A kitchenette is a mini or compact kitchen with the most basic catering amenities for people staying at a hotel.
It typically takes just one corner or wall and has only a handful of appliances – only the ones needed to prepare quick meals.
Features of a Kitchenette
Whether a kitchenette is in an apartment, studio, or hotel, it has only a few utensils that enable people to take care of their basic sustenance needs.
Simply put, they are able to put food on the table and not have to order in or get takeout.
To offer people the ease to prep meals, a kitchenette has the following features.
A Mini Fridge
The first item that every kitchenette has is a mini-fridge as it is necessary to store leftovers and perishable foods.
When traveling, especially on a budget, you don’t have the luxury to splurge money on food whenever you want.
Due to this, you need to manage with the limited resources you have and not waste food, and that is where having a mini-fridge in your hotel room can help you immensely.
Let’s say you made a food item, but only so much of it was consumed, and you still have a good portion left.
In that case, you don’t want to throw it out and spend money on food all over again for the next meal. So, you put the remnant in the mini-fridge and warm it up the next time you feel hungry.
A Mini Oven
Naturally, when you have a mini-fridge to keep the food from going bad, you must have an oven to warm up the food you store in the refrigerator.
Therefore, kitchenettes in hotel rooms come with a mini oven that you can use to heat food or prepare ready-to-cook/eat dishes, such as cup ramyeon.
If you travel on a budget, you will know how helpful cup noodles can be on a trip when you are trying to save money!
Ramyeon is undoubtedly one of the tastiest meals/snacks you can have while traveling, and with a mini oven at your disposal, preparing a pack becomes a piece of cake.
A Burner or Hotplate
Most hotel kitchenettes come with a hotplate for cooking purposes. However, some may have an exclusive burner.
While a burner is not always present in a kitchenette, some fancy hotels do offer it. If you book a top-class hotel, the chances are you will get a stove to actually cook your meals from scratch.
Of course, if you want to do so, you will need to arrange the ingredients first.
Lucky for you, some hotels offer grocery service to their clients, i.e., they ask you if you want groceries, then if you give them a list, they will get all the items on it and store them in the kitchenette even before you arrive.
In some luxe hotels, you might even get two burners to cook your meals.
However, that’s rare because most people who stay at plush places typically have enough funds to eat at the hotel’s exorbitant restaurant.
Nonetheless, one stove is not that uncommon in kitchenettes.
A Sink
A small sink is also present in kitchenettes to enable visitors to wash their dishes as they make the food, as dishwashers are not available.
Of course, there might be some luxurious hotels that offer dishwater in their kitchenettes, but then again, it won’t be used much because people staying there would hardly ever eat in their suite.
A Kettle or Coffeemaker
A kettle or coffeemaker is a must in kitchenettes so people can have their morning coffee or tea before starting their day.
Coffee or tea is an integral part of most people’s daily lives. Once someone forms a habit of drinking tea or coffee, they cannot go without it.
Fortunately, decent hotels realize that, which is why they offer a kettle or coffeemaker so their customers can have their hot beverage after waking up.
Apart from the amenities mentioned above, a kitchen may have things like a waffle maker, but the chances of that are rather slim.
Besides, why would you need a waffle maker on vacation? Waffles are not that expensive!
Benefits of Having a Kitchenette in a Hotel Room
Aside from the obvious ease of being able to make food for yourself in your hotel room, a kitchenette offers the following benefits.
Privacy for Couples
People on a romantic getaway might prefer to spend time with one another inside their hotel room as much as possible and having a kitchenette helps with that.
Ease for Parents
When traveling with kids, you never know when you might have to fix up a snack because your little one feels hungry.
Naturally, you cannot run to a café every time that happens, which is why having a kitchenette can be a lot of help for you.
Cost Saving
Lastly, having a kitchenette enables you to save considerable money you would otherwise have to spend on delivery and takeout.
Healthy eating
When you have control over your meal prep, you can make healthier choices. With a kitchenette, you can pick up fresh groceries and make your meals tailored to your dietary preferences and needs.
Kitchenettes vs Regular Kitchens
A kitchenette and small kitchen are often mistaken for one another, as many people assume that if a regular kitchen doesn’t cover substantial square feet in a room or suite, it will also be a kitchenette.
However, that’s not true because a kitchenette and kitchen are fundamentally different in that both have separate objectives.
Sure, both of them are meant to provide people with a place to cook, but there is a lot more to it than just that.
While you may be able to fix a meal in a kitchenette, you can certainly not do anything more than that.
That is, the most you can do in there is warm a ready-to-eat dish or make an easy meal because you don’t have enough appliances and facilities to do anything else.
In other words, you cannot make an elaborate delectable dish that you can make in a regular (even small) kitchen.
On top of that, a kitchenette hardly has any storage space, unlike a traditional kitchen.
A typical kitchen has a ton of storage space to store kitchen utensils and groceries. Due to this, you can dump a whole lot of stuff in kitchen cabinets and drawers, but you cannot do that in a compact kitchen.
As already mentioned, a kitchenette usually only takes up one corner or wall of a room, so it only carries the apparatus that will allow you to prepare a meal and preserve leftovers at best.
You cannot stow away items for a longer stay in your room and must keep refilling your supplies in order to cook and sustain yourself.
