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?

Nobody is refilling the tiny bottles. That would be time consuming and fiddly and most likely sticky. A bottle of Arran aromatics costs 26p per unit shower gel, shampoo, conditioner it was all the same. A minimum wage worker cost 19p a minute. Unscrewing, refilling, wiping down drying, polishing would cost more in time than just replacing the bottles and you’d need to buy the big bottles at £30-£40. Possibly abroad if labour costs are comparatively low.

They refill the big bottles.

Of course you can’t take mugs and glasses from hotels that is stealing their property!

Apart from he fact it is theft and some hotels will charge you for the items taken - why would you want an item everyone else has used ?

I take whatever toiletries I haven't used. There's a few of us at work who do (I work in a maternity unit). We keep them in the staff room to give out to patients who unexpectedly have to stay overnight and haven't brought an overnight bag.

My friend works in the hotel industry. In management and no you can't steal anything they will charge you for anything you take.

Not including the toiletries and tea coffee etc obviously those you can take.

The difference between toiletries and mugs/glasses is so obvious because one will be replaced after each customer anyway and the other will not.

Toiletries yes, beyond that no..... I would imagine they would charge for that.

I saw a mum pinching Lego bricks from a play area in Legoland. She was being very middle class and jolly as she went about it too, which somehow made me more disgusted. Add Lego to the ‘no’ list!

There was a lovely Bose speaker in a hotel I stayed in last year. Should I have taken that?

I love getting the mini shampoos etc - so handy for flying.

Apparently branded items are for taking (hence the branding) so things like pens, but definitely not mugs/glasses.

I took a corkscrew from a fancy hotel once as it was branded but it was a really lovely one and I have felt guilty ever since!

Are you really that desperate for a shitty ceramic mug that's been used by God knows who and the likes of which you can pick up new for a quid or two anyway?

@Hateam is right. This must surely be a journalist's post.

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

I do take the mini shampoo, conditioner and soap because they are useful for travelling- to a lesser hotel that doesn’t provide them. Or a self-catering place. I’m also partial to a shower cap.
i take the biscuits if they provide them, but it would never occur to me to take the tea bags too!
in fact I try to remember to bring my own from home as I’m quite fussy.
I would not dream of taking anything else.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😂

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

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