearing that none of my breakfast falls off the tray, and...

    Umm. Also the basic concept that the morning is literally the coldest possible temperature for the water, since it's been cooling down the prior 12-15 hours???

    So I'm supposed to want to wake up, change into my swim trunks, get in the water and acclimated l, keep my hands dry, and walk around the pool following my floating tray of pastries and coffee, while fearing that none of my breakfast falls off the tray, and that I don't spill the coffee all over my bare skin each time I take a sip in the ebbing water????!!!

    Ok yeah sure. Lol.

    1. patrick Guest

      Who said anything about changing into anythig? ;-)

  13. Baliken Guest

    Breakfast in bed is a gross concept.

  14. Theresa Guest

    me?I don't eat much,what I do is,,,I buy softdrinks in the nearest store,and what I soil,,that is a habbit for me,,,and it's nice

  15. Dankikong Guest

    Stayed at the Margaritaville Cap Cana a few weeks ago and had tacos in a floating tray on our swim up room. It was fun/different. Its available in as an option in the room service menu.

  16. Tej Guest

    Funny thing. Recently visited Waldorf Astoria Maldives and they had it as an option too. Don't recall exact price. Somewhere in the $150-200 range.

  17. Grey Diamond

    I think you follow too many 'influencers'. I never heard of a floating breakfast. It sounds stupid. I can understand having a drink in your private pool/jacuzzi. Even maybe a snack, but having a breakfast is just inconvenient. Seems dumb. I would be strongly inclined to actively avoid hotels that do this because I much prefer hotels that offer things that will actually improve the guest experience and not just look pretty.

  18. Charlotte Guest

    It’s been offered in a few places I’ve stayed in Bali, and appears to be a thing in the Maldives as well

    Last time I went to Bali it was included in the room rate. The staff thought I was strange not having it but I’d rather eat breakfast at a table

    Floating cocktails with a few nibbles in the pool on the other hand, I could possibly get behind. Or maybe ice cream? You know, snacks

  19. BookLvr Diamond

    This does not appeal to me.

    I do think it is clever, however, when colleges have a variation on "drive-in movies" in the pool. One college I know even showed "Jaws"!

  20. jane Guest

    This trend started well before Covid and is huge in Asia, well the few countries that are open again. It seemed to me a few years ago (prior to the big rise of so called Influencers) that it was mostly honeymooners and young Asian women on vacation. Almost as though the tour guide said it was a thing to do and so they all did! Hotels obviously developed the product into a nice little earner....

    This trend started well before Covid and is huge in Asia, well the few countries that are open again. It seemed to me a few years ago (prior to the big rise of so called Influencers) that it was mostly honeymooners and young Asian women on vacation. Almost as though the tour guide said it was a thing to do and so they all did! Hotels obviously developed the product into a nice little earner. The other thing that is interesting about it is the vast amount of food involved although not as much as your pics show, but most of the young women clearly eat almost nothing so its not about the breakfast, just about the photos! And as in most instances the rest of us are sitting at a table nearby actually eating breakfast and watching them as though it is a cabaret, it definitely must be viewed as a not to be missed experience!! Each to their own!!!

  21. Franklin Guest

    Take a trip to Bali. Every sad little villa on the entire island will offer you this.

    1. TravelinWilly Diamond

      The villas at which you stay in Bali are clearly not the villas at which I stay.

      Thank goodness.

  22. Dr. Respect Guest

    Ben it's like when you talk about having doors for a seat as the best thing ever.
    Some of us don't get it either.

  23. flybyFIRE Guest

    This is huge in SE Asia right now. The Conrad Koh Samui offers it now, as do most of the luxury hotels with pool villas.

  24. jash Guest

    THANK YOU!! when i first saw it i was like wow, nice. but then the realities you point out quickly set in...and for most, its a sub-par continental breakfast just spread out to look "right" and like its some luxe thing which its not. i prefer my omelette on a stable table thank you!

