Mumsnet users share with HomeAway the strangest thing they've found or left behind in a holiday home

[EllieMumsnet]

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The chance to spend time away from home and in a new environment is a treat that many of us look forward to. Occasionally, however, we can forget to take everything back home with us once the holiday is over. HomeAway would love to hear about the strangest things that you have left behind or found from former guests in a holiday home.

Here is what HomeAway has to say: “HomeAway offers more than 2 million unique places to stay in over 190 countries around the world, from villas to cottages, from beach houses to tree houses, from mountain cabins to even castles! Over one-third of HomeAway's nearly 1.5 million online bookable listings are now instantly bookable, with no wait for confirmation. The holiday home expert’s mission is to provide families and groups of travellers with the perfect match holiday home to create unforgettable memories together. Not only do holiday homes provide excellent value for travelling families and group of friends, booking a whole house also guarantees more space and flexibility than a hotel or resorts.

Ever wondered how much your home could earn for you? HomeAway is here to help you learn what it takes to rent your home and invite travellers in for unforgettable experiences. Click here to find out more.”

Have you ever found unusual items in the fridge? Maybe you managed to leave just one shoe in the wardrobe? Or your underwear in a strange location? Perhaps you’ve even found something as random as a walking stick or a diary? Share them all on the thread below...no matter how strange!

Everyone who comments on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

In September 2016 we rented a lovely holiday house in Cornwall for me and my OH, our (then) 3 year old twins and my parents. All 6 of us had a lovely week but whilst packing we lost a small toy dinosaur. Twin2 was upset as it was one of his faves.
We tore the house apart and figured he must have left it on the beach or on a day trip.

In 2017 we booked the same house for the equivalent week in September -
So exactly a year later. We arrived, opened the front door, dropped some bags in the downstairs bedroom and lo-and-bloomin'-behold, there was the dinosaur on the mantel shelf - just like it had been waiting for us to return! Twin2 was delighted but Twin1 wanted to have his own 'welcome surprise'!

I spend far too much of my life in hotels for work, and I've learnt never to look under the bed or sofa on account of the rank things to be seen there. I never put my clothes in the drawers after leaving 3 of my best bras in a hotel in Brazil which I was gutted about!

We arrived at one holiday cottage to find a row of neon swimwear drying on the radiator in the hallway. Quite how both their original owners and the cleaners /owners failed to see them there is s mystery!

I had laser eye surgery a few days before our holiday. Overnight (for about a week to ten days after) you have to sellotape these plastic eye shields / goggle things to your face to stop you scratching or putting pressure on your eyes while you are asleep, damaging them while they are healing.
We were only in our rented cottage for three nights and of course I left them behind.
I called and asked if they could be posted to me and the very sweet lady agreed but asked me why my husband bought his "protective cups" with him but she didn't see him playing any sport!!!!

We took MIL on holiday and she left her false teeth behind!

False eye lashed in the bed, false fingernails in the kitchenette and a hairpiece in the shower. Thought the hairpiece was a dead rat at first...then opened a wardrobe to find a flasher mac and a pair of crutches....

generally old sock

Once we found handcuffs under the bed, took some explaining to my daughter at the time....

Found an old pair of scrumpled up pyjamas...and undies.

I once found a blow up doll under the bed!

When I was 20 I completed Camp America. I literally purchased kilos of jelly belly jelly beans as they were soo cheap so I went overboard in New York for gifts for family and friends. I left the lot behind. 😭. However, somebody was really happy

Crutches!!!!! Found in the holiday home under the bed.....gave us hours of fun trying to fathom the circumstances behind this!

We once went to stay in a cottage and found athree adult magazines under the sofa!

We left my sons light sabre a good few years ago. He was distraught and my husband had to trawl local shops on a Sunday until he found one exactly the same!

I left my camera once in the bedside drawer, was devastated. Luckily housekeeping found it and I had to drive back to the holiday home to get it just as I'd returned home adding another 6 hours driving time!

Not strange "strange" but did find my kids favourite book on the shelf in the room he slept in (similar tastes obviously)

A phone/camera charger in the small safe of the room in Paris. It came really handy as I was planing to buy one !!!

I once had the unenviable job of cleaning holiday caravans and found a child's tooth (well I hope it was a child's tooth) I presume the tooth fairy was a little negligent and left it behind!

A very well loved and used teddy bear, we told the owners but I'm sure there was a very unhappy child somewhere who had lost their favourite toy.

Oh dear. We left Dad's insulin behind once!

We lost my daughter's dolly's dummy in our apartment and couldn't find it so it got left behind!

Not a 'holiday rental', but the actual property I moved into for a short while. He had left milk, a dozen tins of fois gras, half a dozen packs of lentils and some sundried tomatoes for me. I ended up donating the fois gras to my local food bank... I'm a vegetarian. Bless him.

My Landlord

worn socks in the sofa after my phone went down the back.

I left behind my weddings knickers! Don’t ask !