Hotel Breakfast, Apartment or Eating Out: Which Is Best?

When booking a holiday, accommodation is usually one of the biggest expenses. But there's another decision that can make a surprising difference to your overall budget: where are you going to have breakfast?

Some travellers wouldn't consider booking a hotel without breakfast included. Others prefer renting an apartment so they can prepare their own food, while some enjoy starting every morning in a local café.

Let's compare the three options.

1. Hotel Breakfast: Convenience Comes at a Price

For many people, booking a hotel with breakfast included is the easiest option.

You wake up, get ready and head downstairs. There's no need to find a café, buy groceries or think about what to eat. It's particularly convenient when you're visiting a destination for just a few days and want to make the most of your time.

Another advantage is predictability. You know where you're eating and approximately how much time to allow before heading out.

However, breakfast included doesn't automatically mean good value.

Some hotels charge a considerable supplement for breakfast, even when you might only want a coffee and something small to eat.

Before booking, compare the price of the same room with and without breakfast.

When hotel breakfast makes sense:

• You're staying for only two or three nights.
• You prefer a substantial breakfast.
• You're travelling with children.
• You have early starts and don't want to look for somewhere to eat.
• The breakfast supplement is reasonable compared with local café prices.

My tip: Don't automatically select the breakfast option when booking. Check the difference in price first. You might find that buying breakfast locally is considerably cheaper.

2. Renting an Apartment: More Flexibility and Control

An apartment gives you something that a standard hotel room often doesn't: your own kitchen.

You can buy groceries, prepare breakfast whenever you like and avoid paying restaurant prices every morning.

For longer holidays, this can be particularly useful.

You also have more flexibility. If you want to leave early, you can grab something before heading out. If you prefer a slow morning, there's no need to rush to the hotel breakfast room.

However, renting an apartment isn't automatically the cheapest option.

Consider the total price, including cleaning fees, service charges and any additional costs. Some apartments also have minimum-stay requirements, which can make them less attractive for short breaks.

And remember that preparing breakfast requires a little organisation. You'll need to shop, store food and clean up afterwards.

When an apartment makes sense:

• You're staying for several nights or longer.
• You're travelling with family or friends.
• You enjoy preparing some of your own meals.
• You want flexibility over meal times.
• You can save money by buying groceries rather than eating out for every meal.

My tip: You don't need to cook everything yourself. An apartment can be useful even if you only use the kitchen for breakfast, snacks and the occasional simple dinner.

3. Eating Out: A Chance to Experience Local Life

One of my favourite things about travelling is discovering local cafés and restaurants.

Having breakfast outside your accommodation can be a lovely way to experience a destination. You might find a small bakery, try a traditional pastry or discover a neighbourhood café that you wouldn't otherwise have visited.

In some countries, breakfast is also relatively inexpensive, making eating out a perfectly reasonable option.

In others, particularly in popular tourist areas, café breakfasts can become surprisingly expensive.

There's also the practical side to consider. You need to find somewhere open, decide where to go and allow time to get there.

If you're staying somewhere for several days, eating out every morning might become repetitive or expensive.

When eating out makes sense:

• You're visiting somewhere known for its café culture.
• You're staying in a central location with plenty of options.
• You enjoy trying local food.
• You're only away for a short break.
• Breakfast prices are reasonable compared with hotel supplements.

My tip: Look beyond the main tourist streets. Local bakeries and neighbourhood cafés can often offer better prices and a more interesting experience.

5. Don't Forget the Location

Breakfast costs aren't the only thing to consider when choosing accommodation.

An apartment might be cheaper, but if it's far from the centre, you could spend more on transport.

Similarly, a hotel with breakfast included might be excellent value if it's within walking distance of the attractions you want to visit.

Think about your entire daily routine.

Would you prefer to have breakfast downstairs and start exploring immediately? Or would you enjoy walking to a nearby bakery before beginning your day?

The location can influence both your spending and your overall experience.

6. What Works Best for Different Types of Holidays?

There are situations where one option makes more sense than the others.

Weekend City Break

For a two-night stay, I'd usually choose a centrally located hotel, with or without breakfast.

You probably won't save enough by renting an apartment to justify the additional organisation. Eating out for breakfast can also be a nice part of the experience.

A Week-Long Holiday

For a longer stay, an apartment becomes more attractive.

Having a kitchen gives you the option to prepare some meals, buy groceries and avoid eating out every time you're hungry.

You can still enjoy local restaurants without feeling that every meal has to be purchased outside.

Road Trip

This depends on your accommodation and daily schedule.

If you're changing hotels regularly, breakfast included can be convenient, especially when you have an early departure.

If you're staying several nights in one place, an apartment might offer better flexibility.

Family Holiday

An apartment can be particularly practical for families.

You can prepare breakfast, keep snacks available and avoid having to organise every meal around restaurant opening times.

However, if the hotel offers a good family breakfast package, it might be worth paying the extra.

7. Questions to Ask Before Booking

Before deciding between a hotel, apartment or eating out, consider these questions:

• How much extra does the hotel charge for breakfast?
• What do cafés and bakeries nearby charge?
• Is the accommodation close to places where I can eat?
• Does the apartment have a properly equipped kitchen?
• Are there supermarkets nearby?
• How many mornings will I actually need breakfast?
• Will I have time to prepare food?
• Am I likely to eat lunch or dinner at the accommodation too?

These small details can help you make a better decision before committing to a booking.