Do you "borrow" anything from hotels and lodges?

[bonniejoy03]

We always love to take the little soaps and shampoos. We have a nice collection and they are great for the gym. Is it appropriate to take the slippers? Strange question I know but always wondered what was allowed and what not!!!

[travel2fun]

We always love to take the little soaps and shampoos. We have a nice collection and they are great for the gym. Is it appropriate to take the slippers? Strange question I know but always wondered what was allowed and what not!!!

bonniejoy03, I think I more than pay for the little soaps, shampoos and conditioners in my room rates. If I really like the products, I often will help myself to a few extras if I happen to catch the housekeeping cart in the hallways.

As for slippers, I may or may not take them. They don't usually hold up for all that long once I return home and walk around in the morning dew searching for my newspapers.

[kyshel]

If I wear them and leave them, I'll let the hotel decide if they can donate or dispose. I seldom take unworn unless I need them for long haul flight. I have the same type of shampoo/soap collection.
I have wonderful pair of Westcliff Hotel slippers I can't bear to toss...I took them to Sweden last time.

[bonniejoy03]

I wasn't sure of proper "borrowing" standards! Are the slippers meant to take? I know the robes are not because they typically have a price posted if you want to purchase!

[ShiningLight]

In a word - no, we do not take anything, with 2 exceptions. If there are unopened shampoos, lotions, I'll take them at the end of a stay and give them to a friend who volunteers at a shelter for abused women & children. Also give them to our church which in concert with other houses of worship (from UCC to Temples to RC parishes), takes in homeless families for a week in a regular 3 month rotation. This allows the kids to keep going to school, and the parents to work at getting a job.

I also might grab a handful of tissues, if one of us has a runny nose.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Am I the only one to notice that in many restaurants (everything from a local diner to steak houses) spoons have disappeared from place settings? Petty theft in the hotel, restaurant & cruise line business is a multi-million dollar problem. One cruise line said they loose some huge number of china place settings, as well as utensils at the conclusion of each cruise.

[omegaet]

I've never had the impression hotels that provide slippers in the room expect them to remain with the room.....especially, if we've worn them. Whatever the case, we do take the slippers and as mentioned by kyshel, using them aboard longer flights to supplement the 'socks' some airlines provide in their amenity kits.

As for unopened soaps, conditioners, bath gels, etc., we may or may not take them. Sometime, if the products are upscale and are in interesting packaging, we will bring them home and add them to a ongoing collection we keep in a guest room bath. I guess the practice is more for 'talking points' and 'conversation starters' for guests.

If we are going to be on an extended journey, stopping as several destination properties, we often taken unopened amenities and use them to 'Pay It Forward' with local people we encounter. It is amazing to see the expressions (happy - not unhappy) on the faces of people who receive a small bar or two of soap and maybe some hand cream....probably something that might never see in their daily lives.

Even the small sewing kits, frequently placed in bathrooms, are appreciated by locals. We do take pens as well, and give them to children.

We're not into 'borrowing' towels, china or flatware from places we visit.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi O...I am on the same page as you! I love the little soaps and shampoos! I use them for the gym and our guest bathroom. I have only taken the slippers twice but felt soooo guilty! I wasn't sure if this was proper. I like using the more fancy pens; it is a conversation piece when I use at work with clients!

[kyshel]

One we didn't have to "take" :
We were each presented with a gift from the Executive Club Staff at the Siam Kempinksi this week. It was a beautiful Thai Silk bookmark!! They all lined up to thank US for staying (THEY totally pampered us!) and invited us to return soon.
Can't wait for the next offer dated 2012...

[thepiranha]

How do you use a silk bookmark on a Kindle, Kyshel? Just kidding.

The best departing gift we ever got was when we left the Willows Lodge in Woodinville, WA, a Luxury Link property. Part of our package was a picnic lunch for two on the day of our choice, so we chose to take it for the long car ride home. Not only was the food bountiful and delicious (sandwiches, salads, fruit, dessert and drinks), but it came in a picnic basket with utensils, glasses and corkscrew. I tried to explain at the front desk that we wouldn't be able to return the picnic basket, but the clerk told us that it was a departing gift that was part of the package.

I have so many small bars of soap and bottles of shampoo and conditioner at home that I usually don't take them from hotels anymore. I do take the hand lotion and small sewing kits, however. As for slippers, I think that they're thrown away if they're worn, so I may take them if they're decent slippers.

[shygirl724]

I tend to be sensitive to different scents in soaps, so I use my own in the hotel. I take home all the little soaps, shower caps, sewing kits, etc. provided in the bathroom. If you put them in a drawer each day, the maids replenish everything in the AM. I take them home and add them to little items, such as hand sanitizers, qtips, safety pins, bandaids, disposable razors, etc. to put in zip lock bags and provide to the food bank as "vanity kits". I also save any unopened condiment jars from the room my service tray (catsup, mustard, etc.) and when I have a bag full I give them to the food bank.

Never kept the slippers. Didn't know we could.

Shy ~