How to Order Food to a Hotel

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If you’ve ever gone hungry during an overnight stay at a hotel that didn’t serve food, or, worse, had to suffer through multiple nights of lackluster room service, you might be curious about the etiquette involved in ordering takeout from a nearby eatery. The good news is it couldn’t be easier. Getting food delivered to your hotel is just like getting it delivered anywhere else, only with a little more coordination to ensure that your food gets to the right place in a timely manner.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Placing an Online Order

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  1. Type “restaurants near me” into any search engine to compare the various dining options you have available to you. If your smartphone or device has a voice-activated digital assistant, you could also try simply asking it something like, “Where’s a good place to eat around here?” [1]
    • Reading through the user reviews on sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Zomato could help you narrow down your choices if it comes down to a toss-up between multiple restaurants.
    • Some hotels (typically those that aren’t equipped with full kitchens) also provide takeout menus for local restaurants. These can ordinarily be found somewhere in the lobby or lounge area.

    Tip: Third-party food delivery services like GrubHub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats also allow you to choose from an assortment of local eateries directly through their apps. [2]

  2. One of the biggest advantages of getting food delivered to your hotel is that you can get just about anything you’re in the mood for, rather than being restricted to what’s on the room service menu. It could be a fully-loaded sub from a neighborhood deli, some spicy curry, or a trusty pizza made just the way you like it. Listen to your stomach! [3]
    • Peruse the menus of multiple restaurants that specialize in the same style of cuisine if your first choice doesn’t offer the dish you’re after.
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  3. Run a quick search for the name of the hotel plus the street it sits on and the city you happen to be in. The hotel may also print their street address on their check-in literature, stationery, or other in-house materials. And if all else fails, simply ask for the information you need at the front desk. [4]
    • If you’re the tech-savvy sort, another option is to zero in on your current location using the maps app on your phone or device. [5]
    • Make sure you’re providing the right address, especially if you’re lodging at a popular hotel chain. It’s not uncommon for these businesses to operate multiple locations within a single town or city.
  4. To get started, just select the tab that says something like “Place Your Order” or “Order Online.” The online ordering systems for most restaurants are fairly intuitive—they’ll walk you through the process from start to finish. The simple click-to-add-item interface will be basically identical if you're going through a third-party delivery service like GrubHub or DoorDash. [6]
    • Alternatively, you can do things the old fashioned way and call in your order over the phone. You’ll usually find an establishment’s phone number listed in the short profile displayed at the top of your search engine results.
    • If you decide to dial up the eatery, make sure you use the correct area code and any necessary extension numbers for outgoing calls. In most cases, these will be labelled on or near the phone in your room.
  5. There’s no sense in dropping $5 on a canned soda from the minibar in your room when you can get a fresh one delivered with the rest of your food for a fraction of the price. Just mention that you’d like to tack on one or more drinks while you’re putting in your order. [7]
    • A lot of the time, this is the only way to enjoy specialty beverages from various restaurants without actually dining on-site.
  6. Once you’ve selected all the items you want, take a moment to look over your completed order and make sure it’s correct. Then, use the provided spaces to put in a name for your order, the address of the hotel where you’re staying, and your credit or debit card information. Some apps and websites might also allow you to pay using other mobile methods, such as ApplePay or PayPal.
    • While paying for your order through a third-party delivery service, you’ll have the option to add a tip to your total. Either choose one of the specified dollar amounts ($1, $2, $3, $5, etc.) to keep things quick and easy, or tap the “Edit” button to enter a custom amount. [8]
    • Your final total will include the price of your food plus tax, plus a delivery fee and a small service charge, if you went through an app.

    Tip: Specify your floor and room number in the “additional details” section of the order form.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Receiving Your Food

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  1. Pull up the app for the service you're using and navigate to the “My Orders” tab. There, you’ll find the unique tracking number assigned to your order, along with a short message displaying its current status and an ETA (estimated time of arrival). Your order status will update periodically, so be sure to check back if you’re curious as to the whereabouts of your food. [9]
    • You can also keep tabs on your order by clicking the “Track My Order” link in the confirmation email you get as soon as it’s been received.
    • Some services even provide their customers with digital maps allowing them to follow their delivery person’s movements in real-time. [10]

    Tip: Make a note of the estimated delivery time so you’ll be ready to accept your food. If you like, you can instruct the restaurant to have your delivery person call you when they arrive so neither one of you will be left hanging. [11]

  2. Don’t forget to hand off a cash tip to your delivery person before they depart, assuming you didn’t charge the extra amount to your card when you paid for your order. 10-15% of the total cost is customary in most parts of the world. If you’re feeling generous, consider leaving 20% or more. It will certainly be appreciated! [12]
    • As a general rule, it's alright to tip a little less if there was a delivery charge included in your order total.
    • Keep in mind that most food delivery people work primarily on the basis of gratuity, which means if you don’t tip, they don’t get paid (much). [13]
  3. Not all hotels are equally open to their guests having meals delivered from other businesses. If you’re lodging somewhere that has a strict no-outside-food policy and you just can’t live without your sesame chicken fix, it might be wise to intercept your delivery person in the parking lot or go pick up your order yourself to keep the transaction on the down-low.
    • Crack a window before you dig in if your hotel prohibits guests from eating inside their rooms. That way, there will be less chance of the appetizing aroma giving you away.
    • While very few hotels have rules expressly forbidding outside food, there are some that do. Take the time to read the fine print in your booking agreement so you won’t be at risk of being kicked out for violating the terms of your stay.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Ordering Room Service

