Hotel stays

[CatherineM]

i spend a fair amount of time in hotels between speaking engagements and CWL meetings. My husband and I fuss all the time about taking stuff like soap and shampoo to Kleenex. At what level do you guys think it becomes stealing?  I always take the soaps and shampoos for homeless packages. I've known people who intentionally take towels which is obvious stealing. I had to take one once because it was covering an icebag over a sprained ankle. Another time we had one covering up a nasty gash on the way to the hospital with one of the kids.

What about Kleenex, toilet paper, coffee packages, ethically and environmentally? What's the worst thing you've taken from a hotel?

[Luigi]

Personally, I don't take anything. But that's me.

If I did take items, I'd base it on whether or not my having used the product will stop the next guest from using it - the contamination factor. For instance, some people won't want to use soap  or shampoo that I've used. Personally, I think they're being a little punctilious - I mean, if the shampoo is still in the bottle, clearly I haven't used it! - but a lot of people are punctilious about personal-use items. So I would take soap or shampoo.

Kleenex (individually dispensed), toilet paper (still on the roll), coffee (still in the package) - I wouldn't take any of those, because I haven't contaminated them.

Ethically, taking all that stuff has got to raise the cost of doing business - whether or not it makes an appreciable difference in the price of a room, I don't really know. Environmentally, I don't think it makes much difference, unless the hotel is simply throwing away the partial box of Kleenex or the partial roll of toilet paper. If that's the case- and I don't know how we'd find that out - then it's better to take and use the products rather than throw them unused into a landfill.

[Anomaly]

I think ethically just what you would reasonably have opened and made unusable for others.   I used to travel a lot and brought my own soap and shampoos.   I would not use something that has been opened and feel the hotel should not leave opened soaps etc.   I see no issues with taking what was in the room.  Rolls of toilet paper and Kleenex, no.   It's not expected to be used up by one guest and it's not a gross factor.

I think package of coffee, one per person per night is fair as well.   It's a consumable.   

I've taken small hand towels by accident gathering laundry or used as a rag in the car.   

I know people that take everything possible, pens etc, even off the maids carts.  If it's not reasonable that you may have used it up, or partial leavings would be properly used (Tp or Kleenex), then it is stealing.  

[Gabriela]

They count soap and shampoo and conditioner and lotion and coffee and whatnot as expenses, and you pay for them in your hotel rates. So if you don't use them, they're still technically yours. It's awful nice of you to save the hotel that cost and leave it for the next person (unopened), but I think's a lot nicer to take what's yours and give it to the homeless.

Now, if you ask for a new soap every day you're there, or stash away coffee and keep having them bring more, just so you can pad your homeless packages, that's probably not cool.

Although it kinda' is still, in that Robin Hood sort of way.  

[Basilisa Marie]

If they're meant to be consumed totally by you during your stay, then by all means take them. They'll just have to throw them out or donate them to a charity when you're done. I don't know if they just leave unopened ones there, I imagine that some places do and some places don't. I usually take even unused soaps and shampoos because they're good for traveling. I leave the coffee because it's usually not amesome.

Kleenex and toilet paper aren't meant to be totally used up during your stay, so you shouldn't take them. Towels are definitely not meant to be taken, but if you do so accidentally or for a good reason I would let the hotel know when you check out, if you can. If you're taking soaps and stuff off the housekeeping cart, that's not cool.

[blazeingstar]

My hubs travels for work.  He brings the tiny shampoos and soaps home.  During long term stays he will take one off the cart if the hotel clearly states that they provide new toiletries every day and they have not.  But that's only if it's stated.  Most of the hotels he stays are are mid-range (not ritz but not motel 6) so you get what you pay for.  Since his travel is by plane, he relies on the tiny soaps to get him through his travels.  You can't put 2 weeks of soap in a carry on---its not possible.  He brings the extra, a bottle or two, home because they are small enough for carry-ons and we use them for guests.

To me the TP would be a no-go but the Klenex--due to the prevalence of the flu during the winter hotels often will swap out used boxes for new ones.  You'll notice that the boxes are very small.  Opened boxes are used by staff at the desk and in the kitchen (if they have one) or are out in the common areas.  So I'd take an open small box but not an unopened one or a large box.

[MIKolbe]

I take the room keys home and give them to my youngest, she thinks they are credit cards... which is especially funny when she tries to use them to pay for stuff.

[blazeingstar]

I take the room keys home and give them to my youngest, she thinks they are credit cards... which is especially funny when she tries to use them to pay for stuff.

HEHE that's cute.  The best keys that I've seen are ones that offer discounts to local places so they have a full color pic of that place...chocolate factory, aquarium, zoo, etc. 

 

....and now I want chocolate...

[CatherineM]

Great now I want chocolate too. 

[MIKolbe]

I just had chocolate.

 

[Archaeology cat]

I don't want chocolate

[Lilllabettt]

Hotels are supposed to toss opened shampoos, soaps, etc. If you opened it, take it or it will get tossed (unless they make a mistake and miss it.)

A lot of hotels toss everything, because housekeeping does not have time to look closely at the little bottles to see if they're opened. So, unless you are staying at a mom and pop, take it or it will get tossed. 

[Gabriela]

I always want chocolate. It's a congenital defect. If you people had any respect at all for my crippling disability, you'd be sending me chocolate every day.

H8rz.

[dUSt]

I take the lotion and soap, but have no need for the shampoo or conditioner so just leave it there.

[blazeingstar]

I take the lotion and soap, but have no need for the shampoo or conditioner so just leave it there.

Conditioner is great for beards.