  25. Drew Guest

    Hahaha. Excellent post. It's great when you give your opinion on stuff like this.

  26. Chris Guest

    I think you’re overthinking it.

  27. brianna hoffner Diamond

    I love that TikTok where the guy is zoomed in really tight on his floating breakfast and as he zooms out you realize that he's just floating it on a tray in his bathroom sink.

  28. Ivan Guest

    They should just toss fifty poached eggs in the pool. You can swim around eating them like a fish, no utensils required.

    Seriously tho this seems a bit unsanitary. Certainly some of that food will end up in the pool.

    1. patrick Guest

      Nice!! I like that idea. Maybe some pastries in plastic baggies too. ;-)

  29. GT Traveller Guest

    Fruit skewers, or cheese cubes, with something to drink could work, but full breakfast on the pool: no!

    Influencers at least make money from their posts, what I just don't get is people who waste time and money looking for the perfect picture to get more LIKES.

  30. Dc_nomad Guest

    @ Ben- (like showering on an Emirates A380 — though I’d argue that never gets old) you are right on this, it just doesn’t!!!

  31. Never In Doubt Guest

    At work in the swimming pools of the view farmers.

  32. Sel, D. Guest

    You could have done this at Pedregal. I agree it’s a bit silly, but definitely fun to do. I think it’s better with chips/salsa/beer than something you have to fork and knife. Don’t be an LD and just enjoy it - I think you have to try it now.

  33. STAKK Member

    Stayed at the Al Maha Dubai last year and our assistant confirmed that this is done only done for photos/Instagram. The way they do it at Al Maha is that they will deliver the basket, put it in the pool, you jump in and take a bunch of photos and then most people take the basket back out of the water and eat at a regular table. Obviously, we didn't do it - the notion...

    Stayed at the Al Maha Dubai last year and our assistant confirmed that this is done only done for photos/Instagram. The way they do it at Al Maha is that they will deliver the basket, put it in the pool, you jump in and take a bunch of photos and then most people take the basket back out of the water and eat at a regular table. Obviously, we didn't do it - the notion of having pool water all over my breakfast was not appealing. Plus I like to sit at a table when I eat.

  34. Efer Guest

    Its just gross, as is the word "influencer".

  35. bill Guest

    You've stayed at the St. Regis Bali, which offers this in suites.

  36. Bao Member

    Definitely only for the 'GRAM.
    No logical way to eat that whatsoever.

  37. Echo Guest

    "Influencers" like these people who eat breakfast in a pool (WTF?) are ruining travel for the rest of us. Take, for instance, the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire. Visiting the pool on a Saturday afternoon, it used to be a bunch of Russian oligarchs and supermodels. On my last visit in April, it was a bunch of teenage TikTokers (and a waiting list to get a lounge chair). Until we find a way to transform the...

    "Influencers" like these people who eat breakfast in a pool (WTF?) are ruining travel for the rest of us. Take, for instance, the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire. Visiting the pool on a Saturday afternoon, it used to be a bunch of Russian oligarchs and supermodels. On my last visit in April, it was a bunch of teenage TikTokers (and a waiting list to get a lounge chair). Until we find a way to transform the value proposition for "exposure" to large masses of people who cannot afford these products or services, I worry things will only get worse.

    1. Eve Guest

      Your logic is astoundingly bad. So according to you, people who should have access to travel or luxury properties are oligarchs or supermodels but not for the masses or “tiktokers” (boomer much?), who fyi is the future, and have access to new money, should not be allowed.

      Basically people should not enjoy their life unless they have money coming out at the cost of the middle class or look like a Victoria secrets model

      ...

      Your logic is astoundingly bad. So according to you, people who should have access to travel or luxury properties are oligarchs or supermodels but not for the masses or “tiktokers” (boomer much?), who fyi is the future, and have access to new money, should not be allowed.

