Travel Blogger Daily Blog: What I Take – And Don’t Take – From Hotel Rooms

Toiletries Yes, But What About That Expensive Bathrobe…

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger

It’s all so tempting!

Bath oils, soaps, lotion, shampoo and other items laid out in your hotel room. And all there for the taking!

Well, not really, it’s there for your use while staying at the hotel. But of course, we all dump some of those things into our suitcase before we head to the lobby to check out of the place.

But there’s also some things where you had better be careful what you take from your room.

One thing I don’t take are the nice bathrobes. I’ve heard stories of people doing it and then seeing them being charged for it when they get their statement. Remember, the hotel managers have your credit card number.

So I don’t ever take these “big ticket” items. I have, tho, been in really nice hotels where it looks as if the bathrobes come with the room. I say that because of the way they presented in the room, laying on the bed or in some other prominent location.

Whenever this happens, I look around for a hidden sign saying “bath robes can be purchased for $150 (or whatever)” or perhaps one that says “enjoy this complimentary bathrobe as a memory of your stay here.”

I’ve actually learned I could have taken the bathrobe on a couple of occasions, but after the fact (darn it!).

I don’t drink coffee to I’ve never been tempted to take those instant packets. But I know people who do it.

Soap is one thing that I’ve always taken from hotels and motels of all price ranges. I did this so often early in my travels that accumulated the World’s Largest Collection of Hotel Room Soaps. Frank DeFord, I know YOU wrote who had the world’s largest collection in a Sports Illustrated article, but I had it at one time.

Mostly it was the small and basic soaps from cheap motels along the sportswriter road but now I’ve come to really like the bigger soap bars. And the fancy ones, like those in the shape of a seashell.

Now if places charge me that silly resort fee – which is becoming more prevalent and can add $15 a day to the rate of the rom – then I’ll take everything that not nailed down to the floor. If there’re going to gouge me then I’m going to at least get something out of it.