Is no in-room coffee maker and charge for wifi a deal breaker for a hotel these days?
Jun 27, 2017, 5:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,960
Is no in-room coffee maker and charge for wifi a deal breaker for a hotel these days?
Looking at a 4 hotels on the upper west side of NYC. Mostly in the $250-$350 a night range. One that I am considering which is the most reasonably priced, is the only one that does not have an in-room Keurig (or kitchenette) and charges $6 a day for room wifi, amenities that the other 3 hotels I am considering offer at no charge.
The idea of wandering out to a Starbucks at 7AM doesn't sound too appealing.....
Deal breaker in this day and age?
The idea of wandering out to a Starbucks at 7AM doesn't sound too appealing.....
Deal breaker in this day and age?
Jun 27, 2017, 5:50 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
It's only a deal breaker if you need/use these amenities and the total price after including these fees is more than the rates in alternative hotels. It's pretty easy to bring your own coffee maker and coffee supplies, depending on your preferences. Also, the in room coffee makers have been much more prevalent in the USA than the rest of the world. If the hotel has complimentary coffee in the lobby or butler/valet service to deliver (free) coffee upon request, being able to make your own might not matter. A few hotels will also offer free room service coffee if you inquire about the possibility of a coffee maker in the room while others might even buy one for your room if you ask.
Jun 27, 2017, 10:38 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,987
And there's a difference between no wi-fi, on which some are opining, and a charge for wi-fi, as OP posited.
Paying $250 for free wi-fi rather than $225 with a $6 wi-fi charge would make no sense, IMHO.
Jun 27, 2017, 11:12 am
#8
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Belfast, Ireland
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 154
No wifi is a deal breaker if I'm in a country where I don't get free roaming. Hostels that charge next to nothing for a bunkbed always have free wifi. No reason a "premium" hotel shouldn't offer it other than to prove they just want to squeeze as much money out of customers that they can.
Jun 27, 2017, 11:37 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Does anyone really bring their own coffee maker? Not in a hotel!
Jun 27, 2017, 11:39 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
The only time I've ever used an in-room coffeemaker was to make oatmeal prior to a long run. I could take it or leave it.
While I find a hotel charge for Wifi highly annoying on principle, it's kind of a non-issue in NYC since I'd just tether to my phone. I place a higher value on water pressure, powerful A/C, adequate hot water, and well-placed outlets than I do on hotel Wifi.
While I find a hotel charge for Wifi highly annoying on principle, it's kind of a non-issue in NYC since I'd just tether to my phone. I place a higher value on water pressure, powerful A/C, adequate hot water, and well-placed outlets than I do on hotel Wifi.
Jun 27, 2017, 11:44 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
I don't know...I have one colleague who is a hardcore devotee of the bean. This is someone who knows the optimal coffeeshop for true aficionados in every city we visit. (Never a Starbucks, of course.) I seriously would not put it past him to travel with his own stash if we ever had to visit a podunk town without an acceptable coffeeshop.
I just follow along and say "I'll have a latte...the medium one."
I just follow along and say "I'll have a latte...the medium one."
Jun 27, 2017, 11:46 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
WiFi is a bigger deal breaker though if the total price + $6/day for WiFi is still less than the places with WiFi included, your choice is obvious...those other hotels have just baked the price of WiFi into their rates already.
Starbucks are everywhere in the city and with mobile ordering you can spend less than 1 minute inside picking up your drink and not having to interact with a soul
Starbucks are everywhere in the city and with mobile ordering you can spend less than 1 minute inside picking up your drink and not having to interact with a soul
Jun 27, 2017, 11:55 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
I remember a few years back when a few hotels tried to do a separate line-item for electricity: an "energy surcharge". It thankfully did not last long.
Jun 27, 2017, 11:55 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Having no wi-fi or charging for it just seems laughable at this point. And every time I see it they are 9 times out of 10 'premium/luxury' properties. They are just charging for it because they know most people don't care about the money. And I've found that the luxury properties charging have dismal internet as well.
Jun 27, 2017, 12:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Johnstown, PA
Programs: UA P, Delta SL, US SL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IHG PL AMB, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 928
Don't much care about the coffee maker unless the hotel is smart enough to place a K-Cup machine in the room (I carry my own when driving). I do need the WiFi, but my status usually covers it. A deal breaker for me is no refrigerator.