‘Indian hotels have spoiled us’: Entrepreneur pays $600 for US hotel stay, shocked by what was on breakfast menu

A comparison between hotel breakfasts in the US and India has sparked a discussion online after an Indian entrepreneur shared his surprise at the limited food choices available at a luxury property charging around $600 per night.

Vineeth K, who shared his experience on X along with photographs of the breakfast spread, said his stay at a JW Marriott in the US had made him appreciate the variety commonly offered at premium hotels in India and other parts of Asia. He said the contrast was particularly noticeable when considering the price of the stay.

According to Vineeth, luxury hotel breakfasts in India and several Asian countries often include a wide selection of regional and international dishes, live cooking stations, fresh fruits, baked goods, desserts, juices and other beverages. By comparison, he found the options at the US hotel unexpectedly limited.


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‘Indian and Asian hotels have spoiled us’

Sharing photographs of the food, Vineeth said Indian and Asian hotels had “really spoiled us” when it came to breakfast.

He pointed to the range that guests can typically encounter at luxury properties in India and other Asian destinations, including regional specialities, continental dishes, live stations, fresh fruits, baked items and desserts.

“You name it, and they have it,” he wrote.

Vineeth said he was staying at a JW Marriott, where a Starbucks coffee counter was included as part of what was being presented as a premium breakfast experience. He compared that offering with the spreads often available at similarly priced hotels in India and said the difference stood out.

“In India and many Asian countries, breakfast at a luxury hotel is an experience in itself. You walk in, look at the spread, and wonder where to even start. Here, at a similar price point, the options are surprisingly limited. I agree that it's better above $1000/day,” he wrote.

He acknowledged that eating habits and hotel offerings vary from one country to another, but argued that guests paying several hundred dollars a night at a luxury hotel may reasonably expect a broader choice of food.

“Travel really makes you appreciate the little things you often take for granted back home,” he added.

‘I carefully pick hotels based on breakfast’

The post prompted a number of users to share their own views on hotel breakfasts and how they choose properties while travelling.

One user said breakfast was the main meal of the day for them and therefore influenced their hotel choices. The user argued that several major hotel chains in the US were not particularly appealing for breakfast and suggested either choosing a Four Seasons property or finding a better breakfast option outside the hotel.

Another commenter compared the situation with Europe, claiming that breakfast options there could be even more limited. The user said Middle Eastern and Indian hotels offered some of the best breakfast experiences and praised the variety available in India.

The comment pointed to Indian hotel buffets offering Indian, regional, Western and Oriental dishes, along with live stations, fresh juices, fruits and salads.

A third user agreed with Vineeth and described what they considered a typical US hotel breakfast as a relatively narrow selection of scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, ham, bread, salads, boiled eggs, cereals and milk.

“The food in Indian hotels are itself an experience!” the user wrote.

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Some users question the ‘more is better’ approach

Not everyone agreed that an extensive buffet automatically makes for a better breakfast experience.

One user argued that most people would not normally eat large amounts of bread, fruits, poori, eggs and juice all at the same time unless they were trying to get maximum value from a buffet.

“A normal human being who has not seen poverty or shortage of food at home wouldn’t eat, bread, fruits, poori, egg, juice, every damn thing on buffet at one go,” the user wrote, describing the practice of eating far more than usual at buffets as unhealthy.

Another commenter strongly praised the experience at premium Indian hotels, pointing to their hospitality, ambience, amenities, food and beverages. The user argued that the overall luxury-hotel experience in the US could feel far less impressive outside the room when compared with what Indian hotels offer at lower price points.

The breakfast debate ultimately highlighted a difference in expectations. For some travellers, an elaborate buffet with dozens of options is an important part of the luxury experience. For others, the number of dishes matters less than the quality and practicality of the meal.

Vineeth’s comparison nevertheless struck a chord with travellers who feel that hotel experiences can vary significantly between countries, even when the nightly rates are similar.

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