I’m a hotel manager – these are the things you can and can’t take from your room
IT is understandable that you want to take something from your hotel room as a souvenir – but there are rules on what you can and can’t put in your suitcase.
Experts have weighed in on what is acceptable to pinch – and what may get you in trouble.
Paul Bayliss, general manager of Hotel Brooklyn, told the Telegraph that “pens, pads and bath products are the norm” to be taken.
However, he explained the things that have surprised him: “We have also had some who have taken cushions, pictures, quilts and even mattresses and televisions.
Back in 2019, hotel guests were caught stealing mattresses from their rooms, with some of them costing thousands of pounds each – with five-star hotels unlikely to report the incident.
We’ve rounded up all the things you are allowed to take with you when you check out – and if you don’t want to break the rules, everything you cant take.
Mini toiletries – yes
Feel free to take all of the mini shampoo and conditioner bottles home with you, as well as the tiny sewing kits, in fact, now’s the time to fill your boots as this perk could soon be a thing of the past.
Hotels are starting to introduce larger bottles in bathrooms – fixed to walls so they can’t be nicked – which will be shared by guests.
Other hotels, such as UK chain Artist Residence have full-sized bottle that if taken, will see you charged.
Slippers – yes
Hotels expect you to steal the cheap white slippers in plastic packaging that sit inside the hotel wardrobe, as they never re-use them.
In fact, staff encourage guests to wear them in their bedrooms as the floors are usually quite dirty.
Jacob Tomsky, the author of Heads In Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles and So-Called Hospitality, told Sun Online Travel: “The dirtiest
part of a hotel room are the carpets.
“Yes, they are vacuumed but they will almost never get a shampoo and a deep clean as there are constantly people staying in the rooms.”
They are also particularly useful on the flight home, so you don’t end up walking around the plane cabin in your socks.
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Stationary – yes
By all means, take the branded pen and paperback notepad from your hotel room.
But leave anything that looks more permanent, like a leather-bound pad, behind.
Dressing gowns – no
In the past, guests were quite open about their pilfering of bathrobes from hotels.
But in recent years, most properties have made it quite clear that a missing robe will be added to the cost of the room – the warning usually comes on the clothes hanger.
However, certain businesses still encourage it – according to the Daily Mail, the Goring Hotel factors the cost of their monogrammed slippers and bathrobes into the £8,500 bill for a stay in the Royal Suite.
Pillows – no
This one should be obvious, but in case it isn’t, hotels do not want you to take their pillows home.
But people do still nick them – according to the Mail, one London hotel has had so many thefts that they have been sending invoices out to thieving guests.
Even Noel Gallager has admitted to thieving pillows from hotel rooms.
He revealed in 2015 that he has a personal stash pilfered from hotels in Italy, which he takes around the world with him.
He said: “You cannot go on tour without good pillows. I have stolen more pillows from Italy than anywhere else.”
One general manager said their most hated guests are “those who steal the batteries out of the television remote control”.
Greedy travellers have been boasting about the outrageous items they steal from hotel rooms.
