Wildflower, Thanks for your encouragement to not throw because I don't think my husband will change his habits.
I was very interested in you mentioning Kenya and the Seychelles. We lived in Kenya for a year, and have taken students there for their January break. We also have been to the Seychelles. In my opinion, some of the most beautiful, deserted beaches in the world. Owa

I keep some in our guest bathroom incase guests forget something. I also keep a stash of new toothbrushes, razors, etc. in there. I have been to friends homes where they had that and it has proved useful.

Since you can only use so much for that purpose though, the rest gets donated to a shelter. Sometimes the school will do a collection for that same thing.

I also use them in my guest bathroom at home. The guests love having all the different samples to try. I have a big basket filled with collected goodies from our travels. I have noticed that some of MY guests "collect" them to take home as well.

Ooooh, now *that's* naughty!

LOL What goes around comes around.

Wildflower, you have some wonderful ideas, and I've noticed that the little girls just LOVE them as well.

Actually, most times I forget to take them, but my granddaughters love them- and the Crisis Center does also, so I try to remember the good ones. On my recent cruise I never took the Euclyptus products and there were 4 or 5 of them every day. I just totally forgot and they were bummed. But I did get them Jamaican wraparounds for their birthdays -that were a big hit.

They aren't gifts or samples, YOU PAY for them. While the bathroom amenities aren't itemized on your bill, they are included in the price of your room.

I take home or throw any opened ones away to be sure that the next guest doesn't get my leftovers. It happened to me once that I got someone else 1/2 used bottle of shampoo and it grossed me out.

When I stayed at the Kingsmill Resort, they had the most abundant variety of toiletries I had ever seen - all from their spa including louffah type scrubbie thingies. I liked the stuff so much I scoffed all the small bottles every day and bought big bottles at the gift store.

I admit it -- I usually take the stuff daily if I like it. My guest bathroom has baskets full of these amenities and I just wish some of my guests would take a few home with them.

A cautionary tale: I once spent the night at the home of an acquaintance whose husband was a pilot. He traveled constantly and had lots of layovers. In my room there was a curious round basket, about 4 feet high. When I peeked under the lid, the whole thing was filled with shampoo and hand lotion samples!

There's a great chain of hotels in the UK called Malmaison where they put full-size (ie same size you would buy in a store) bottles of toiletries in the room.......and leave a notice that you should take them when you leave. They are really nice products from a specialist maker.

Wednesday, I agree with you about the scents reminding me of the trip.

We stayed in a Wyndham in Galveston for three days where my daughter got married. Everytime I use the lotion it takes me back to a wonderful occasion.

I wish I had pocketed more because my little bottle is about empty.

"Author: rkkwan
Date: 03/31/2005, 11:25 pm
Message: I wait until the housecleaning staff isn't looking, and take from the cart a whole bunch of shampoo, soap, pens, notepads, "
LOL. I travel with a friend who REALLY DOES THIS!! She is over 50 and has always done this. She thinks it's a riot! I do agree with your wife. I always put the daily restocking of shampoo, soap, etc. away so we can get more. I belong to an organization who then gives these to a Ronal McDonal House. The families who stay there while their children are being treated in local hospitals really appreciate them.

I will happily collect mine in the future and donate them. Great idea.

In the past I have used the shampoo for hand laundry in the sink. And collected the soaps to save, if I liked the brand.

But the ideas above are much better. And as far as the original question I think it is fine to collect whatever is left out for you, to do with what you like... it ain't the mini bar in the frig after all (thankfully).

Oh lordy, Suze, can you imagine the price for the soap or shampoo if it was like the mini bar!?

Pocket the toiletries each and every day if you wish. They're included in the room rate, for heavens sake. And, if you find them particularly appealing, the maid with the cart in the hall will likely hand you a huge supply to add to your "collection" upon request.

At most hotels, if you open anything, a replacement is automatically provided. (Though, the opened container may be removed.)

I happen to be hugely allergic to most hotel-supplied toiletries, but sometimes I do find the containers appealing for future travels. So, I just dump the contents into the sink, stash the containers in a bag, and get new ones that day after housekeeping has done the room.

Those toiletries are included in your room rate, whether you like them or use them or not.

Those tiny containers, if you enjoy the products, are fabulous for future travels, or for enjoying back home. And, since they truly are included, daily, in the tariff for your visit, there is no reason, no reason, whatsoever, not to toss them in your bags, with daily replacements for doing likewise.

Alright... well I appreciate all of the feedback received on this topic, and it is quite clear who in my household won this argument. I admit defeat and will most definitely be grabbing the soaps and shampoos on our future trips!

Not only do I take the samples (and reuse them like mms does once I return home), but one time I liked the samples so much that I called the front desk to ask where I could buy some more. The clerk told me he would check and call me back with an answer. In a few minutes, someone appeard at my door with an enormous bag of more samples! I tried to pay him but he refused (only took a tip). The funny thing is that it was so many samples that we STILL have some leftover and that trip was over 3 years ago!

One poster above reminded me another things I do... those little bottles themselves are of value for future traveling. Empty 'travel size' containers you can buy at the drug store are way too big. So I keep the best sizes and shapes from hotels, fill them with my own shampoo, conditioner, etc. for the next trip.

This turned out to be a GREAT thread... how fun!

It has been an interesting thread. I usually will bring my own (large) soap & shampoo, but if I don't, I take what's left of the shampoo when I leave, as they certainly aren't going to reuse it.

While hotels aren't suprised that many take the amenities each day, I disagree that the hotel expects you to, or that the amenities are paid for. I have been at hotels where the shampoo was in a small packet, similar to catsup packs at a fastfood joint. Hotels provide the amenities to help make my stay at their hotel a bit more comfortable, not my life at home. Would anyone wear a raincoat to a buffet & fill their pockets with soup, "since I already paid for it"?

Now one confession (yes, I can be hypocritical) ... when I stay at a Red Roof Inn, they leave small packs of tissue, rather than a full size box as most hotels do. While I'd never use more "kleenex" than I really needed in the room (and usually use T.P. anyway), I do pocket those small pocket-sized packs when I leave "the Roof", whether I used it or not. I don't understand why RR is so stingy with nose-tissues; I don't think anyone steals that, do they??