Mum's Hotel Breakfast Hack Divides Parents: Genius or Stealing?
A Victorian mother who frequently travels with her young family has revealed a controversial holiday meal strategy that has sharply divided parental opinion. Alana Tabak recently posted a video detailing what she described as 'the hotel breakfast trick some parents are too embarrassed to try'.
The Buffet Lunchbox Strategy
In footage shared to her The Travelling Tabaks Instagram account, the mother-of-two demonstrated one of her 'favourite travel hacks' during a recent Bali vacation. She brought an empty children's lunchbox to the hotel's buffet breakfast service.
'Right before we leave, I pack the kids' lunchbox with items like croissants, fruit and bread rolls,' Alana explained in her video caption. 'Then when we're at the pool or down at the beach later, we already have snacks ready to go.'
The Torquay resident acknowledges that not every parent might feel comfortable with this holiday snack approach. 'Some parents think it's genius. Some think it's embarrassing,' she conceded.
Hungry Kids Versus Social Awkwardness
Ultimately, Alana believes the benefits of taking a few snacks from the buffet outweigh any potential discomfort. 'Honestly… hungry kids by the pool are way more embarrassing,' she wrote. 'And trust me, it saves a lot of tantrums and a lot of money.'
The video has generated substantial attention with over 314,000 views, but online reactions to the family travel hack reveal deeply divided perspectives among parents and travellers.
Supporters Hail Practical Genius
Many like-minded parents praised the strategy as brilliant, with numerous respondents admitting they employ similar tactics for their own children.
- 'We do this too! We aren't huge breakfast people so we usually take what we like for lunch!' one parent responded.
- 'We did it when we were in Bali! Genius for the mid-morning meltdown,' agreed another.
- 'Yes, we totally do this for snacks for the kiddos: fruit, those mini breads. Easy and quick.'
- 'We do this too! You save so much money,' chimed in another supporter.
Other parents expressed admiration, confessing the idea had never occurred to them previously. 'Why have I never done this? This is so smart,' read one reply, while another stated: 'Genius idea! Never thought to do this but it serves a great purpose and saves money.'
Critics Condemn as Theft
However, an equal number of responses condemned the buffet behaviour as inappropriate or outright theft.
- 'Not genius at all. It's stealing! Eat all you want while there, but you're not entitled to take the food with you unless it's offered,' one person retorted.
- 'It is not right. You should be ashamed of doing this, let alone publicising it!' another agreed.
- 'The meal in question is breakfast which is included, not lunch which isn't included - it's in the definition,' another argued.
- 'Paid for breakfast, yes, but not an all day buffet!' seconded another critical reply.
Additional critics expressed stronger disapproval: 'This is ridiculous. Buy lunch for heaven's sake!' and 'So embarrassing. If you have to blag lunch from breakfast, then don't travel.'
Broader Debate About Buffet Ethics
These critical responses sparked wider discussions about food waste at buffets and perceptions of entitlement regarding what guests have paid for.
'No different to all those who keep loading up their plates for the sake of it and don't even eat it!' claimed one reply. 'A lot of food goes in the bin once it's hit a plate and isn't eaten.'
'If there's stuff left on my plate that would otherwise go in the bin then I'm 100 per cent taking it,' agreed another participant in the debate.
One parent presented a practical perspective: 'Not everyone can eat a full breakfast at the time it's served. I know my toddler won't eat anything till at least half past nine, so if I'm paying for the buffet for him, damn right I'm taking something for him [to have later].'
Another argued: 'It isn't stealing or being entitled. You have paid for your buffet breakfast as part of your stay.'
Family Divisions Over Buffet Habits
Interestingly, these divided feelings about buffet habits frequently extend within families themselves. Numerous replies revealed that while one parent enthusiastically supports this hack, their partner feels mortified by it.
- 'My husband and I argue about this all the time. He always wants to take something and I won't let him!' one woman admitted.
- 'I do it, but my husband has to leave five minutes before us, so as not to be identified as part of our party,' another mother laughingly revealed.
- 'I think it's genius - my hubby thinks it's embarrassing,' another said. 'But when he's munching the leftovers, he's not embarrassed then.'
Hotel Policies and Practical Considerations
Several responses suggested that whether the practice is acceptable often depends on what exactly guests take from the buffet and, more importantly, whether it violates the establishment's specific policies.
'We asked at the hotel and they told us to take whatever we wanted from the buffet as they have to throw out anything left when breakfast ends,' said one person.
'Taking a pastry or a piece of fruit is cool. Whole lunchboxes are taking the piss,' stated another with a more moderate view.
'Most hotels let you take dry stuff in a lunchbox,' noted one experienced traveller, while another advised: 'I would ask first! Not just do it.'
Several holiday-goers pointed out that many establishments explicitly prohibit this practice. 'Most places we've stayed at over the last couple of years have had signs kindly asking not to do this,' read one reply, with similar sentiments expressed in multiple responses.
'Some hotels charge you if you do this,' another cautioned. 'It's an extra meal which has to be paid for.'
One woman shared an embarrassing recollection: 'I took a banana once in Hong Kong and was chased by staff to return it.'
Mum Stands By Her Travel Strategy
Despite the mixed reception to her post, Alana told Daily Mail she 'definitely' plans to continue her breakfast buffet lunchbox hack during future travels.
'For us it’s just about being practical as a family,' said Alana, who shares family travel tips to The Travelling Tabaks Instagram account. 'We’ve paid for the buffet, and rather than letting food go to waste (which happens a lot with kids), we’ll pop a couple of pieces of fruit and a pastry aside for later.'
She emphasized the practical benefits: 'It saves us having to buy extra snacks a couple of hours later when the kids are inevitably hungry again.'
Alana added an important caveat: 'We’re always respectful of the venue and wouldn’t do it where it’s not allowed. It’s just one of those small travel hacks that makes family trips a bit easier.'
