You have to wonder why some hotels bother even to offer breakfast. From dining rooms that look like tired conference facilities to confused menus that don’t know which part of the world they’re from – think spicy noodles next to watery scrambled eggs, congee next to Coco Pops, sad little sausages, flaccid bacon, watery filter coffee and toast machines with just two settings (scorched or raw) –  the average hotel breakfast leaves a lot to be desired.

Obviously, not every hotel has such meh offerings. Maybe you’re seriously tempted by the elevated menu in your upmarket digs, but then you see the prices and quickly calculate the cost of breakfast at a local bar or cafe. Game over.

And do you really want to spend your morning surrounded by other international travellers, tour groups, or business types with their heads in their laptops? After all, travel is about experiencing different cultures, not avoiding interaction with the locals.

In Europe, an excellent bakery or bar is always nearby. A coffee, freshly squeezed juice, and a pastry can be acquired for a handful of euros, even less if you stand at the bar. In South and Southeast Asia, breakfast can be found in the streets, cafes, and markets. It’s a practice that’s widespread the world over. Just follow your nose as you leave your hotel.

And in North America, why would you eat in when an inexpensive lox-stuffed bagel, a smoothie, waffles, or huevos rancheros are likely only a stroll away from your hotel?

Don’t forget train stations, either. I once had an unforgettable coffee and cornetto from the bar at the Giardini Naxos train station in Sicily. The Ionian Sea stretched out before me, with only the occasional train blocking the 5-star view. The pastry and coffee were as good as any I’ve been served anywhere in that country.

You don’t have to eat the hotel breakfast even if you want to stay in. Use the coffee and tea facilities, stock up on pastries, juice and yoghurt and have a breakfast picnic in your room. After days or weeks on the road, there’s nothing like breakfast in your pyjamas.

Like any rule, ‘no hotel breakfasts’ has notable exceptions. Staying in a resort? You may be far away from any other decent options. And breakfast by the pool definitely has its charms. If breakfast is automatically included in your tariff, you’d be silly not to make the most of it.

Some hotel breakfasts are spectacular and worth experiencing at least once during your stay. Seriously decadent dining rooms, exquisite food made to order, an exceptional view, or charming service can be a lovely way to start the day in a new city. But be sure to go all in. This is not the time for a simple coffee and croissant.

While the stereotype of the overpriced, blah breakfast persists, some hotels are taking note of their guests’ changing preferences. In-house cafes are popping up in many city hotels.

Often independent of the hotel (but sharing the same design aesthetic) and with street-facing premises, they are as appealing to locals as they are to guests. Pop in for an espresso, avocado toast, or muffin, and pay standard prices. That’s a hotel breakfast idea I can get behind.

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