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

[TakeOrLeaveIt]

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?

Yes it's budgeted into the hotel stay and is complimentary, intended for the guest. There is no difference between drinking the tea/coffee or whatever whilst sitting in the room, or at some other point. Those items are included in the price.

Robes, towels, cups, mugs, glasses, whatever, are clearly to be used whilst staying.

You will not be charged extra if you take sachets/miniatures/sewing kits/whatever else. You very likely will if you take bigger items.

Anything you would otherwise reasonably consume while in the hotel, such as an individual packet of biscuits or a one shot shower gel is I think fair game to take with you.

Not to clear out the whole tray of hot drinks.

Anything else that takes your fancy, take it to reception and ask them to add it to your bill.

You're that cheap you would seriously take home a part used toilet roll?? 😂 Having worked in hotels...part used toilet rolls are not binned or wasted, they are used in function suite toilets, staff toilets and staff accommodation. They're not buckshee to take home with you 🙄

Eh, actually some hotels DO indeed refill the mini toiletries. I worked in housekeeping when I was still at school, a 4 star well known hotel chain, and they did gather in part used mini bottles of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner etc and would refill them and put them in rooms for new guests arriving.

of course it's stealing!

They have stuff that you've taken without paying for (not included in cost of room) - exceptions being partly used toiletries

What would you call it?

I was on holiday with two friends years ago and they both took the towels with them as they had the name of the hotel on them - I was so embarrassed! These people are now ex-friends, the towel stealing should have opened my eyes to their character!

Not correct...I worked for a big chain of hotels in the UK (4 star rated) and they did EXACTLY this! Would gather in the part used mini bottles and on quiet days when staff had free time, they would amalgamate the part used products to make full bottles which then went in to rooms for new guests arriving. Part used bars of soap also got gathered in and were put out in function suite toilets and staff toilets.

They provide a selection of hot drink packets but that doesn't mean they budget for the entire tray to be cleared out. And all the sugar.

Same with the toiletries. They are meant for use by those who don't bring their own, not as a free handout so people can stock up their friends and family upon return home.

I'm pleased to see that most hotels are switching to the large containers bolted to the wall of the shower instead of all of this single-use plastic.

And that they are starting to track and charge people for stealing robes, towels and other goods. We all pay for the theft by the greedies.

I have to say that’s kind of gross. Luckily I can’t remember ever seeing bars of soap in funtion room loos. I just can’t see how it’d save money when you’ve paid for staff time tbh. Hotel toiletries start at less than 5p a unit to buy. Please people take your part used toiletries home and let the staff retain their dignity.

I must say that does put me off a bit too. I'd rather bring my own toiletries in that case, and often do anyway.

I don't make a habit of 'clearing out' the tray of drinks. The places we go to usually have something like two teas and a coffee per day for each guest. Most of those we will drink during our stay. If there's a few left over on leaving day I don't feel bad taking a sachet with me and a packet of biscuits for the drive. That's to be expected, I should think.

I always take one sachet of sugar or sweetener with me - DH doesn't take any in his drinks so there's always some left. I keep It in my handbag and it always comes in handy at some point or other. Similarly, we have a little sewing kit that I bring with us when we travel; it was a hotel amenity some years ago. When and if that one runs out - not likely tbh - I'll pick up another one at another hotel. I don't take them if I don't need them, because what's the point?

Toiletries get binned if opened so it’s better for the environment to take them.

Anything else is stealing.

One can purchase individual sachets of sugar at the supermarket, tea too.

Stealing consumables for use off-premises just drives up the costs for everyone.

It's not stealing. 🙄 It's utterly ridiculous to claim that it is. The hotel does not care one bit whether I have biscuits outside the room or in it. They are there to be consumed by me and are covered by the room fee.

The room fees could be lower if people weren't taking off with multiples of items for future use.

No. The rates are set such that expenses are covered by fees and a margin is left for profit. No hotel is going to charge 5p less per room because someone doesn't eat the biscuits.

Taking mugs or glasses is called stealing. You need to adjust your moral compass

Why would anyone take pillows home with them?

Some of the pillows in hotels abroad are those thin square things which need 3 to prop my head up. One hotel I stayed in Latvia I wasn't given extra pillows in the wardrobe and didn't take my request of additional pillows, so I had to prop the pillows with the dressing gowns.

I think the @TakeOrLeaveIt is too embarrassed to return to the thread!

Do you have no mugs/glasses at home or something? This is tacky behaviour.

As a side note, I would not recommend stealing those kind of items if you’re inclined to - they’re not clean.

If you're going to take a towel, take it from the cart in the hallway. Everyone knows that. Or one of the large bath sheets from by the pool.

I take mini shampoos from nice hotels and then give them to the kids when they go on school residentials and cub camps to save (a) decanting smaller bottles and (B) the risk they will leave in the shower and forget it.

Good size for the gym!

As per PP, things that can't be used again and will be binned are fine. Everything else is not!

No I never have personally. We’re not talking about what I personally have taken, rather this is my opinion of what I think is ok to take. Toiletries that are started aren’t being used for the next guest. They’re thrown out. If it’s being thrown, I don’t see the problem.
and to the other poster that said I shouldn’t be taking teas, I never even mentioned tea! Never drank a tea in my life! Lol

There's no need to take mini-shampoos to give to your children. I buy little empty travel bottles from places like Boots and fill them with shampoo etc from my big bottle. That's what I take away with me when I'm travelling. You could do that and give them to your children.

Cups, glassess, robes all theft as far as im concerend imagine if every one who stayed did it the cost to the hotel would be massive also if you can afford an hotel room surely you can afford your own glassess and cups.

All I could picture was someone trying to sneak past reception with an ironing board under their coat...