6 Minibar Features That Are Worth the Splurge (And Some That Don't Require One!)
Considering the crazy high prices that many hotels slap onto their minibars, it's no surprise that most guests tend to avoid them. And in response, three big chains -- Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt -- have cleaned out the mini-fridges and called it quits; their rooms in hotels around the world no longer have them. But let’s not throw out the Baby Ruth with the Fiji water! Plenty of hotels still provide in-room snacks, drinks, and treats, and we promise -- some are worth the splurge. Here are six minibar features we've seen that we can totally get behind.
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1. Local goods
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2. Treats for all, even pets
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3. Saucy additions
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4. Minibars stocked with free goodies
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5. A signature snack
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6. Street-priced snacks
The Wythe's Locavore Take on the Minibar
Seeing the same can of Coke and the same Hershey’s bar time and time again can be a snooze. That’s why we salute the minibars that bring in local foods. The Wythe Hotel firmly declares its Brooklyn pride with a bin of Mast Brothers chocolates and North Fork chips. This proves a hotel can earn coolness points with just its snack drawer.
Your Pup Will Likely Love the Digs at The Benjamin
The first rule in snacking: All snacks taste better when shared with a friend -- especially your best friend, AKA your dog. At The Benjamin, pets aren't just welcome, they're treated like any other guest and are given their own provisions. The hotel's goodDog program includes pet treats in the minibars of all guests with pooches, a detail that's sure to leave a lot of tails wagging.
The Delano Knows Guests Want More Than a Bar of Toblerone
Why let the minibar sundries end with edibles when there are so many other types treats hotels can offer? A few bold hotels, like the Delano Hotel in Miami and Gild Hall in New York City, have caught on and offer minibar amenities for seduction: condoms, lubricant, and towelettes. In our opinion, it makes perfect sense to park these next to the Champagne.
Secrets Offers Classic M&Ms and Local Banana Chips
Say goodbye to overpriced snacks -- some hotels actually offer minibars stocked with gratis goodies! While this is particularly common at all-inclusive resorts, like Jamaica's Secrets Wild Orchid, some boutique properties have the same friendly approach; one of our faves is Hotel Topazz in Vienna.
At the Trump It's Water, Water Everywhere
A range of snacks is always welcome, but something a little out of the ordinary can be particularly enticing. The Algonquin Hotel's minibar include three types of Grey Goose and a cocktail shaker. And Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is perfect for dealing with the morning hangover, offering no less than four different kinds of water.
A Red Bull with No Extra Fees Sounds Nice
Virgin Hotels made headline news with their minibar announcement: All their goodies would be “street-priced.” Seeing cans of Red Bull and M&Ms at the same price as the corner store is the next best thing to free: Good-bye sticker shock and hello snack attacks!