What You Can and Cannot Take from Hotel Rooms

In 2012, to celebrate the centennial of several of their hotels, the Fairmont group introduced an unexpected initiative: amnesty. To aid in on-site exhibits at historic locations like Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier and Calgary’s Fairmont Palliser, they requested the return of any and all contraband items—from brass keys and silverware to full statues—that guests may have mistakenly taken home, alongside mini shampoo bottles and soaps.

Fairmont’s rule? No questions asked.

This initiative continues to this day during major renovations or openings. It seems fair, as the distinction between what can be taken and what should remain in the room can sometimes be unclear. Policies vary widely from property to property: for instance, at the acclaimed vineyard resort Coquillade in a Provençal village, guests are encouraged to take home locally made goose down pillows as parting gifts. In contrast, the eco-friendly 1 Hotels chain, from Toronto to New York City, promotes its “1 Less Thing” program, encouraging guests to lighten their load by donating gently used clothing to charity instead of taking items home.

However, not all theft is unintentional. Many hotels have started selling commonly stolen items in their boutiques to make these popular items more accessible and address the issue. For example, at the Plaza Hotel in New York, so many guests stole doorknobs featuring the iconic double P logo that the hotel decided to sell them in the gift shop.

How can you figure out what to take and what to leave behind, from bath salts to bathrobes? We’ve put together some general guidelines to assist you, along with notable examples from hotels worldwide.

Items You Are Prohibited from Taking from a Hotel Room

The Bathrobe

Hotel robes are soft and luxurious, representing the ultimate indulgence of getaway relaxation. It’s no surprise that guests often want to take them home, and many do. These coveted items are typically prohibited, and when they do make their way into suitcases, the hotel usually sends a hefty bill afterward. Instead of eliminating the robe experience, many hotels have embraced it, turning loungewear into a focal point for a fee. For instance, the stylish Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans has partnered with the Marfa-based design studio Far West to offer marbled silk robes in their rooms, which also retail in their shop, ByGeorge, for $395. Informative cards on closet hangers clarify that the robes are for sale, encouraging guests who have grown fond of the robes during their stay to inform the hotel at checkout if they wish to purchase one.

The Glassware

It might seem straightforward: the water glass on your bedside table belongs to the hotel, just like the teacups and saucers. This rule generally applies to all in-room drinkware, including coffeemakers and their accessories. Yet, these items frequently go missing. “Guests have even taken our Nespresso trays,” remarks Kimberly Walker, founder of California's motel revival brand Nomada. “Ours are from Anastasio Home, which are admittedly quite tempting.” Perhaps the confusion arises because these items stay in the room rather than being returned with room service. Additionally, the distinction between complimentary branded reusable water bottles—often given by hotels—and actual dishware may cause some uncertainty. For instance, Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California, gifts guests stainless steel water bottles, but many mistakenly take the etched glass bottles provided at turndown instead. It’s crucial to clarify these details.

The Hipster Home Decor

Hotel-branded items often lead to confusion, possibly because guests have come to expect promotional giveaways like tote bags and sunscreen featuring the hotel’s logo. This, combined with the trend of hotels designed to mimic stylish apartments, can make grabbing attractive home decor pieces especially tempting. Who wouldn’t want their living space to reflect the cool vibe of an Ace Hotel room? However, in eclectic hotels like these, guests cannot simply fill their bags with items like pharmacy lamps, Fender guitars, or Pendleton blankets. For example, at Detroit’s Shinola Hotel, which maintains a craftsmanship-driven aesthetic rooted in its origins as a watchmaker, guests have even attempted to take branded turntables from the sleek suites. In the same city, the Siren Hotel sees guests frequently swiping rose-hued vinyl ice buckets with brass accents from its 106 guest rooms, which range from playful Hideout rooms with bunk beds to an opulent Penthouse suite. To meet the demand and curb theft, these hotels now sell their in-room decor in their shops. Bedding items also often go missing, prompting places like Hotel Peter & Paul, situated in a renovated church in New Orleans, to make their signature quilts available for purchase.

Items You Can Take From a Hotel Room

Beauty and Self-Care Essentials

Collecting mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash has long been a favorite pastime of hotel guests. At many places, this charming perk still exists, sometimes complemented by bath salts (like at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in North Carolina). However, in a bid to be more eco-friendly, many hotels are thankfully transitioning to refillable wall-mounted dispensers. While these aren't for guests to take home (although visitors at Marram in Montauk have been known to attempt to steal the mounted Le Labo bottles), they are frequently available for purchase in the hotel shop. Fortunately, this shift towards sustainability doesn’t mean the end of toiletry giveaways. Items that are not encased in plastic and are easily portable remain excellent options. For example, guests at Casa Polanco in Mexico City can enjoy handmade marjoram soaps crafted by local alchemist Angelica Flores.

Locally Sourced Goods

In an increasingly uniform world, hotels strive to provide a genuine sense of place, showcasing the unique flavors of their locale. They often indulge guests with locally crafted items, particularly those made on-site. To avoid surprises at checkout, it’s wise to distinguish between what's for sale in the minibar and what's complimentary; typically, items like mini chocolates or vinegar are fair game. For instance, at Tenuta di Murlo in Umbria, guests receive olive oil, rosé, and red wine as gifts. Meanwhile, at Hotel don Pepe Gran Melia in Spain, visitors can take home ceramic candleholders crafted by local artisans. Guests at Palacio de los Duques in Madrid can also snag a sample Carner candle, fragrance, and illustrated book. In Rwanda, the luxurious One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Volcanoes National Park—home to some of the last mountain gorillas—presents small gifts throughout their stay that support local social enterprises, such as a felt mountain gorilla at turndown made by Handspun Hope, a cooperative that aids nearly 300 vulnerable women by providing training and jobs in yarn making and knitting with locally sourced materials, along with counseling and microfinancing.

Literature

In vacation home rentals, there’s an unspoken agreement when it comes to books: you can take one, but it's polite to leave another in its place. In hotels, this practice isn’t as straightforward. Many in-room coffee table books and local guides are intended to stay for the next guest’s enjoyment, serving both as resources and decor. However, this is changing, as more hotels now offer books related to their property or the surrounding area as gifts. For instance, at the William Vale in Brooklyn, guests are encouraged to leave behind Phaidon coffee table books but are welcome to take copies of AnOther, a substantial fashion and culture magazine.

As a general guideline, it’s always best to ask if you’re uncertain. Though it might feel a bit awkward, hotel staff will likely appreciate your inquiry and can guide you to online shops or local boutiques where you can purchase those coveted items. And if you’ve already walked away with something like a stylish clock or a china set, just wait for amnesty—perhaps one day, you can return it.