Do you leave things in hotel room after departure for the maids to take if they want them?

Depends when and where. If in an obviously poor country I’d probably leave things like soap and shampoo, as we did in Cuba years ago after being told that soap was both expensive and hard to come by. I’d also leave any biros - anyone else who’s been surrounded by children clamouring for pens would probably do the same.

I leave money with a note of thanks.

I think the OP means toiletries the guests brought with them on holiday, not what the hotel supplies.

As I said up the thread, I worked as a hotel housekeeper myself. No, I definitely didn’t want your leftover tampons or the last two inches in your shampoo bottle. I wanted you not to trash your room, so that I didn’t have to handle towels smeared with excrement, or clean out a bath you’d used as storage for mud and grass-covered golf shoes.

However, as I also said, obviously this will be different in situations where housekeeping staff are likely to be living in comparative poverty.

Nope, I don’t work in a resort and I live in the uk so was probably thinking more UK hotels but I appreciate the OP did not specify where.

I tend to only bring what I need in relation to toiletries. I do leave things like unopened soft drinks etc and chocolate/biscuits.

We leave a tip, both throughout and when we leave. I did leave a beach bag last year, perfectly fine condition I just didn’t have any space in the luggage after we bought souvenirs and gifts. Thought someone would make use of it.

Yeah - hotel staff are famously generously paid. Leaving a tip is always welcomed by chambermaids.

What countries are you referring to?

Never, and I would have to be quite desperate to want to take used toiletries. What if the owner had done something unpleasant to them? If I leave anything it’s a bit of cash with a note saying it is for the housekeeping staff.

Sounds incredibly wasteful as they probably just throw it away

"Partially used toiletries" is a weird thing to say. Posh hotels often just have a normal sized shampoo etc - they are refilled and not new each time, and no one complains!

I left some dresses, unworn, tags still on as I knew I'd never where them in UK. Hmmm hello heatwave!

It wasn't meant to be patronising, just thought they might get some use - or get binned...

I don't leave toiletries because I only pack what I need, I do leave a bit of money though, in a place that makes it obvious its deliberate. If I have a pen I'll leave a note.

I tend to leave them together on a desk near the bin or something, so they can decide.

I worked as a chambermaid in this country and LOVED it when I got left stuff! It was really exciting.

Shampoo costs a fortune these days and they will be on minimum wage! Two bottles of shampoo could be an hour's work.

I left some unopened tins of food when I left my last AirBnB, be case I couldn't take them home and it seemed a shame to have them go to waste, but tbh I did suspect I was just leaving the host/cleaner a job to do in throwing them away.

I'd be amazed if anyone wanted partially used toiletries.

Yes, but do you work in a resort in a country where you don't normally use sanitary pads and just use rags because you can't afford or get hold of anything else.

I wouldn’t leave anything part-used. But I will always leave soft drinks, unopened chocolate/biscuits etc that I have brought but not used or opened. I also leave whatever change I have in local currency equivalent to a few £GBP if I’ve stayed 2 or 3 nights, and more if I’ve stayed for a week.

I know that in some parts of the developing world, domestic maids are happy to take unwanted toiletries etc (these are countries where maids are likely to be living in extreme poverty, without reliable access to electricity and clean water), so chamber maids in hotels in these countries woukd probably be the same (although I think they'd far prefer a cash tip).

But in Europe, America etc...no, I don't think they'd want leftover toiletries, and I'd be surprised if other guests would either.

I think that’s completely patronising and rude.

My mum does this.

I’d find it insulting to be referred to as a maid and for someone to think I needed their unused sanitary products. I’d also imagine some hotels have policies in place against staff taking anything left behind.

To add to my post above, I gather this was the "normal" thing to do in Cuba too. Though dont know if that is still the case and I've never been!

Well, It ultimately depends in which part of the world as in some places those items are expensive and/or hard to get hold of, but anywhere remotely developed when good shampoo and sanpro is widely available then you’re right, they’re not going to want half used cast-offs.

I think all those who think it is offensive to think cleaning staff can afford their own toiletries don't understand the reality of the lives of many staff in exotic AI resorts.