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What Do You Always Bring With You To Hotels?

December 9, 2009 at 12:53 PM | by | Comments (5)

Is this hotel bed missing your favorite stuffed animal?

We've been on a bit of a hotel bender lately, staying in four hotels in less than a week and today we're finally checking out to crash in a real apartment for a while. But all this packing, checking in, unpacking, packing again and checking out has us not only tired and weary of hotel living but also, a little scratchy.

No, it's not bed bugs. We chalk it up to slightly less than luxurious bedding. But also two of the hotels we stayed in were brand-new so the sheets have not been softened up yet by multiple washings.

Making it worse are the hotel toiletries which are not built with supreme moisturizing action like our body wash at home. And we've gone through numerous little bottle of the lotion provided by the hotels. In fact, the other day we had to go to a drugstore and buy a giant vat of moisturizer. We're sitting in it right now.

So we're starting to think we might need to bring a few things with us during our next hotel bender--you know, aside from gadgets, chargers and clothes.

Previously, we thought folks who brought personal items with them to hotels like their own pillows, toiletries and even, in one instance, a toaster, were a little crazy. Why go through the hassle of hauling that stuff with you, especially when traveling by plane?

But now we've changed our minds. Our next trip out the suitcase will have (in 3oz TSA-approved bottles) our own bodywash, our own moisturizer, our own mouthwash (not many hotels provide this anymore) and our own tea bags. (None of these places have the ginger tea that we like.) Are we crazy or just getting older? Oh well, it's probably both.

What about you? What must you absolutely bring with you when you stay in hotels? Let us know in comments below.

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candles

i always used to laugh at those travel candle sets, and when celebs bang on about bringing them, but i was in a particularly rancid motel 6 this summer and it just so happened i'd already bought a nice smelly candle to take home with me. lighting it was the only way i survived 3 days there. so next time i go budget, i'm taking one with me.
juliab on December 9, 2009 at 2:41 PM #Permalink

minis no more...

I think a lot more people are bringing food - snacks, drinks, etc - with them these days.  More and more hotels are ditching minibars, but many guests don't realize that in most states it is illegal to bring alcohol into a hotel, especially a hotel with a property-wide liquor license.

Other than that, I see pillows fairly often.  One other trend we're seeing is that people are rarely using the in-room phones.  Even at The Clarendon in Phoenix where all international calls are free, it seems that people love to use skype or their mobile.  And one of the more interesting trends is that people are preferring to watch their TV shows on their laptop, and use their mobile phones for their alarm clocks.  Does this mean the end to in-room TVs and alarm clocks and telephones?  I sure hope so!

Sincerely,
Ben Bethel
Owner/GM
The Clarendon
Phoenix, AZ

bbphx on December 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM #Permalink

stuff

My face moisturizer. For realz. And I've been carrying this sakura-scented dissolving bath tablet with me on trips for that rare hotel occasion when I get a great bathtub.
JetSetCD on December 9, 2009 at 5:50 PM #Permalink

candles!

that's a good idea. there's a jo malone shop right next to where i'm sitting. i think i might need to purchase a travel one.
juliana on December 9, 2009 at 6:06 PM #Permalink

Everything!

I was staying away from home for a week in a hotel and took nearly everything with me.  My pillow, hairdryer (you can't trust hotels to have a decent hairdryer), tea bags, I always take my own toiletries just in case, and also my teddy bear to cuddle up to when I'm away from hubby!
MrsC on March 9, 2010 at 4:04 AM #Permalink

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