The Trick for a Free Hotel Breakfast: Learn It for Your Next Booking

Included breakfast or not? That is the question. Sometimes, when travelers make a hotel reservation, they wonder whether it is worth paying for the hotel's buffet breakfast or if it's more cost-effective to grab something in the café. What many people don't know is that there is a trick that can get you a completely free hotel breakfast. Take note for your next booking and try your luck. It's true that this tip isn't foolproof, but generally, it tends to work at many accommodations.

Comedian and writer Carolina Iglesias, known to many on social media as @percebesygrelos, often repeats a mantra every time she travels that is quite relevant now. The Ondas Award winner says: 'To the hotel breakfast buffet, you must go down even if you're dying.' And we couldn't agree more, as our mothers always told us that 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' and we have internalized this completely.

When making a hotel reservation, it's time to decide on the meal plan that interests you. From SA (room only) to AI (all-inclusive), there are plenty of options. Some establishments, to attract customers, include the option of 'free breakfast' just for booking a room. In that case, you're in luck, as you won't have to do anything to enjoy the buffet first thing in the morning.

When traveling with family and booking family rooms, or if there are children in the 'package', some establishments offer free breakfast for the little ones. In this case, the kids are lucky, as the adults will have to pay their share.

If you haven't had that luck and want to eat breakfast at the hotel, it can be purchased as an additional service, but you should know that sometimes it isn't worth paying the price for breakfast, as in the U.S. (at least in our day-to-day life), we don't typically have hefty breakfasts. Generalizing can always lead to confusion, but it's true that most people can manage until lunchtime with just a coffee and a toast. Nothing like the Mexican breakfast for comparison.

There is no foolproof trick to get free breakfast at the hotel, but if you try this tip, you might be pleasantly surprised. Large hotel chains usually have loyalty programs for their customers. For example, the Paradores network has the 'Friends of Paradores' card, which gives you access to many offers, discounts, and promotions.

As we mentioned, if at the time of making the reservation, you also sign up for their loyalty or 'frequent guest' program, they usually give some perks to the guest, and sometimes, that perk is 'a free breakfast'. Another option, if you forgot to research the different offers, is to ask once you arrive at the hotel. The reception staff is more than used to informing guests about the benefits of loyalty programs and will offer you the possibility to join them.

It's also common that, if upon arrival at your destination you're interested in a room upgrade, they might offer you some perk (yes, free breakfast is among the most common). In this case, you'll need to pay the price difference for the room but, in return, you can have breakfast without spending a dime.

In conclusion, there are ways to ensure that your hotel breakfast is free, from loyalty programs to upgrades that come with benefits. So, before making your next reservation, carefully review the offers available at the chosen hotel and... enjoy breakfast like a king!