A British tourist faced criticism after sharing a money-saving tip by secretly taking food from a hotel breakfast buffet to use for lunch.
Nicola Lewis, a home organization expert from Essex, UK, regularly shares travel budgeting and organizing tips on Instagram. In a post from July, she showed how to repurpose items from the breakfast buffet to prepare a packed lunch and save on travel costs.
Nicola took bread, tuna, fresh vegetables, and cucumber to make a sandwich. She then moved to the restaurant's garden area, packed the food into a plastic container, and took it with her. She called it a “strategic and organized saving method” and advised travelers to bring personal food containers and zip bags to store food in the hotel room’s fridge.
Nicola stated that she had asked for the hotel’s permission before taking the food, and they agreed. However, her actions still sparked controversy, garnering over 45,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.
Some people labeled the behavior as “greedy,” “cheap,” and “an abuse of service,” especially since buffet meals are usually intended for breakfast only. Others mentioned that some hotels even ban food removal and inspect guests’ bags after they leave the buffet area.
Hotel breakfasts are often served in buffet style. Photo: Paraso island
However, many people also came to her defense. “I often do the same when going to the beach — it’s budget-friendly and still nutritious,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Many people pile food on their plates and leave it uneaten, while she knows how to take just enough and finish it — there’s nothing wrong with that.”
