The line between taking what you’re owed and stealing might seem like a fine one when it comes to hotels. We all remember that one Friends episode where Ross takes about everything he can from his hotel room, stating it’s only fair as that’s what you pay for. But most of the items in a hotel room aren’t actually yours to take. If you choose to do so anyway, well, you’re in fact stealing.
Whether you’re a frequent traveller or not, staying at a luxury hotel always feels like a treat. You’re sleeping in the softest sheets, you’re showering under the most perfect rain shower, you’re sliding your feet into the most comfortable hotel slippers. Every act feels like a little present, a well-deserved pampering moment. And of course, the whole experience is something you’d like to remember. Some are therefore tempted to take a little souvenir from that luxurious sleepover. Which is fine, as long as you’re talking about a shampoo or anything else in that department. But when does taking a souvenir turn into theft and which items are most often stolen in 5-star hotels? Wellness Heaven, a German spa and luxury hotel guide, decided to interview 1,376 hotel managers in order to determine which items get stolen most often by guests.
And as it turns out, guests have a tendency to get away with some of the strangest items. Of course, and this shouldn’t come as a surprise, towels and bathrobes are the most frequently stolen. Nothing beats a bit of hotel linen after all. Items such as hangers, pens and even dishes or cutlery aren’t that surprising either. But other stolen items are stranger and less subtle. We can’t even imagine how you’d walk out of a hotel with a coffee maker, mattress or mini fridge. And what does one do with a remote control? Unless you’re taking the TV set too – which according to the survey, some do – it seems like a waste of time.
Top 21 most stolen items
- Towels
- Bathrobes
- Hangers
- Pens
- Cosmetics
- Batteries
- Cutlery
- Artworks
- Tablet computers
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Dishes
- Coffee makers
- Remote controls
- Hair dryers
- TV sets
- Light bulbs
- Mattresses
- Lamps
- Phones
- Mini fridges
