Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it’s okay to take certain things from a hotel?

414 replies

TakeOrLeaveIt · 10/09/2024 01:00

I’m curious to know what people think about taking items from hotels. For example, I know things like toiletries (shampoos, soaps) are often seen as fair game, but what about things like mugs and glasses? I’ve stayed at a few places recently, and I was tempted by some of the nicer bits. Obviously, I didn’t take anything major, but it’s got me thinking - where’s the line? Is it stealing or part of the hotel experience?

AIBU to think it’s harmless to take certain things? Or shouldn’t all stay behind?

What do you think?

OP posts:
readysteadynono · 10/09/2024 08:21

Consumables of an amount you might reasonably have used during your stay (e.g a small amount of tea bags, shampoo, body wash) would be fine because you have already paid for them. Mug? Towel? Batteries?! Absolutely not.

TofuTart · 10/09/2024 08:19

ThatFlightyTemptress · 10/09/2024 01:02

Remote no, batteries yes 😂 Aaah Ross

Came on to mention Ross 😁
Bulbs yes, lamps no 😁

user1471538283 · 10/09/2024 08:18

I've taken the odd little bottle of shampoo and the individually wrapped sugar cubes. Without fail I drink all the tea! I wouldn't think to take or to be bothered to lug anything else.

When I travelled with work alot I used to take any left over small toiletries to donate to a women's refuge.

Starzinsky · 10/09/2024 08:08

Definitely theft and shocking you wouldn't think so.

mondaytosunday · 10/09/2024 08:06

What? You have got to be kidding. At most I take those mini toiletries that you are expected to use (great for when you have house guests). Anything else is stealing.

Oldfatandfrumpy · 10/09/2024 08:06

Things that are left for you to consume e.g. toiletries - I assume are built into the cost of stay and therefore fine

Anything else, like glasses(?!) absolutely not

Zita60 · 10/09/2024 07:53

whatkatydid2014 · 10/09/2024 07:40

That makes no sense to me. Your room
rate includes the consumables (tea/coffee/hot choc sachets/sample size toiletries). If you choose not to use them now and instead use something you’ve brought yourself I fail to see why taking them for later instead is theft. It would be akin to taking away a desert that comes with a 3 course meal if you decide you are full after the main.

Show quote history

Because it's against the spirit of the thing - they are provided for your use while you're in the hotel. They are not intended for you to use once you've left.

For example, sachets of coffee, tea, sugar etc are provided because otherwise you'd have to buy your own normal-sized jars of coffee, tea and sugar and bring ithem into the hotel. Once you're back home, you should use your own coffee etc, not the hotel's.

Animatic · 10/09/2024 07:52

They usually sell mugs and staff if you ask. I have bought Melia mugs with cute eyes in the past, and was gifted a new child's bathrobe when asked if I could buy it in one of Austrian Kinderhotels. Would have never imagined just taking them.

Tel12 · 10/09/2024 07:52

Corinthiana · 10/09/2024 07:48

I used to love Camp Coffee! It was the chicory essence.

My Grandma used to have it, along with long life milk in a bottle with a metal cap. 🤢

Calliopespa · 10/09/2024 07:51

I think rule of thumb is if you had chosen to use it while there, would they still have it to re-use? Shampoo sachet or soap no. But even if you’d used the mug, it could/should be washed and available to the next guest. Ditto bathrobes etc.

I think the larger bottles of shampoo etc often used now are to mitigate against packaging/ plastic production and waste, rather than to stop stealing.

Tel12 · 10/09/2024 07:50

I always assumed that the little bottles would be binned so I would take them home. Wouldn't dream of removing anything else.

SabrinaThwaite · 10/09/2024 07:48

The Savoy have a price list in the room for everything including £10k for a bed

Savoir mattresses are supposed to be fabulous - and cost a fortune.

Corinthiana · 10/09/2024 07:48

I used to love Camp Coffee! It was the chicory essence.

Tel12 · 10/09/2024 07:47

Threesacrow · 10/09/2024 02:17

I ran a large guest house for many years. Apart from a small bottle of coffee, nothing was ever taken. Even the little bottles of toiletries, which were fair game, were usually left behind. We once had a runner who didn't pay his bill, but almost all our guests were honest and lovely.

Would that be Camp coffee?

Partylikeits1985 · 10/09/2024 07:46

The hotel will just bill you if they realise you’ve knicked anything (and they’ll have your card details remember)

Corinthiana · 10/09/2024 07:42

@SleepingisanArt - I'm wondering how people would get a bed down the corridor!

SleepingisanArt · 10/09/2024 07:41

We have branded luxury robes which we bought when staying in a very expensive hotel one Christmas. The same hotel gave us expensive candles, cuff-links and chocolates as a gift because it was Christmas (over a decade later the robes and cuff-links are still going strong).

The Savoy have a price list in the room for everything including £10k for a bed 😂

Zita60 · 10/09/2024 07:40

Absolutely not. The only toiletries I would take would be little ones that I've already started using, eg a half-used bottle of shampoo.

Anything else is theft.

whatkatydid2014 · 10/09/2024 07:40

BettyBardMacDonald · 10/09/2024 03:24

That doesn't make it ok.
Theft is theft.

If you want to donate toiletries, purchase them.

Hotels provide sundries for immediate use, not as takeaway.

Show quote history

That makes no sense to me. Your room
rate includes the consumables (tea/coffee/hot choc sachets/sample size toiletries). If you choose not to use them now and instead use something you’ve brought yourself I fail to see why taking them for later instead is theft. It would be akin to taking away a desert that comes with a 3 course meal if you decide you are full after the main.

Mercurial123 · 10/09/2024 07:38

It must happen a lot in Thailand and Vietnam. Nearly all the hotels I have stayed at have a price list of everything in the room if you decide to steal it.

squashyhat · 10/09/2024 07:36

Shower caps for me - the one I use at home is too big for my wash kit and not all hotels supply them so I like to have a few in reserve. That's all.

2Old2Tango · 10/09/2024 07:36

The people who steal this stuff are usually the first to moan when hotels put their prices up, totally missing the point that it's a cost to them to keep replacing stolen goods.

PattiSmithsPattis · 10/09/2024 07:35

I have taken shower caps (for shoes) and several pairs of spa slippers (got a new pair each time you went and they were 'disposable')
I love the idea of supporting the homeless charities with the little bottles 🧡
I did once admire glasses in a pub and the manager gave me 2! I wouldn’t have stolen them though.
If you are desperate for mugs try poundland, normally cheaper than charity shops these days.

RedOnyx · 10/09/2024 07:33

I take shampoo/shower gel if I've opened it and slippers if I've used them. I'll also take the biscuits and if they leave a free bottle of water I'll either drink it there or take it with me. Some places charge for the water though.

Corinthiana · 10/09/2024 07:33

LuluBlakey1 · 10/09/2024 07:29

I couldn't be faffed with taking anything. It is never anything I'd actually want anyway.

Me neither. I suppose you'd have to be fairly desperate to steal a mug from Ibis or Holiday Inn!

Swipe left for the next trending thread