Now here's a thing, Meanqueen doesn't use the toiletries in the hotel, and doesn't take them home either. Why? I've paid for them.
If I use them, I wouldn't use the whole bar of soap, or the whole bottle of shampoo or shower gel, so what would happen to what's left? Would the cleaners be able to keep, them as a bonus? Would they get thrown away? Would the plastic bottles be recycled or would they get binned? Or maybe it is expected that the guest gets to keep them and take them home whether used or not? Are the staff expecting to find them all missing when they go in to clean the room? Do they mind if their toiletries disappear altogether into someone suitcase? Is that normal practice?
Seems such a waste to only part use them, so I prefer to take my own from home. I am not so skint that I have to resort to clearing the bathroom of any unused toiletries. I might have done once when I was very skint, but then I couldn't afford to stay in the room anyway. Now that I can afford the treat now and again of a nice hotel, I see no reason to help myself to some shower gel and soap. I do not need it. ilona
Yes,Ive got be be honest!!.I have taken the toiletries,even when Ive only used a small amount of them.I hadnt use to take the shower cap,but now if they have them I will take that home aswell,cause they can be used for putting over seedlings...like a mini greenhouse,lol.I dont like to waste anything!.I can also make sure that the little bottles are refilled and reused if we are going self catering for a couple of days.I will even put washing up liquid in them them,because you dont need a full bottle for 2/3 days.Then at least i can make sure that they are recycled.Im getting tighter by the day,lol!!
ReplyDeleteWe used to run a b&b. We had soap, bath stuff, conditioner and shampoo in a set of bottles on the wall in the bathroom which you could dispense what you needed by pressing a button so no wastage or extra costs for us, win win dont know why others in the industry dont do the same.
ReplyDeleteTravelodge do this Jill.It is just one dispenser on the wall with shower gel,which can double up as shampoo aswell,xx
DeleteAnd the Premier Inn
DeleteMany cruise ships do this too.
DeleteMy grandkids love getting the toiletries from our trips... so I strip the bathroom and take everything home for them. No not the towels or facecloths or toilet paper !!
ReplyDeleteWhen I am traveling I have a small hotel size bottle of shampoo and a small light weight soap box with a small soap in it. I keep them topped up from hotel supplies as I travel....especially because I will not find supplies at hostels usually. I am not keen on liquid soap but it is useful when washing my underwear to hang up to dry over the night.
ReplyDeleteAnd those little bottles and bars add to the expenses that the hotel incurs, raising the overall prices for everybody. Room costs here provide a very thin profit margin, and this eats into it. Hotels tend to make money on their dining room instead. (Husband was in the business for awhile.)
ReplyDeleteI love trying the different toiletries and I take home the different bottles even the part used ones. They put them there for you to try and to use so I do. Some of them are really nice .
ReplyDeleteMy hubby travels a lot for work so we definitely take the little toiletry bottles which he uses in his "1L ziploc bag" in his carryon. They are perfect for it. Saves buying the little ones ourselves and/or buying small bottles and transferring stuff. Though he does have some of those too. It's a litte bit six of one, half a dozen of the other to me - I would rather take them and use them, than have the hotel throw them out after a very small/single use, but not using them at all if you're not going to take them with you is better, I agree (assuming the hotel leaves them for the next guest or they are used somehow and not thrown out if they are not touched?). I definitely do see the on the wall dispensers that JustJill mentions in some places and they are a great idea. No unnecessary waste.
ReplyDeleteIf I have started a bottle or bar I take it otherwise it would go in the bin..but like you I prefer my own.
ReplyDeleteI do take them home and then donate to a homeless shelter as they are always needing toiletries for their clients to use.
ReplyDeleteI use the hotel toiletries and bring home any half-used supplies. I feel like it extends the vacation a bit and I don’t want them just thrown away. It’s part of the price of the room, in my humble opinion. I also recycle the containers.
ReplyDeletemyself I do generally use them, or take them. I had always had the impression it was part of the room charge. Also, recently, I have seen these type of thing bagged in "groups" in second hand shops (for small cost). I do believe that someone would no doubt appreciate getting travel sizes like this for a good deal.
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear from the business folks, do they "expect" customers to use them? do they "expect" folks to take all these type of goods home? what really are their hopes/thoughts on this? just curious. If any have ever heard these business folks comment on this, would be interested to hear.
I always use the toiletries as it's part of the treat. The only thing I bring home are the shower caps as I give those to my daughter for her baby buggy. Stay with me ........ when she's taken the baby out, she puts the shower caps round the wheels of the buggy when she's in the porch, that way the dirt from the wheels doesn't trek into the house. Friend of mine does same with her shopping trolley.
