Hotel theft : what can holidaymakers take with them ?

Hotel theft : what can holidaymakers take with them ?

23 August 2024

When you stay in a hotel, it's natural to wonder what items you can legitimately take with you when you leave. Some items are provided for your comfort, while others are meant to remain in the room, and when they have been stolen without authorisation, you are committing an offence. But as a holidaymaker, what can you really take with you when you leave your room ?

Items generally accepted

Toiletries
Small-format toiletries such as shampoo, shower gel, soap and body lotion are available for your personal use. You can take them with you wherever you go. These items are specially designed for use during your stay and are replaced after each guest. Some hotels also offer small manicure and hygiene sets.

Stationery
Hotels often provide pens, notepads and postcards bearing their name. These items are intended to be taken away by guests, either as souvenirs or for future use.

Slippers
In some hotels, the slippers provided are disposable and can be taken away. However, some luxury slippers must remain in the room, so it's best to check before making a mistake.

Tea and coffee bags
Tea bags, coffee capsules and other beverages available in the room are offered as a convenience to guests and can be taken without concern.

What is strictly forbidden to take with you

Household linen
Sheets, towels, bathrobes and cushions belong to the hotel. Although tempting and comfortable, these items are intended to remain in the room. Taking these items with you could incur additional costs, as they are often of high quality and expensive to replace.

Decorations
Anything that is part of the decoration of the room, including works of art, vases, clocks and even hangers, must remain in place. These items are an integral part of the hotel experience and are not offered to guests.

Electronic equipment
Remote controls, chargers, Bluetooth speakers and other electronic equipment are provided to enhance your stay, but should not be taken along. These items are often inventoried and their absence will be noticed quickly.

What is really stolen

A survey conducted by Wellness Heaven,a guide specialising in luxury spas and hotels questioned 1,376 hotel managers to identify the items most often stolen by guests. The main finding was that towels and bathrobes are the most commonly stolen items, probably as souvenirs for a future spa stay.

Clothes hangers, pens and cosmetics follow closely in this list of goods frequently taken by holidaymakers. However, the survey also revealed some far more spectacular thefts, illustrating the wild imagination of some customers. Some of the strangest stolen items include shower heads, sinks, mini-refrigerators, and even a grand piano in one case reported by a Berlin hotel.

Potential consequences

Invoicing
Many hotels have sophisticated inventory systems in view of the many thefts that occur in the hotel industry. If a missing item is detected after your departure, the hotel may choose to charge you for the replacement cost. This amount can be debited directly from the card used for your reservation.

Blacklisting
In the event of theft of important items, some hotels may even choose to blacklist a guest, thus preventing future bookings in the same establishment or in the entire hotel chain concerned. This can also affect your reputation in other affiliated establishments.

How can we avoid misunderstandings ?

To avoid finding yourself in an awkward situation, it's advisable to always ask at reception before taking anything home that you don't think was clearly intended as a gift. Some hotels even offer purchase options for items such as bathrobes or cushions, allowing guests to leave with a souvenir without breaking the rules.