What you can and cannot take from your hotel room

Checkout time comes with its own little dilemma. You have packed your clothes, checked the bathroom twice, and somehow still end up looking around the room, thinking, “Can I take this home?”The answer is sometimes yes.Hotel rooms are filled with things meant for guests to use, but that does not mean everything sitting inside the room is complimentary. Some items are yours to keep, while others belong firmly to the hotel.Here is where the line usually falls.

What you can usually take

Mini toiletriesSmall bottles or tubes of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and shower gel are generally intended for individual guest use.If the hotel provides them as complimentary amenities, you can usually take the unused portion with you.Many hotels now use refillable dispensers instead, so the little bottles are becoming less common.SlippersThose lightweight hotel slippers are generally meant for single use by guests and are usually fine to take home.They are probably the easiest hotel-room souvenir to justify, especially if you have already worn them during your stay.Pens and notepadsThe pen and notepad placed on the desk are generally provided for guests to use.So if you have used the notepad to write down a phone number, shopping list, or tomorrow's plans, there is usually no need to leave it behind.Complimentary consumablesTea bags, coffee sachets, sugar, and other complimentary consumables can generally be taken, provided they are actually included with the room.The key is to check whether something is complimentary before putting it in your suitcase.

What you should leave behind

Towels and bed linen

Bath towels, hand towels, sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are hotel property.They may look tempting after a particularly comfortable stay, but taking them can result in a charge being added to your bill.BathrobesA bathrobe is another item guests sometimes assume they can take.Unless the hotel specifically says it is complimentary, leave it behind. If you really love it, ask whether the hotel sells its robes. Some properties do.Hairdryers and ironsThese are provided for use during your stay, not as parting gifts.The same applies to other small appliances kept in the room or bathroom, such as kettles and coffee machines.Use them during your stay, then put them back.HangersIt is easy to think a few hangers will not matter, but they are still hotel property.Unless the hotel specifically provides them as complimentary items, they should stay in the wardrobe.Decorative and room accessoriesArtwork, cushions, vases, ornaments, and other decorative pieces are not complimentary just because they are small enough to fit into a suitcase.If you like something in the room, ask the hotel whether it is available for purchase instead.The minibar needs a little cautionThe minibar is probably the easiest place to make an expensive mistake.A bottle of water, snack, or drink may be complimentary, or it may carry a charge. The same goes for items placed elsewhere in the room.Before opening or packing anything, check the minibar list, room information, or hotel app.And never assume that an item is free simply because it is sitting beside the bed.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)