Readers of this blog will know that free breakfast is a core part of our travel experience. While it’s not the reason we travel, it plays a huge part in deciding where we stay at our destinations and what drives our loyalty.
For a family of four with two active and, usually, hungry boys, getting the day started off quickly and drama-free sets up the rest of our day for success. Not only does free breakfast save us a ton of money, but also a lot of time and stress. We don’t have to figure out where to go to eat when we wake up in a new city/timezone.
We learned this lesson early on and took it to heart. It was a driver to originally getting SPG and later Marriott status which affords us breakfast for at least two of us at most of their hotel brands. We often choose hotel brands based on the availability of free breakfast based on our status.
With our relatively recent discovery of Hyatt, we’ve found their program offers even better breakfast benefits consistent across all their brands. It’s a wonder we didn’t find it sooner!
That said, I recently asked Tomatico to rate his favorite free breakfasts based on the places we’ve been over the years. He’s quite particular and has an amazing memory when it comes to food. Too bad he wasn’t as good at remembering to pick up his room….
Most of the hotels are Marriott properties as that’s where we’ve stayed the most. All of these are places were at least two of us got free breakfast either as part of the room rate or as part of our status. Here is his list
10. Four Points By Sheraton, Barcelona Spain
This was a hotel we visited in early 2020 before the year took a turn for the worse with COVID. At the time of the stay I had Platinum status and my wife had Titanium status. Since we had two rooms with two free breakfasts for each room this one was free for all four of us. It was a buffet with a wide selection including several local choices (jamon!). It also had some unexpected choices like cookies which made for great snacks between meals.
9. Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa, Hawaii
The pineapple was amazing (shocker!). If you’ve never had fresh pineapple from Hawaii you don’t know what you’re missing. It tastes nothing like the sour/flavorless junk you get at the supermarket (unless of course your supermarket is in Hawaii!).
The breakfast buffet was excellent overall. It had an omelet station where Tomatico was on a first name basis with the staff by the end of our 5 night stay. The overall food quality and variety was above average as well.
Due to my wife’s Titanium status we got breakfast for all four of us instead of just two of us.
8. JW Marriott Essex House, New York City
We stayed at this hotel over Christmas in 2017 and had a fine stay. The location is across the street from Central Park and close to all sorts of New York City highlights. Due to my wife’s SPG Gold status at the time (equivalent to Platinum status now), all four of us got free breakfast in the lounge. The lounge breakfast was the same buffet as the attached restaurant with a large number of options including fresh fruit and lots of hot options. It did not have an omelet station or else it would have placed higher on the list. Being that it’s in Manhattan, it saved us a ton of money as paying for the buffet was $40-50 per person.
7. Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel and Suites, Dubai UAE
We had a great time in Dubai and this hotel was a big part of that. While my wife’s Titanium status only got free breakfast for two of us, the kids got a discount on their breakfast and we got a 15% discount on any food on top of that as part of her status.
The buffet had a good selection of western choices, including an omelet bar, but also had several arabic selections as well. It also had several fresh fruit juices that rotated daily. The staff was memorably fantastic which never hurt it in the standings.
6. Sable Oaks Marriott, Portland, Maine
We have frequented this hotel on our trips to Maine in the winter to visit family. The hotel has an indoor pool and, as a business hotel, was usually super cheap (especially with AAA rates) on the weekends. As a Titanium member we’ve always gotten breakfast for all four of us.
The breakfast buffet included an omelet station as well as a waffle station. It had a decent selection of fresh fruit and other breakfast staples with good quality. This hotel was renovated and rebranded as a Sheraton in 2019. We’ve stayed there since the renovation and unfortunately the breakfast buffet isn’t as good. The omelet and waffle stations were removed and there are fewer options. It’s still well above average and the renovations look great, but as far as the breakfast buffet, it’s just not as good as it used to be.
5. Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, UAE
We had a wonderfully magical stay in this resort about an hour from Dubai. The experience was unique and memorable. Of the Marriott hotel brands, Ritz Carlton is unique in that it doesn’t honor most of the elite status benefits that other brands under Marriott do. Fortunately, this hotel did offer all four of us free breakfast as part of my wife’s status which was generous and appreciated.
Tomatico and my wife really enjoyed the breakfast at this hotel. The buffet was expansive by any definition. The western breakfast options was as large as the Arabic options. There was even an omelet bar.
My youngest and I weren’t as impressed. Mainly because we couldn’t get a decent slice of toast. The bread was painfully dry and crumbly and some of the options didn’t fit our tastes. It wasn’t for us, but there were more than enough options for normal people.
4. Hotel Quirinale, Rome, Italy
This hotel is not part of a chain. The breakfast for all four of us was included in our room rate. The buffet was huge with lots of Italian options as well as things we were more familiar with. Tomatico remembers the eggs were particularly fantastic.
3. Sheraton Grand Los Cabos Hacienda Del Mar, Mexico
We took this trip in April of 2019 and met up with some friends. We weren’t sure about this hotel until we got there and were impressed with the room and the service. The breakfast buffet wasn’t half bad either. Only two adults got free breakfast, but children had a discounted rate as well as a 15% discount on food due to my wife’s Titanium status.
The buffet options were expansive. There were a dozen different types of breads. Several freshly squeezed juice options that rotated daily, an omelet bar, and several local Mexican favorites. The quality was top notch as well. Eating outside overlooking the pounding ocean surf added to the experience. Tomatico even noted they had a panini press!
2. London Marriott Park Lane Hotel, London, UK
Our London trip was extra special because my dad was able to join us. Our stay in the Marriott Park Lane hotel was fantastic. We had two rooms but my wife had SPG Platinum status while my dad and I both had SPG Gold status which gave us enough status for all five us to have access to the lounge where we got free breakfast.
While the options in the lounge were somewhat limited, the quality was outstanding. Tomatico remembers the eggs as being particularly perfect.
We also all remember the guest who predictably put the croissant into the toaster with the large sign warning people to not do that exact thing. Flames, smoke and chaos followed. Don’t be that person….
1. Holiday Inn Express – Gare de l’Est, Paris, France
I know. How can our best breakfast be from a Holiday Inn Express. After all the 5 star hotels we’ve been to, the best free breakfast is from such a traditionally lower end brand, but the buffet there was unlike any we have seen elsewhere and it was included in everyone’s room rate.
Not only did it have a huge selection of options, but the quality was top notch. The bread and pastries were amazing. The croissants were the most memorable part as they were baked fresh and melted in your mouth. They were perfect to take with us as mid-morning snacks, too!
While this trip was way back in 2017 when we were just beginning in the points and miles game, we still remember this hotel breakfast and long to go back to Paris (though not just for the breakfast!) This buffet allowed us to start each day with a full stomach. That’s priceless when traveling with kids!
Tomatico Travels 
You must be logged in to post a comment.