Do Mini-Bar Snacks Sit in Hotel Rooms for Years?

Whenever my wife and I check into a room, we look at the mini bar snacks and wonder how old they are. Are people using these very often or do they sit there for months or years?

From what we could find, which wasn't much, we'd have to say no, mini-bar snacks don't sit in hotel rooms for years or even too many months.

In a recent Question of the Day, we made the point that, though the mini-bar offerings can be marked up to outrageous levels, they do serve a purpose and plenty of guests pay the prices. When they're consumed, they're replaced with fresh stock.

If they're not consumed, they're regularly replaced anyway to prevent them from getting stale (especially at those prices) and, in general, to maintain an acceptable standard of consumer satisfaction.

In addition, pretty much everything in a package these days carries an expiration date. Housekeepers check minibars, generally, after guests check out of their rooms, when they replenish consumed items and check expiration dates on remaining snacks. Of course, the perishable items, such as nuts, chips, chocolate, crackers, and candy, are rotated regularly, while non-perishables -- bottled water and canned drinks -- have a longer shelf life and can stay in the mini bar for, perhaps, several months. Still, even those items are regularly checked to ensure they're within their expiration dates.

So it's unlikely that hotel mini-bar snacks are years old, but it's certainly wise to look for expiration dates before consuming anything in a hotel room. For that matter, it's probably a good exercise to check expiration dates even if you're aren't consuming them, if only to satisfy your curiosity.

But be careful. Some hotel mini bar sensors are so sensitive that the slightest movement triggers a charge. We covered this in detail in the earlier QoD.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

O2bnVegas Jun-19-2024

especially chips

I have been 'stale-snacked' more than once at high-end hotel mini bars.  The time sensitive system adds to the problem.  How quickly can you lift-search-replace-get-back-up while searching for an expiry date?  Chips/crackers/peanut snacks are the highest risk of going stale.  Whomever is responsible for checking and replacing items, like everything else that depends on their following through.

Several solutions:  
 - Don't use the mini bar.  But sometimes late at night I need a coke or a snack without getting dressed to go downstairs.
 - Anticipate and buy your own chips etc. before checking in.
 - **Dial Front Desk and politely state the problem of the stale chips or whatever.  They'll take it off your room charges, in my experience.  I've also noted it on post-stay surveys.  Might do some good.

Candy

David Miller Jun-19-2024

Mini - Bar Gouge

 Just another gouge aimed at the impulse buying generation(s). One of the first things I do when entering my room is check the mini fridge and the table top candy/water unit to see if all sensor locations have product. If there are some empty sensors, I will then notify the front check in desk of  the status. I want them to know if there is anything missing.I never touch any of these vastly overprice items. I suggest you do the same.

Hoppy Jun-19-2024

Safety Zone

The first thing I do, after checking in,  is to scope the mini bar. Then, proceed to CVS or Walgreens, and buy mini bar items. It is in this way that I create a "safety zone " for cravings.

asaidi Jun-19-2024

I always check

I have been burned 2 times by minibars where something is missing when I enter the room.  One time the previous guest put the empty can back into the fridge so it looked like it was full but it wasn't.  I think some hotels have a separate person that checks and refills the minibar other than the housekeeper.  You should always check the minibar the second you enter a hotel room.

Question of the Day - 19 June 2024

Comments