When breakfast drifts away in the hotel pool

Anyone vacationing in a beach resort in Asia or Oceania has long since had to have a floating breakfast. Whether in Bali, Fiji or the Maldives, the floating breakfast in the pool is ubiquitous. It has been offered as a romantic service in the hotel industry for a few years. Couples and especially honeymooners are already used to the fact that the bed sheets are decorated with frangipani hearts every evening, sometimes flowers float in the bathtub or in the toilet flushing water as a greeting from the hotel.

But now it has to be a floating breakfast for two in the pool in the morning. A rattan tray floating on the water with a waterproof and rustproof aluminum coating is usually used, round or in the shape of a little heart.

Then there is coffee or tea, juice, croissants, fruit, Eggs Benedict, omelettes and other delicacies, lavishly garnished with the apparently never-ending supply of frangipani flowers. Definitely looks romantic - an eye-catcher for the digital photo album. Even morning grouches have to admit that you should have experienced something like this on the way.

Even if this form of food intake is completely impractical and often unintentionally funny. Because: The implementation remains a delicate matter, i.e. having breakfast in the middle of the water. “Let yourself drift with croissant and jam” – this is how Southeast Asian beach resorts advertise this extra service.

Strictly speaking, that's exactly what breakfast in the pool does: it floats, and floats away. You jump into the water, splash around a bit, and the loaded tray sways menacingly, drifts on, swims away. It's easy to understand why it has strong carrying handles on the sides: the picnic table has to be held steady so that eggs, pastries and coffee don't spill or sink.

Finding a stable position is even more difficult. It is best for both partners to stand at the tray with their legs apart so that the breakfast operation is a success. Avoid spilling so that the crumbs do not end up in the pool.

It is best for the breakfast partners to start at the same time, using a knife and fork to cut up the omelette on one side and the Eggs Benedict on the other side of the floating tray. Maintaining balance requires a well-coordinated rhythm, basically like rowing in a boat.

So actually a couple exercise for a promising future together. If you don't do it with the necessary seriousness, you've lost. Then unfortunately the whole meal capsizes along with the flowers.

Nonetheless, the floating breakfast is continuing to conquer hotel pools around the world. It has now landed in Australia, Mexico and even the Alps. In South Tyrol and in the Ötztal it is often offered in temperature-controlled infinity pools with a view of the mountains. The pool is then closed for a few hours in the morning. Afterwards, the next guests can only hope not to have to crawl around between soggy croissant crumbs, grapes and frangipani blossoms later on.