Moreover, it must be noted that a kitchenette is part of the living area in a room or suite. That allows people staying together in a room to be around each other as much as possible.
A kitchen, on the other hand, is in a separate room, which may or may not have an open space design, i.e., doesn’t have a separating wall to move the cooking area out of the view from the adjacent room.
So while a kitchen may feel like part of the living space at times, it will still be another room. In other words, building a kitchen requires a substantial amount of space, which hotels generally don’t have.
As a result, most hotels offer visitors a kitchenette to make their stay as convenient as possible.
That is why individuals staying at a hotel for a long duration, perhaps a month or more, prefer to book a room with a kitchenette.
Some might argue that maintaining a kitchen, regardless of its size, can be a hassle, especially when you are out of town staying at a hotel. However, that’s not the case with kitchenettes.
First of all, kitchenettes are pretty easy to maintain as there aren’t many appliances for you to clean. Secondly, room service is present to keep your room clean, including the cooking space.
So not only does a kitchenette provide stayers and vacationers with a meal prep area, but it also allows them to use the equipment without worrying much about cleaning.
When it comes to designing a kitchenette, function takes precedence over looks.
However, that is not to say that a mini kitchen can be ugly and can have odd-looking pieces of equipment because that is not possible in a hotel.
Hotels are built to please visitors. This means a hotel room has to be decent-looking at the very least, which is generally the case in rooms with a kitchenette.
Since the hotels that offer a kitchenette with their rooms typically charge a hefty amount of money, they are well-designed.
On top of that, keeping a compact space tasteful can be easier, provided the designer has a theme to follow.
Most well-built hotels have a thematic interior design; therefore, their kitchenettes blend nicely with the surrounding living area.
Additionally, it is worth noticing that a kitchenette doesn’t have much room for décor as it mostly has appliances that serve a purpose. So, they don’t really have a specified aesthetic style.
Talking of the fittings in a kitchenette, knowing what those are is a must to make the differentiation between a kitchen and kitchenette easier.
Cost Implication of Booking a Room with a Kitchenette
Rooms with kitchenettes are generally a little more expensive compared to those without, due to the added amenities they provide.
A NerdWallet analysis revealed that hotel rooms with full kitchens were 19% more expensive on average, costing around $28 more per night.
However, having a kitchenette in your room can lead to cost savings depending on your travel choices. Some benefits that might offset the higher room charge include:
- Staying longer: If you’re planning an extended stay, having access to a kitchenette could save you from spending on dining out every day. Preparing your meals can often be more affordable.
- Traveling with a group: Sharing a room with a kitchenette among a group can be an economical option, as the extra charge can be divided among the group members. It’s also easier to prepare meals for multiple people with the available facilities.
- Dietary restrictions: If you have specific dietary needs, a kitchenette can be invaluable in allowing you to prepare your own meals, potentially saving you from paying for expensive specialty meals in restaurants.
To make the most out of your stay, weigh the pros and cons of booking a room with a kitchenette. Remember to consider the charge, the potential cost savings, and how the available amenities fit your specific travel needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the typical amenities in a hotel kitchenette?
A hotel kitchenette generally includes basic cooking facilities and appliances to help you prepare meals during your stay. Common amenities found in a kitchenette:
- Mini-fridge
- Microwave
- Sink
- Cabinets or drawers for storage
- Basic utensils and cookware
These simple amenities allow you to conveniently store and prepare food in your hotel room.
Is there a stovetop in a hotel kitchenette?
Not all hotel kitchenettes include a stovetop, as they vary depending on the hotel and room type. Some may have an electric or induction stovetop, while others might only have a microwave for cooking purposes.
It is best to check with the hotel beforehand if you require a stovetop during your stay.
Can you prepare meals in a hotel kitchenette?
Yes, you can prepare simple meals in a hotel kitchenette. With a microwave, mini-fridge, and basic utensils, you can heat up pre-packaged meals, prepare breakfast, make sandwiches or salads, and reheat leftovers.
However, cooking elaborate meals may be challenging due to the limited space and lack of a full-sized kitchen.
How spacious is a hotel kitchenette usually?
Hotel kitchenettes are usually compact and designed to maximize the efficient use of limited space.
They typically take up one corner or wall of the room, providing just enough room for the basic appliances and some storage.
While they may not be as spacious as a full kitchen, they still offer a functional area for preparing simple meals.
What is the difference between a kitchenette and a full kitchen in a hotel?
A kitchenette is a smaller version of a full kitchen, offering basic amenities for cooking and food storage.
In contrast, a full kitchen is much larger and better equipped, often including a full-sized refrigerator, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, and more extensive storage space.
Full kitchens are typically found in larger hotel rooms, suites, or serviced apartments, while kitchenettes are more common in standard hotel rooms.
Are all hotel kitchenettes the same in terms of features and equipment?
No, hotel kitchenettes can vary in terms of features and equipment, depending on the hotel and room type.
While most include the basic amenities such as a mini-fridge, microwave, and sink, some may offer additional features like a stovetop, toaster, or coffee maker.
It’s essential to check with the hotel to know exactly what is included in the kitchenette of your specific room.
Ending Note
A kitchenette in a hotel is certainly an excellent provision that offers superior comfort to visitors.
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