Kitchenettes in Hotel Rooms: What to Ask About

What a hotel kitchenette usually includes

• A refrigerator, from mini to full-size.
• A microwave.
• A cooktop, usually two burners. An oven is rare.
• A sink with basic counter space.
• A coffee maker, toaster or kettle in many rooms.
• Cookware, dishes and utensils, from a full set to almost nothing.

The items worth asking about

Hotels buy kitchenware in sets, and what lands in your room varies. These are the items guests most often find missing:

• A usable frying pan and a pot with a lid.
• A sharp knife and a cutting board.
• Plates, bowls and glasses for more than one person.
• Cooking basics: spatula, can opener, dish soap and a sponge.
• Food storage: containers or at least foil and bags.

Some extended-stay hotels keep a lending shelf at the front desk with exactly these items; Candlewood Suites, for example, runs a Lending Locker of borrowable kitchen and household items, per an IHG brand announcement. Ask. It is the cheapest upgrade in the building.

Cooking for a month: the realistic setup

Plan around two burners and a microwave, and the kitchenette works well: pasta, rice dishes, eggs, soups, anything one-pot. If you plan to cook daily, consider adding three personal items: a good knife, a cutting board and one pan you trust. And plan groceries for three or four days at a time if the fridge is small.

What to ask before you book

• Is the kitchenette in my room type, or only some rooms?
• What exactly is in it: cooktop, oven, full-size fridge, dishwasher?
• What cookware, dishes and utensils are provided?
• Is there a lending shelf or a way to request missing items?
• Is there a grocery store or delivery that serves the address?

What next

Browse hotels that take stays of 30 nights or more on Monthly-Hotels.com and send your dates through the Request dates form. We forward your request to hotels in the area you pick, and you talk to the hotel directly.