When we check into a hotel, we are welcomed with a number of amenities in our rooms - from plush towels and fragrant soap, to a steaming cup of in-room coffee and even cozy slippers. While we certainly make use of these facilities during our stay, there are often items left untouched or half-used by the time we check out.
Among these various items, there's a select list of items that we're actually allowed to bring home for free. My wife and I, seasoned travelers, often seize this opportunity to snag a few hotel amenities that come in handy around our home.
In this article, I'm going to share some of these takeaway treasures from hotel rooms that you can claim for free without any extra charge. So, let's dive in, shall we?
Hotels commonly stock up your bathroom with disposable toiletries such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, shower cap, and body lotion in travel-friendly sizes. These items are free to take home as they are single-use by design.
We often bring these toiletries home for those times when we run out of our regular supply. Additionally, these are perfect to pack for your next vacation or business trip.
Just remember, it's only the small packets that are up for grabs. Larger bottles, typically found in upscale hotels, are meant to stay.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, cotton buds, combs, tissues, and disposable razors are also provided by hotels for guests' hygiene purposes and are takeaway-friendly. These items are particularly helpful for impromptu trips or emergencies when you don't have time to pack these essentials.
We find hotel slippers to be the most commonly taken item. The disposable slippers supplied by hotels are free to be repurposed at home, either as a spare pair or for guests. However, beware of the occasional high-quality, non-disposable slippers that some hotels provide – these are not meant to leave the hotel premises.
The pens, pencils, and memo pads usually found on the writing desk in your hotel room can be taken home as a souvenir or for personal use. These items come in handy for jotting down important notes during your trip or even as a backup stash at home or office.
Most hotels offer coffee, tea, and sugar sachets in the room, which are great to bring home. We usually test these out and if they're palatable, they find their way into our luggage.
Many hotels invest in providing high-quality beverages for their guests, making this perk a particularly enjoyable one. Once at home, you can relive the hotel experience with these hot beverages.
This one is very common. The majority of hotels provide free bottled water to their guests, often replenished daily. We usually grab these bottles for our daytime adventures to avoid having to purchase water outside.
However, note that some hotels don't actually provide this because they already use tap water or water dispenser spread through the hotel area. So, guests are welcomed to refill their drink.
You may have noticed that some hotels leave small sewing kits in your room, which are also free to take. These little lifesavers can come in handy for emergency clothing repairs while on the move or even at home.
So, those are the items you can typically take home from your hotel stay. Besides these, there may be other items depending on the hotel's policies. Generally, these are disposable items not intended for multiple guests.
With that being said, it's important to remember that items such as towels, pillows, bed linen, bathrobes, and electronic equipment like hair dryers, TVs, safes, and phones are not on the takeaway list. These items belong to the hotel and are not single-use amenities.
Walking away with these items without explicit permission from the hotel could potentially land you in hot water, being considered theft. If there's an item that you particularly fancy and it's not mentioned in the list above, it's always wise to consult with the hotel staff first.
Lastly, try to only bring home items that you genuinely need or will use. Taking items that will just end up gathering dust or, worse, being thrown away, only contributes to unnecessary waste in our homes.
In recent years, many hotels have moved towards more sustainable practices, offering amenities in larger, refillable containers, or even inviting guests to 'opt-in' for amenities to reduce waste. As guests, we can support these initiatives by being mindful of what we take and what we leave behind.
So, next time you're packing up after a hotel stay, remember this guide and make sure your 'souvenirs' are not only useful but also allowed! Happy travels, and even happier collecting.
