When you’re going on a holiday, these days you get to choose from quite a wide array of accommodation options. Want as much freedom as possible? You book an Airbnb or apartment, with your own kitchen and everything. Want to stay within a tight budget? You book a dorm bed in a hostel. Want to “experience something different”? You book a tree house or a boat. Want to really pamper yourself and your company? You book a (fancy) hotel. But with that last option also comes the hotel etiquette. What can you do, what can’t you?
Especially at the end of your stay, there’s a tricky situation. Don’t try and fool us, we’ve all asked ourselves the same question. When the moment’s there to actually pack our bags, we look at the room and ask ourselves what we can take with us – aside from our own stuff of course, that goes without saying. Depending on the hotel you’re staying at, there can be quite a few fancy, funny or handy things still laying around when you’ve packed up your own gear. And we’ve all seen the scene in ‘Friends’, where Ross packs everything with him, from toilet paper to light bulbs to the salt – but not the shaker, of course.
All joking aside, what you can or cannot take from your hotel room isn’t always crystal clear. So we’ve made a little list of things that you certainly can take with you after your stay – no questions asked.
1. Shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries
Some hotels don’t offer separate toiletries anymore and instead opt for dispensers in the shower but if you’re staying somewhere with little bottles and soaps, you can take those with you. Same goes for things such as cotton buds and shower caps – even though one always wonders when to actually use them.
2. Pens, paper and other stationary
More often than not, hotels actually like it if you take these with you. They mostly bear the hotel’s initials or logo, making you the perfect little advertiser everywhere you go.
3. Slippers
Contrary to bathrobes, which you should absolutely leave behind, slippers are almost always made to be worn by just one guest. If you leave these disposable after your stay, they will end up in the bin because they’re not made to be washed and worn again.
4. Tea, coffee and sugar
Considered as something completely separate from the mini bar, it’s okay for you to take the complimentary coffee, tea and sugar with you after your stay. Don’t exaggerate though: if you’re never going to drink them, just leave them behind.
