If it’s not nailed down…

pinions vary over what you can take with you from hotel rooms with some stories of people taking pretty much everything that isn’t nailed down. Toiletries, towels, bathrobes, coat hangers, bed linen…you name it. Obviously, most of us would realise that beyond consumables and items that can’t be reused, you really shouldn’t be helping yourself to anything else.

The problem of stolen items is a huge annual cost to the hotel industry and drives up room prices. You might think one little item here and there won’t be noticed, but it can all add up to a real headache for hoteliers big and small alike.

If you are unscrupulous and help yourself to whatever you can stuff into your bags, what might the repercussions be? While you’re technically committing theft most hotels wouldn’t want the bad press of involving the police, except in extreme examples, and have to rely on the goodwill of guests for the most part. Then again, if you gave your credit card details at check in you might get a nasty shock when you get your statement as some hotels will charge you for anything missing. Most people, it seems, are too embarrassed to dispute such action.