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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hotel "lost" toy

77 replies

memorial · 31/08/2018 04:55

We are currently on a "holiday of a lifetime" in an exotic location. We had the "experience of a lifetime" a few days ago and I bought DD2 a soft toy from the gift shop afterwards. The next day after the room was cleaned the toy was missing.
Suspect was accidentally scooped up in the bedding and sent off to the laundry. As the other toy on the bed is still there.
We have been to guest services a number of times. Half the time they don't understand what has happened and think we've lost it and the other half we look at lost property.
I suspect it is gone for good. DD2 is gutted. The place we bought it is too far to get another.
It wasn't expensive. That isn't the point.
I understand it was done by mistake but AIBU to ask them to replace it with a similar toy from the hotel gift shop. Won't be quite the same but DD2 will be consoled.

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 31/08/2018 06:05

Blimey this is going around in circles a tad now....

Original poster
memorial · 31/08/2018 06:06

Catchingacold
No not simple but thanks for the rather patronising suggestion.
There are numerous trips via numerous tour operators. Not hotel run. There are language issues.
We are going home tomorrow.
Simple?

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 31/08/2018 06:07

Lesson learned here, don't leave anything of any value out in a hotel. Your DD needs to have the laundry situation in a hotel explained. It usually is sent away to a laundry service along with all the other hotels, put into huge washing machines and driers. Anything that gets mixed up will either be ruined or put in some central place. It will be unidentifiable as to which hotel it came from.
You say that it has sentimental value yet you're expecting the hotel to give her a different one from the hotel gift shop. So it can't be that sentimental if it can be easily replaced with something else. Take her to the gift shop and buy her something of her own choice if it placates her. She will still have her memories of the place she visited, along with photos of the visit. A toy is nice, but not necessary.

EdisonLightBulb · 31/08/2018 06:07

I think YABU, things get lost, broken or stolen in everyday life. Do you expect to be compensated for everything? At ten she is old enough to understand this and learn to accept life's up and downs.

Original poster
memorial · 31/08/2018 06:08

Martha's. Indeed. I am going to sleep. We are in a different time zone. And have an early wake up tomorrow.
Thanks all for the insight. I accept IAMBU.
I will just replace it if she wants.
I still think you're a bunch of meanies though.

OP posts:
pigeondujour · 31/08/2018 06:10

I'd be bloody disappointed/pissed off if something of mine 'went missing' from a hotel room, especially on a holiday that had cost a fortune. I didn't think I was particularly unusual in that.

KnotsInMay · 31/08/2018 06:10

Is anyone else from the hotel going on the same trip? Ask them to pick up a replacement toy?

CatchingACold · 31/08/2018 06:16

Just ask the hotel to send their car to get one.

You seem to want to be a drama queen. You have been trying to sort this out for some time, the easiest thing would have been to secure a replacement, then argue with the hotel about who was paying for it.

MissusGeneHunt · 31/08/2018 06:16

Can you contact the place you went to and order a new one online to be sent home?

Cupoteap · 31/08/2018 06:17

Something from your room has gone missing. YANBU that they should try to do something/make amends for that.

The fact it is a soft toy is irrelevant, it is a personal item belonging to a guest that has gone missing.

Agree you are likely to be being brushed off so you need to raise this with the manager. It is likely that only they could authorise a gesture of goodwill for your daughter. If language is an issue then email them.

Yabu to leave anything on a hotel bed Wink

Yabu to think anything will replace the item for your daughter, the replacement will be a reminder of the original going missing.

shonkyklingonmakeup · 31/08/2018 06:19

Tell your child "life is suffering and everything changes" and see if that helps.

Quartz2208 · 31/08/2018 06:41

People are being unnecessarily harsh. It happened to me at a similar age at a Disney hotel I lost my soft toy I had brought with me that had sentimental value (caught up in sheets). One was found the other wasn’t. I make sure now nothing in left on beds.

They gave me a Minnie and Mickey Mouse as a free gift it wasn’t the same

Twotailed · 31/08/2018 06:46

I understand your frustration but I expect the hotel won’t take responsibility as you can’t prove that it was their actions which caused it to go missing - it’s just the most likely scenario.