      Basically people should not enjoy their life unless they have money coming out at the cost of the middle class or look like a Victoria secrets model

      How entitled are you? I have studied in private school and even the students there are not as snobby or entitled as you

    2. Eskimo Guest

      Well that's what happen when you take the rich oligarchs who can out pay any influencers vacation out of the picture. You get large masses of TikTokers who cannot afford these products or services but hotels still need to make money.

      So next time you vote, ask yourself oligarchs, or TikTokers?

      Until we find a way to transform the value proposition for "exposure"....
      We have it, it's called IRS. Do you know how many influencers avoid US territory over 30 days?

    3. Eve Guest

      The first time I went to a W property was due to Instagram and YouTube influencers, not because of an Oligarch. And the only reason I became Ambassador Elite on Bonvoy and Platinum on Accor ALL, alongside my other FF loyalties, is because of the inspiration that I got from these influencers which made me wanna enjoy the benefits, NOT FROM AN OLIGARCH

      besides I run a fairly successful Instagram account with a decent following,...

      The first time I went to a W property was due to Instagram and YouTube influencers, not because of an Oligarch. And the only reason I became Ambassador Elite on Bonvoy and Platinum on Accor ALL, alongside my other FF loyalties, is because of the inspiration that I got from these influencers which made me wanna enjoy the benefits, NOT FROM AN OLIGARCH

      besides I run a fairly successful Instagram account with a decent following, and my vlogs of such properties itself has translated to some of my followers staying in certain properties and using certain premium flights

      So there is an actual real world tangible value of these influencers

    4. Eskimo Guest

      Ok this might land me in hot water but who cares.

      Oligarchs are not salespeople, influencers are.
      But while you didn't stay at luxury places because of the sheikh, or oligarchs, it's their lifestyle that you are following. Private Jets, villas, yachts etc. You bring up DYKWIA status and ask for (demand) upgrades and freebies, the real ballers will have them comped. You wanna enjoy benefits like floating breakfast? It probably started as a...

      Ok this might land me in hot water but who cares.

      Oligarchs are not salespeople, influencers are.
      But while you didn't stay at luxury places because of the sheikh, or oligarchs, it's their lifestyle that you are following. Private Jets, villas, yachts etc. You bring up DYKWIA status and ask for (demand) upgrades and freebies, the real ballers will have them comped. You wanna enjoy benefits like floating breakfast? It probably started as a comp or special service to crazy rich Asians. Even @Lucky has been to so many of the properties and didn't knew they offered it.

      One important thing for readers, please don't take on debt so you can live the influencer lifestyle. It's not worth it. Don't sign up for cards if you can't fully pay it off.

      Now I do agree, there is actual real world tangible value of these influencers. They pay you a fraction of what they pay agencies. They give you the lifestyle for one day and save tons of money on advertisement. You can call it win-win, but for them it's just like outsourcing to cheaper labor.

      P.S. I do follow influencers. They do influence me. I do have a lot of respect for influencers, just not all of them.

    5. DCAWABN Guest

      @Eve: Speaking of sounding entitled... and like a triggered influencer. Yikes. A "fairly" successful Instagram account AND vlogs, too? Oh my...I'll call Guinness! I'm sure there's some record for fairly successful Instagrammers who also vlog.

    6. Eve Guest

      @DCAWABN I am not an influencer but I happen to work in an industry that requires me to fly around various destinations every few days, and it involves me staying at many different hotel properties, some paid for by my company and some myself.

      It happens that I also vlog my travels and i am not one to be triggered since, I pay for my stay. You do not reach ambassador elite on complementary stay,...

      @DCAWABN I am not an influencer but I happen to work in an industry that requires me to fly around various destinations every few days, and it involves me staying at many different hotel properties, some paid for by my company and some myself.

      It happens that I also vlog my travels and i am not one to be triggered since, I pay for my stay. You do not reach ambassador elite on complementary stay, it requires paid nights.