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  1. One of these will usually be waiting for your on the desk or bedside table. It may also be included in your check-in materials. Room service menus often take the form of slick, multi-page brochures at large chain hotels; in more modest hotels and inns, they may be limited to a single printed page.
    • You’ll find a wide range of foods to choose from in the average room service menu, from light breakfasts and simple lunches to full meals and even single items like smoothies, specialty coffee drinks, and bottles of wine.
    • Don’t be shocked when you see the prices listed next to each item—hotel room service is infamous for being exorbitantly expensive. Try to look at it as the cost of convenience. [14]
  2. You’ll be connected with someone from the hotel kitchen, who will be on standby to take your order. Tell them what you’d like and what room you’re staying in. They should give you an estimated time for delivery before hanging up. [15]
    • Feel free to modify, customize, or enhance your order however you desire. Most hotel kitchens are happy to accommodate special requests.
    • These days, many nicer hotel rooms come equipped with tablets that make it possible to put in an order for room service with a few swift taps. This type of technology could come as a relief if you don’t feel like having to talk to anyone. [16]

    Tip: Order items that will fare well on the journey up to your room. In most hotels, the kitchen is tucked away in the basement or on the ground floor, meaning it could take up to 10 minutes for your freshly-prepared food to get to you if you’re on one of the upper floors. [17]

  3. After the kitchen prepares your food, they’ll dispatch a member of the waitstaff to send it up to your room. Room service etiquette differs from one hotel to another. In some cases, your waiter may knock and then excuse themselves quietly. In others, they may wait for you to answer the door to confirm that you’re in your room. [18]
    • Make sure you’re decent when you answer the door. [19]
    • You’re welcome to tip your waiter if you’re in a giving mood, but be aware that a sizable gratuity is frequently factored into the price of room service food. [20]
    • Hang up your “Do Not Disturb” sign if you don’t wish to be bothered. This will signal to your waiter to drop off your order, which you can then come out and collect at your own leisure.
  4. Leave any uneaten food that you don’t want to save on the tray, in addition to your dirty dishes, utensils, and linens. Another member of the waitstaff will come along shortly to retrieve it and take it back to the kitchen. [21]
    • If you want to go the extra mile, call room service back when you’re done eating to let them know that your tray is ready for collection.
    • Don’t pile your room service tray with product packages, paper, used coffee filters, or other non-food-related trash you’ve generated in your room. That’s what the waste basket is for.
  5. That way, you can simply pay for everything all at once when it comes time to check out. This is a standard practice in many hotels, and one that makes things easier for the majority of guests. [22]
    • Some hotels may also offer their guests the option to pay with cash upon delivery. In-room payment might work better for you if you only plan on making use of room service once or twice or want to avoid putting too many unnecessary expenses on your credit card.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if I can't afford the food?
    Otterly Badgerific
    Top Answerer
    Sadly, if you don't have the money to order food to a hotel, then you won't be able to use such a service. If you're in dire need of food, such as if you are living in the hotel and can't afford food, then it would be a good idea to visit a community food pantry or food charity to get some help so that you can eat. In some places, you can also make arrangements with restaurants to collect their leftover food they haven't sold at the end of the evening and maybe even the hotel if it has a restaurant as well. However, this is very much dependent on the willingness of the business operator and you'll need to make the effort to get such a deal in place.
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      Tips

      • Many big-name hotel chains have begun partnering with third-party delivery services, making it easier than ever to get whatever tickles your fancy delivered right to your room. [23]
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      • If you’re traveling on limited funds, you stand to save quite a bit of money by ordering out as opposed to racking up exorbitant room service charges.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/5/20679021/grubhub-boycott-how-to-seamless-doordash-takeout-food-restaurant-order-direct
      2. ↑ https://www.simplemost.com/5-great-apps-finding-best-food-area/
      3. ↑ https://medium.com/thrive-global/nutrition-for-your-mission-109aa8bcd29
      4. ↑ https://blog.grubhub.com/how-to-order-grubhub-to-hotel
      5. ↑ https://www.imore.com/how-use-maps-iphone-and-ipad
      6. ↑ https://www.cheapflights.com/news/lazy-mans-guide-to-staying-in-a-hotel-20-things-you-can-definitely-have-delivered-to-your-room
      7. ↑ https://blog.grubhub.com/how-to-order-grubhub-to-hotel
      8. ↑ https://help.uber.com/ubereats/article/how-to-add-a-tip?nodeId=5867f9dd-7ca5-4484-af59-6c222d9a8355
      9. ↑ https://www.grubhub.com/help/faq
      1. ↑ https://modernrestaurantmanagement.com/top-benefits-of-real-time-tracking-for-food-delivery-service-infographic/
      2. ↑ https://blog.grubhub.com/how-to-order-grubhub-to-hotel
      3. ↑ https://www.moneyunder30.com/how-much-do-i-tip
      4. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/tipping/is-it-time-to-rethink-the-rules-of-tipping-etiquette/
      5. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/why-room-service-so-expensive-and-how-keep-cost-down
      6. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/7-rules-room-service/
      7. ↑ https://hoteltechnologynews.com/2020/03/rescuing-room-service-with-in-room-tablets/
      8. ↑ https://www.johnnyjet.com/how-to-order-room-service-pro/
      9. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/i-work-in-room-service-at-a-5-star-hotel-these-are-the-biggest-things-i-wish-guests-wouldnt-do-a7117286.html
      10. ↑ https://www.traveller.com.au/hotel-etiquette-for-guests-how-to-be-a-better-hotel-guest-13tjyt
      11. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/7-rules-room-service/
      12. ↑ https://www.traveller.com.au/hotel-etiquette-for-guests-how-to-be-a-better-hotel-guest-13tjyt
      13. ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/travel-etiquette/how-much-to-tip-hotel-room-service
      14. ↑ https://venturebeat.com/business/doordash-is-expanding-food-deliveries-to-hotels/

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