They say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but if you choose the right hotel, there is certainly such a thing as a free breakfast. But while hotels with free breakfast once limited their offerings to stale donuts and even staler coffee, these days, hotel chains across the country and upping their free breakfast game to woo travelers looking to get the best bang for their vacation bucks. Below, we ranked the five best free hotel breakfasts offered at chains across America, and while they differ in their menus and approach, they're all doing their part to turn "continental" into a dirty word.

1. Embassy Suites

Embassy Suites wins this competition by a landslide, and for a number of reasons. Its free breakfasts have something for everyone. A buffet-like selection of cold cereals, hot items like eggs and sausage, and classics like waffles and pancakes? You got it. A made-to-order omelet station? They've got that too, plus healthy items like yogurt and fresh fruit. They even stock a selection of grab-and-go items like pastries and to-go coffee cups for travelers who are on a tight schedule. The sheer variety of the options here is what makes this free breakfast such an outstanding value, as well as the fact that chefs will gladly fulfill special requests, such as making an omelet with egg whites only.

And while this article only took the free breakfast into consideration, we think it's also worth noting that most Embassy Suites locations also offer a complimentary evening reception with free drinks and light snacks.

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2. Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express locations have long had a reputation for their respectable free Express Start Breakfast bars. Historically, these bars have included cereals, fruit, yogurt, and select hot items like eggs and pancakes churned out by a whimsical "one-touch pancake" machine (which earn the brand some FUN points, if nothing else). But it's the recently-announced upgrades to this already-awesome freebie that gives the Holiday Inn Express breakfast a boost in the rankings. Starting sometime in 2018, guests can expect expanded hot offerings including breakfast meats and egg white omelets, as well as free Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, at all locations.

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3. Hyatt Place

What Hyatt Place lacks in quantity and variety, it more than makes up for in creativity. Instead of a standard continental breakfast or regimental buffet, they give guests the option to create their own breakfast bowl or yogurt bowl, choosing from ingredients like cage-free eggs and sausage (for savory bowls), to caramelized bananas (for yogurt bowls, obvs.). Additionally, guests can also choose from chef-inspired bowls that rotate daily—the selection includes options like a Southern Comfort bowl with eggs, potatoes, and sausage gravy, as well as a Tangy Berry Bliss Parfait with nonfat Greek yogurt, berry compote, and French toast croutons.

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4. Best Western

Best Western recently revamped its free breakfast offerings and the chain seemed to take queues from many of the other hotels on this list. Each location features standard continental offerings like pastries, fruit, cereal, and hot coffee, and hot items like eggs and pancakes. But now you'll also find build-your-own stations that vary from location to location. Depending on where you book your stay, that might mean an oatmeal bar or yogurt parfait bar, a build-your-own breakfast sandwich station, custom omelets, or even a build-your-own crepe or French toast bar.

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5. Canopy by Hilton

This newish "lifestyle" chain from Hilton offers the fanciest free hotel breakfast on the list. Upon waking, guests can head downstairs to the dining room for dishes like quiche, salmon, and breakfast pizzas made from artisanal ingredients. Or, they can opt for lighter fare like fruit and coffee, and the hotel staff we deliver it straight to their door.

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