      I won’t call myself influencer but I do consider having 10k + followers on Instagram to be fairly successful. I do not earn any revenue since it isn’t a business account but it is a good place for me to journal my travel experiences. And considering the fact that I know I have influenced several of my followers and even friends to try out some hotels or airline that I vlogged. It is also fair to say there is actually a tangible value to influencers

      I do agree with Eskimo, off course people should not volley money that they don’t have and get into debt which will hurt them just to live a life they can’t financially sustain. Nor do I encourage influencers like Sam Chui who gets benefits and services that a normal pax won’t ever get.

      But there is also many with enough income and financial ability who would aspire to experience these new things they see. Social media has also lead to a boom in tourism of new places, and new markets has opened up. I think we are passed the point about arguing this topic

  38. Eric Guest

    At some level most all travel blogging approaches this issue.

    I think Ben is an intelligent and thoughtful person and his blog is likely the best product in the travel blogging space, but when you think about the actual logistical and environmental "tail" that must exist to provide a shower on a plane, JFC.

    Our current technologies would destroy the entire planet to provide 3% of the population the opportunity to stay in an overwater...

    At some level most all travel blogging approaches this issue.

    I think Ben is an intelligent and thoughtful person and his blog is likely the best product in the travel blogging space, but when you think about the actual logistical and environmental "tail" that must exist to provide a shower on a plane, JFC.

    Our current technologies would destroy the entire planet to provide 3% of the population the opportunity to stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives or shower on a plane, experiences than in and of themselves don't provide happiness or purpose.

    1. Eskimo Guest

      You probably never stayed in an over water bungalow in the Maldives or shower on a plane.

      Even this blog is among the top travel blogging space, you still get the 'influencer' premium cabin seat, closed door, and Champagne.

      And your math is way way off, no way 3% of the population will get to stay or shower on a plane. While you're at it why don't you complain about global warming, flying airplanes, burning fuels etc.

  39. Andy Guest

    You should post this on your Insta and I hope it goes viral. Real travel blogger outs silly fallacy.

  40. Eve Guest

    W Singapore used to do it I believe in the suites with the private pool. I asked for it during my stay but manager apologised for it and told me that due to various incidents where guest kept on spilling the entire tray, they stopped offering it as a service. But due to my status, they were willing to offer it as a one time thing, though I did not get it as I found...

    W Singapore used to do it I believe in the suites with the private pool. I asked for it during my stay but manager apologised for it and told me that due to various incidents where guest kept on spilling the entire tray, they stopped offering it as a service. But due to my status, they were willing to offer it as a one time thing, though I did not get it as I found the buffet to be quite appetising instead, since you can order small plates on demand for free

    But considering the fact that management put an emphasis on the tray falling over, I do think it is just a cosmetic thing and not practical

  41. Jeremy Mitchell Guest

    We did this once in Bali but agreed 100% that it’s ridiculous. 100% kitch, 0% logic.

  42. VitaliU Diamond

    I cannot decide what is more ridiculous: floating breakfast or the notion of an influencer

  43. Endre Guest

    It’s not just floating breakfasts. Thank Buddha, I don’t follow any travel influencer on social media, as they mostly post fake stories, or worse undisclosed sponsored content and sacrifice credibility/authenticity for paychecks. Sam Chui is such a negative example.

  44. Stuart Guest

    This is kind of like burning aromatherapy candles in a rental car. Stupid.

  45. Stuart M Guest

    You actually have stayed at a resort that offers it…Waldorf Astoria Maldives. Just search on google and you will see. I did it once for my wife for her instagram but it’s truly only for a picture. I kept worrying about food dropping in the pool.

    1. Gaurav Community Ambassador

      And the Conrad Bora Bora :)

  46. Sinter New Member

    It really is just for an Instagram photo... and funny enough it takes a hilariously long time to get that one perfect photo with a floating breakfast. There's a hotel in Bali right outside of Ubud that got super famous by inviting every travel influencer to post the exact same shot eating breakfast in their main pool. The wife and I have thankfully never tried it since most spots charge an absurd markup to do it.

