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Tuesday, November 3

A Frugal Miser Brings Home Toiletries and Food from Hotels

I've seen debates online about the ethical dilemma of whether it is okay to take home toiletries, towels, food, etc. when you stay in a hotel. I tend to be liberal on the subject.

First, I never take items that the hotel clearly reuses. For example, towels, remote controls, etc. I remember a couple years ago a group of friends and I spent the weekend at a nice hotel in Pensacola Beach. I didn't find out until a few weeks later that one of my so-called friends took home the hotel hair dryer. How embarrassing.

But I have no problem bringing home other things, such as soap, shampoo, coffee packs...even food from the free breakfast. In fact, if I really like something, like the soap, I've even been known to request an extra from the front desk just to take it home. Now and then I will bring home the tissue or toilet paper if I know I am running low.

Is this going too far? Maybe. I don't see any problem at all taking my used soap or open shampoo, but some may question whether I should take an unused coffee pack or packaged cereal. I guess since the value of these items is nominal, I don't really feel bad when I do it.

What do you think?

2 comments:

  1. I too will take home anything disposable from a hotel, soap shampoo, ect, my daughter worked for one, they throw them out between people. I hang my head saying I too have sacked away a few items for later from a continental breakfast bar. Ethical...well probably not, but rooms overpriced? of course. I'm sure Amy Dacszcyn would have a few things to say about that!

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  2. Marilyn,
    It's nice to know I'm not the only one who snags a banana on the way out. It helps me feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

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