Hotel Room Service Done Right

Room service (RS) is necessity. Oftentimes I will intentionally book a hotel just because they have RS. It's important that the hotel posts the RS menu on their website along with prices so that I know beforehand if I need to bring something to eat because sometimes the menus get a little too locally creative and/or pricy (think alligator-eggs benedict and nothing else on the menu below $25). I either travel alone or with a handicapped person and usually my traveling partner is in pain after a hard day of travel. I am female and have been harassed at hotels by not only staff but also "lonely hearts" hoping for a hookup. Some have even come knocking on my door (how they found my room number I will never know)! When traveling alone, I have learned that ordering RS at night usually is my only dinner option.

I had to stay at a hotel for work recently that was in an area with only 2 breakfast places and they were both tiny with lines out the door. Room service breakfast was the best option, and it was always delivered on time and as a bonus, the waiter was a hoot. It was only available when the hotel restaurant was open though, so nothing before 7 a.m.

Rarely ever had room service, but the other day at a fine hotel on 1st ever business expense I wanted to kick myself after I realized we could have just gotten room service Instead of the expensive cafe and had the same food. I would do it of I were often doing business travel instead of going out, but since I'm used to my own penny then I'm always looking for just food.

I probably spend $20k a year on room service! Some places it's an extreme rip-off, but you can't beat the convenience. I also won't stay at a hotel that doesn't offer 24/7 room service. Hotels in Dubai are the best in this regard. Not only is everything 24/7, but the menus are extensive and the setup is divine.

I had an interesting room service experience at the Scandic Anglais hotel in Stockholm about 10 days ago. The hotel restaurant is a Jamie Oliver restaurant and was very good for hotel food. For room service you call and they call you when it's ready and you pick it up yourself on a nicely presented tray, much to the envy of people waiting for a table that are not staying at the hotel. I had an excellent ribeye with fries and still water for under U.S. $30 which is a phenomenal value for room service in my opinion.