ReplyDeleteHi Ilona,
ReplyDeleteI do the same, not wanting to add to the single use plastic, catastrophic mountain, that already covers our beautiful earth. I too bring along my own toiletries, they are often better quality anyway.
Fi
I do take the soaps and shampoos and use them when I travel..even refilling the bottles with my own, as it's easier to pack small bottles than take the large ones at home..they do toss out what you don't use, so why waste it.....? It's all included in your bill..they are NOT refunding you money the last day for not using them!!!!
ReplyDeleteI asked a housekeeper girl once what happens to opened-but-half-used shampoos etc and she said they were allowed to take them home. It was a small hotel so may not be typical procedure.
ReplyDeleteI agree, to me too, it is "part of the treat" of staying somewhere.
ReplyDeletere whether the cleaning staff can take the partly used/un used ones home...---Well, I suspect many do. HOWEVER, I strongly suspect it is strictly against policy, and if caught there would be trouble/maybe even job loss. I say this, because I have in past yrs, heard of several cases where businesses had goods they chucked in garbage, and if the employees are ever caught "rescuing these goods and taking home" they are fired. Seriously, how stupid is this? --- But, the thinking is (as I've heard from employees), employers feel if they do not have a strict policy they may end in situation where some employees chuck stuff needlessly so they can justify taking home...YIKES...still seems a sad waste, if someone can use "stuff"
I haven't stayed in a hotel/b&b for years (dogs and other commitments) but I do know of someone - truly it wasn't me - who took out the light bulbs in their room and took them home. Honestly.
ReplyDeletewhat?! unbelievable what some people will take. When I bought my first flat years ago, the seller had not only removed light bulbs but had even taken the batteries out of the doorbell and the gasfire ignition.
DeleteDon't be shy taking those... be sure they are included inthe price! YOur concerns about waste I applaud though... these are very environmentally wasteful!
ReplyDeleteOh I always take them the little bottles come in very useful for future travels
ReplyDeleteWow - times they are a changing Ilona - once upon a time you would never have bypassed a chance of a freebie. You used to use unwanted 'smellies' for cleaning the floor and the loo !
ReplyDeleteI'm glad things have picked up for you now though.
Yes, you're right. I used to be on the look out for anything free. I still am, but now I am considering what impact waste has on the planet. I would rather rescue something second hand and unwanted, and give it another life. I can pass by anything new which I don't actually need.
DeleteLiving a frugal and simple life has it's benefits, money accumulates in the bank, and I can put it to better use. A little bit of shampoo and soap isn't going to make much difference to the money I already save in other ways.
when I go to a hotel, i always take the small travel sized toiletries, for several reasons: one, if someone is in the hosptal and you need to stay over night, it is nice to have liquid body wash, shampoo, bar soap and lotion already packaged up so that if you need to go in a hurry you do not have to worry about filling / hunting down travel sized bottles. Two, when you are in between trips to the store and you run out , you can go a little while longer. Three, when you do empty the bottles/ jars, you can always fill them back up again for the next trip. Another tip to help save on energy cost, if you have a gap in any door that is used to come in/ go out of the house, and you have a rug, use that to fill in the gap. Another tip is when I go to the cafe to eat, I always get something ( such as chicken) that I know that i can make several meals out of at home.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your tips.
DeleteJust had a conversation with the receptionist at Willersley Castle. She said people can do whatever they like with the toiletries, use them or not use them. Take them away whether unused and full, or half empty. If they are left partially used, they are binned, the staff don't get to keep them. She said they are complimentary, but I can't see that, they have to be paid for, so the cost will have to be factored in when they set their prices.
ReplyDeleteI asked if they would consider fitting dispensers, she said I would have to speak to management about that. She didn't seem overly concerned that the individual bottles and packets are contributing to the mounds of plastic waste that we have already.
They are meant to be used and if not you are allowed to take them home.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i usually stay in Travelodge when I go to Brighton,I was thinking back to the time I stayed in a hotel there about 2 years ago.I had already asked them if they supply toiletries and they said yes.So I knew I didnt have to take my own and used daily what they provided,but brought the empty bottles back for future use.What I did notice though was half used bottles in the rubbish bin attached to the cleaners trolly,along with crisp packets,used mags and takeaway containers..all shoved in together.So it was obvious that they didnt recycle the plastic.This is why I always bring mine back home with me.If Im on holiday,i will even leave any mags,books Ive read in the reception area for others to make use of.xx
ReplyDeleteHello. Most of the time I take the toiletries that I give to homeless people I know and I often see.
ReplyDelete