  47. Vincent Guest

    I did that in Mexico a few months ago. It’s really only for the show! I had eggs Benedict, which I ended up eating on the side of the pool because using a knife to cut anything on a floating device is not a good idea if you want to keep the rest of the breakfast dry! I guess this is the type of thing you need to do once but that you don’t do twice.

    1. Kayli Guest

      Same here, I did this once in Mexico because I thought it was a cool idea. It definitely wasn’t practical though lol. Once I got my obligatory picture, we carefully took the tray to the outside table and ate from there.

    2. Mh Diamond

      Why do you even need to do it once?

  48. RetiredATLATC Diamond

    Possibly the dumbest thing to do in a pool, besides sex.

    1. Nikojas Guest

      Surely you are more waterproof than a croissant?!

    2. John T Guest

      They literally only do this for social media reactions. I doubt they eat any of it.

      "Influencers" are fake A-F. Don't believe the hype.

  49. Glove Guest

    Not an insta user so I guess I’m shielded from such idiocy!

    1. Janto Guest

      Instagramable doesn’t mean logical, same as those Christmas tree Led onboard trend last years haha

  50. Ben Guest

    I had it once in the W maledives in the overwater villa’s pool. Cost an extra 50 usd for the tray (had breakfast included as ambassador). Funnily enough, when the breakfast was brought for a random reason the jets went off and floated the breakfast. We then got a new floating breakfast which was free. Overall not practical, but cute picture. They didnt offer it proactivly but we aaked for it btw

  51. eric Guest

    hey, everything for the picture ;-)
    well if i'm in a villa with infinity pool and viw I might try it

  52. the dave Guest

    fun fact: hotel al foss is in a very small valley in trentino alto adige, very near my mountain house (val di sole)

    i read reviews about it complaining about the fact that a lot of wannabe influencer go there, and then the staff close temporary the (very small) pool to allow them taking clean shots

    like, you pay a hell of a price to be told that there is a snowflake that cannot be disturbed at the moment

    1. DCAWABN Guest

      THIS is my issue with "influencers". That term has lost meaning since anyone with 1k followers (many of whom buy theirs) becomes a choosy beggar. Hell, my DOG has 1.2k followers. So there's this narcissistic mindset that anyone with an iPhone is important. And hotels eat it up and inconvenience actual customers. Well, not hotels I'd stay at, I guess. But I'm not the target demographic - young GenXer with my own money. I'd even...

      THIS is my issue with "influencers". That term has lost meaning since anyone with 1k followers (many of whom buy theirs) becomes a choosy beggar. Hell, my DOG has 1.2k followers. So there's this narcissistic mindset that anyone with an iPhone is important. And hotels eat it up and inconvenience actual customers. Well, not hotels I'd stay at, I guess. But I'm not the target demographic - young GenXer with my own money. I'd even say if a hotel pandered to this chicanery, I would avoid it actively.

      The one solace I have is that not a lot of influencers are particularly financially savvy or educated - the epitome of surviving on their looks and youth but without an actual modeling contract. So there's the schadenfreude to be had that when they're no longer cute and young and have nothing to fall back on. This trend will die out on it's own, we just have ignore it while it's still in its upswing.

    2. Michael SEA Member

      Hey, don’t tarnish GenX with this influencer bs. The youngest of us are just turning 40! Blame the millennials!

  53. Dominic Guest

    I had one of those suites in Santorini where you have your own private pool. I ate breakfast in there once (and drank way too much Greek wine several nights) in there.

    Does that count? :)

    1. Eskimo Guest

      After so much wine, where did you pee?

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

VitaliU Diamond

I cannot decide what is more ridiculous: floating breakfast or the notion of an influencer

6
Efer Guest

Its just gross, as is the word "influencer".

4
Glove Guest

Not an insta user so I guess I’m shielded from such idiocy!

4
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