You could try being blunt and outright asking them to replace it? It possibly just hasn’t occurred to them.

If they refuse I would buy an alternative from the gift shop for your DD so that she stops asking you to look for it. Tell her the other one will end up being given to another lovely child who will love and care for it so she doesn’t feel worried about it being lost and sad (always my concern with lost toys as a child!).

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

cricketmum84 · 31/08/2018 06:54

The same thing happened to us in Benidorm with DDs beloved bear that hadn't left her side in 6 years. She was distraught! She had left him tucked up in bed.
Luckily we had an English speaking rep at the hotel and the amazing woman managed to track him back to the launderette in Alicante and had him returned very clean and smelling lovely!
Fingers crossed the launderette find the toy - keep pushing with reception! Just wanted to let you know there can be a happy ending :)

FourAlarmFire · 31/08/2018 07:02

My DD is a similar age and I know she would be really upset in that situation too. They’re still young enough to attach a ‘personality’ to a toy and get sentimental about it. Maybe try once more tomorrow and then try to move her on and get her a different toy. Tell her the original one is presumably having a lovely time in the holiday destination Grin

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 31/08/2018 07:10

We stayed recently in a very nice hotel. There was a sign by the bed to not leave any personal items on the bed as they may get brought to laundry. Let it go. Enjoy your last day.

Petalflowers · 31/08/2018 07:13

It’s sad that it’s lost. However, if the toy wasn’t retrieved after the first or second visit, or no alternative cuddly offered, then they are unlikely to at a later date.

Don’t let this incident be the memory of your holiday of a lifetime.

Can you order one from the place online?

disconnecteddrifter · 31/08/2018 07:13

It might be a good opportunity to teach resilience here. Things get lost all the time and yes it's upsetting/frustrating but this is a toy she's hasn't had for very long and she will lose things and people more important to her in her life all of the time.
I used to lose my wallet and phone with sentimental photos etc when I was 16 and when I learned to be accepting of it it was much better. I also learned to not put everything in my wallet and be more careful of my possessions. I also lost £50 I had earned doing odd jobs when I was 11. I had such plans for that £50! My parents didn't replace it and I learned a lesson. I am really grateful for that lesson now as I have lost much more significant items and people.

Booboostwo · 31/08/2018 07:15

It is reasonable for your DD to be upset and want to replace the toy but what does that have to do with the hotel?! Everyone knows hotel sheets get changed every day and it is very unwise to leave personal items like pyjamas or toys in the bed. By the sounds of it your DD left more than one toys in the bed and one got lost - bad luck, lesson learnt. What lesson are you teaching her by expecting the hotel to replace the toy?!

dmvnqpkejnvejrfnpwdkfjvn · 31/08/2018 07:16

Ring the place you visited, buy another one and ask them if they'll send it to the hotel you're at.

Witchend · 31/08/2018 07:17

You can almost certainly get one online or if you phone the place they'll sell you one and post it.

continuallychargingmyphone · 31/08/2018 07:20

I would have been upset as well OP and so would my children.

Heck, I was a bit gutted when someone broke my acropolis pen.

Purplespup16 · 31/08/2018 07:27

I completely understand! DH and I visited somewhere special 16 years ago. We bought a momento and I’m 90% sure that I packed it but when we got home it had disappeared. It was a set of pictures so not valuable. 16 years on and I’m still disappointed that we don’t have it. I’m not traumatised by losing it but I’m disappointed and I’m 40!!

You could try and contact the place you got the toy and explain that the item has been lost, and your DD is disappointed. Ask if there is a way for you to purchase and pay for postage for a similar toy to be sent to your hotel or your home address? They will probably say no or not respond but they might!

Timeisslippingaway · 31/08/2018 07:30

OP you have no proof that the hotel staff lost the toy, so you can't expect them to replace it, you need to replace it. End of.

VioletPickles · 31/08/2018 07:37

Think by age 10 it really shouldn't be a big deal. But then I'm not keen on older children's obsession with soft toys.

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