Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"Is It Ever OK To Steal From Hotels?"

Source             :    stuff.co.nz
Category         :   Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   buuteeq-Hotel Marketing
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

It's a dilemma many travellers have faced: at what point does taking items from hotel rooms cross the line from being 'complimentary' to just plain ol' stealing? According to this article on Smart Travel Asia, statistics claim that on average a third more British women steal than men, with towels and light bulbs the most commonly lifted. Most commonly taken out of the hotels and resorts surveyed were towels, bathrobes, leather items (blotter, telephone pad), alarm clock, hair dryer, bath pillows, show pillows, cushions, drinking glasses and feather duvets. Other light-fingered favourites that appear on travel and hotelier blogs include vases, batteries and even the ever-present Gideon Bible.

A Hotels.com survey found that more than a quarter of Kiwi travellers have admitted to stealing things from hotels, with the most-stolen item being magazines and books. Of the 29 countries surveyed by hotels.com, Kiwis ranked 15th on the honesty list, with the Danish taking the number 1 position. We've had a brainstorm about what items are free to a good home, what are definite no-nos and those awkward items in between. On the 'approved' list of take home items are the various toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, soaps, shower caps and sewing kits. Also OK are the coffees, teas and milks - although clearing the entire lot out and into your handbag (never to be used again) could be seen as taking the mick. On the sometimes-OK-but-we're-never-quite-sure we have those papery, flimsy slippers that feature hotel branding (it's got their name on it, does that mean they stay?) and the awkwardly placed water bottle that says 'drink me!' but doesn't verify if it is complimentary or will later be charged at some exorbitant fee upon checkout.

On the 'never should be taken' list we have all the obvious large ticket items (think TVs, radios, desks, chairs and fans) but also dressing gowns and towels. These are one of the most commonly nicked items, with Holiday Inn admitting in 2008 that more than 560,000 towels grew legs and walked away. This later prompted a 'Towel Amnesty Day' where Holiday Inn offered to pay US$1 to a charity for every story travellers posted online of their towel stealing hijinks.

Source : stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/9075009/Is-it-ever-OK-to-steal-from-hotels