Monday, April 07, 2014

Road Trip: Best Western Breakfast

Images of breakfast at two Best Western motels where we stayed
All that driving! As we came from Michigan to California we spent three nights in Best Western motels. Two of them offered the standard Best Western breakfast including dry cereal with milk, make-it-yourself waffles, yogurt, juice, fruit, coffee, bagels, muffins, and some hot items. Our third Best Western had a full-service restaurant that looked very slow, so we went next door for coffee at a Starbucks and got on the road. (We also stayed with family for four nights and in the Grand Canyon lodge two nights.)

This is the kind of food that seems to be overlooked from the point of view of food writers or food bloggers. It's so ordinary, so predictable, so unworthy of description. We've eaten Best Western breakfasts (or equivalents in other chains) numerous times on other trips as well, and this is the first time I've ever thought of mentioning it.

The point of a motel breakfast buffet, I think, is to help travelers get on the road, to help business people get to their appointments, or to help tourists get to a museum or a mall, a beach or a hike, whatever they have planned. No formalities, no waiting, nothing to sign. Most of the guests seem to enjoy the selection, especially kids. Plentiful choices of very familiar food are just what people want -- and the fact that it's included in the price of the motel is a powerful attraction.

2 comments:

Jeanie said...

I have a love-hate relationship with that. I wonder how much they are adding to the room rate to cover the breakfast, which usually is mediocre. But you are right -- it's there and you get up and out -- and probably better for you than a stop at the fast food. We've done them often for that very reason!

~~louise~~ said...

To be perfectly honest, Mae, I've been contemplating whether I want to do the bulk of my traveling in an RV or a car.

I happen to like staying at clean reputable hotels and usually always enjoy the serve yourself offereings. I usually make up for its short comings, if there are any, at a local restaurant for a late lunch or early dinner.

Of course, an RV means you (me in this case) do all the work. Still thinking...

Thank you so much for sharing this subject, Mae...Enjoy...