Dining out has become a pricey affair in today’s world, with menu prices seemingly reaching new heights every day. From $12 happy hour cocktails to $32 hamburgers, it’s no wonder that many people are feeling the pinch when it comes to eating out. However, there is one place where prices seem to defy all logic and reason: the minibar.
Recently, while on vacation with my husband, we found ourselves faced with exorbitant prices at restaurants in a city we had visited many times before. As we perused menus with jaw-dropping prices, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of sticker shock. $24 for a slice of chocolate marshmallow cake? $32 for a hamburger? It was enough to make us rethink our decision to indulge in sweet treats.
That’s when we turned our attention to the minibar in our hotel room. What we found there was truly mind-boggling. A tiny Snickers bar priced at $10, a bag of potato chips for $11, and a pack of four guava bars for $18. The prices seemed outrageous, and we couldn’t help but wonder who would be willing to pay such exorbitant amounts for snacks and drinks.
The real shock came when we saw the prices for alcohol in the minibar. A bottle of vodka that would cost $20 at home was priced at $130, and a bottle of tequila was a whopping $300. Suddenly, the prices at the restaurants outside of our hotel didn’t seem so bad after all.
As we ventured out for dinner the next day, we found ourselves adopting a new mantra: “At least it’s not the minibar!” This simple phrase helped us put the restaurant prices into perspective and allowed us to enjoy our meal without feeling like we were breaking the bank. An $18 Margarita seemed downright affordable, and a $22 bread pudding with caramel sauce felt like a steal compared to the prices back at our hotel.
While the minibar may cater to those who value convenience and have money to burn, for us, it served as a reminder that no matter how expensive a restaurant meal may seem, at least it wasn’t the minibar. And with prices like $6 for a can of Diet Coke and $17 for shortbread cookies, we were more than happy to stick to dining out rather than indulging in the minibar offerings.
In the end, our minibar remained untouched, serving as a pricey reminder of the cost of convenience. But it also served as a lesson in perspective, showing us that sometimes, dining out doesn’t seem so bad when you consider the alternative. So the next time you find yourself staring at a menu with eye-watering prices, just remember: at least it’s not the minibar.
