That extra charge on your credit card is not always a mistake.
One of the small joys of a hotel stay is enjoying the amenities, and it’s perfectly acceptable to take the half-used mini bottles of shampoo and lotion with you. This unspoken rule, however, sometimes creates confusion about what else is fair game. Some guests operate under a “finders, keepers” mentality, packing items that are very much intended to stay in the room.
Knowing where the line is between a complimentary souvenir and outright theft is key to being a smart traveler. To avoid an embarrassing follow-up call or an unexpected charge on your bill, make sure these nine items are left behind when you check out.
1. The plush and comfortable bathrobes are not a parting gift.
Wrapping yourself in a luxurious, fluffy hotel bathrobe is one of the great pleasures of a getaway. It feels so personal and comfortable that it can be tempting to fold it up and slip it into your suitcase as a memento of your relaxing stay. This is almost always a mistake. These bathrobes are not disposable; they are expensive items that the hotel launders and reuses for the next guest.
Consider them a temporary loan for your comfort. Most hotels keep a careful inventory of their robes, and if one goes missing from your room after you check out, you can expect to see a hefty charge on your credit card, as stated in Reader’s Digest. The price they charge is often far more than what the robe is actually worth.
2. The towels belong to the hotel, not to your linen closet.
Hotel towels, whether they are the bath sheets, hand towels, or the ones you take to the pool, are one of the most common items stolen by guests. Some people may think it’s a minor infraction, but hotels view it as theft. They lose thousands of dollars a year replacing linens that walk out the door, and many have started tracking their inventory more closely to combat the problem.
Just like the bathrobes, if the housekeeping staff reports towels missing from your room, the hotel will not hesitate to charge the credit card on file for the replacement cost, as mentioned in The Sun. That “free” towel could end up being the most expensive one you ever own, so it’s best to leave them all behind.
3. You can’t take the incredibly comfortable pillows and bedding.
After a fantastic night’s sleep on what feels like the world’s most comfortable pillow, you might be tempted to take it with you to improve your own bed at home. The pillows, sheets, blankets, and duvets are all significant investments for a hotel, chosen specifically to enhance the guest experience. They are absolutely intended to stay in the room.
These items are carefully inventoried, and their absence will be noticed immediately by the housekeeping staff. Taking hotel bedding is a surefire way to get a substantial charge added to your final bill, as per The Manual. If you truly love the pillows, a better approach is to check the tag for the brand or ask the front desk if they sell them directly to guests.
4. The hair dryer and iron are considered room appliances.
The small appliances provided in your room, like the hair dryer in the bathroom or the iron and ironing board in the closet, are there for your convenience during your stay. They are not complimentary gifts. These are part of the room’s standard equipment, just like the lamp or the television, and are expected to be there for the next guest to use.
Many hotels have even started using hair dryers that are hardwired into the wall mounts to prevent them from being taken. Even if they are not secured, taking one will be treated as theft. The hotel keeps a detailed inventory of these items and will charge you for a replacement if one goes missing after your stay.
5. That in-room coffee maker needs to stay behind.
Waking up to a fresh cup of coffee from the in-room Keurig or Nespresso machine is a wonderful hotel perk. The complimentary coffee pods or tea bags are yours to enjoy or take with you. The machine itself, however, is most definitely not. These coffee makers are expensive appliances that are part of the room’s furnishings.
Packing up the coffee maker will not go unnoticed. Housekeeping will report it missing during their room check after your departure, and you can be certain a charge for a new machine will appear on your credit card statement. Enjoy the coffee, but leave the coffee maker where you found it.
6. The remote control and its batteries are not souvenirs.
It may seem petty, but a surprising number of guests will take the batteries out of the television remote control before they check out. Others might even take the remote itself. This is a huge annoyance for the hotel staff, who then have to scramble to find replacement batteries or a compatible remote before the next guest arrives and complains that their TV doesn’t work.
This is not a victimless crime. The hotel will often add a “restocking” or replacement fee to your bill for these kinds of minor thefts. It’s a frustrating and unnecessary inconvenience for everyone involved, so it’s best to leave all the electronics and their components exactly as you found them.
7. The artwork and decor are part of the room’s design.
This should go without saying, but the items that make your hotel room look nice are not free for the taking. This includes the paintings or prints on the walls, the decorative vases on the dresser, the alarm clock on the nightstand, and even the mirrors. These pieces were chosen and purchased by the hotel to create a specific ambiance and are part of the room’s permanent decor.
Taking a piece of art off the wall and packing it in your suitcase is blatant theft that the hotel will take very seriously. You will be charged for the item, and in some cases, you could even be blacklisted from the hotel chain for future stays.
8. You should leave the books and the bible in the nightstand.
Most hotel rooms in the U.S. have a copy of the Bible in the nightstand drawer, usually placed there by Gideons International. The Gideons’ mission is to distribute Bibles, and they are generally happy for a guest who needs one to take it with them. However, other books in the room, which are sometimes used as decorative items, are definitely hotel property.
To avoid any confusion or potential issues, the smartest policy is to simply leave all books where you found them. Taking the decorative copy of a local history book or a novel left on the coffee table will be treated the same as taking a lamp, resulting in an unwanted charge on your final bill.
9. The high-quality wooden hangers belong in the closet.
While the flimsy wire hangers you get from the dry cleaner are disposable, the nice wooden, chrome, or satin-padded hangers found in a hotel closet are not. Hotels invest in these high-quality hangers to provide a better experience for their guests and to maintain a consistent look in their rooms. They are considered part of the room’s inventory.
While you might think that taking one or two won’t be noticed, hotels often lose a significant number of these hangers over time, and some have started charging for them. It is a small item that is easy to overlook, but a savvy traveler knows to leave them hanging in the closet where they belong.