What can you take from hotel rooms? The do's and don'ts explained

Staying in a hotel comes with plenty of little luxuries you don't get at home, from lush toiletries to comfy slippers you wear during your stay.

Therefore it's no surprise that most of us have pinched an item or two to take home - but there are cases where guests have gone too far, taking everything from lightbulbs to plants.

Take something you're not allowed, and you could end up facing an extra bill from the hotel, even if you've checked out.

So, what exactly are the items you can take, and which ones are off limits?

To give you a helping hand we've put together a guide on the items generally considered acceptable to take home, as well as the ones you should leave behind.

What you can take from hotel rooms

Toiletries:

Hotels often throw away half-empty bottles of toiletries so if you have used the little shampoos and conditioners, it's generally accepted that you can take them home as you're probably doing the environment a favour. If you haven't touched them then you may want to consider leaving them behind - but if you do take them, the hotel is unlikely to complain.

Slippers:

If you've been wearing those cosy slippers all weekend, the hotel will have to throw them away anyway, so it's usually deemed acceptable for guests to take them home.

Laundry bag:

Hotels often have a laundry bag hanging in the wardrobe, and while this is usually for the in-hotel service, if you forgot to bring one for your dirty laundry, it's usually acceptable to take it.

Pens and notepads:

These are popular as they are little mementos of the hotel - and usually hotels won't mind if you do take these.

What you can't take from hotel rooms

Bed linen and pillows:

If you take these, it costs the hotel a significant amount to replace, so it's likely that they will charge you if it's missing when your room is cleaned after you've left. (If you really love the linen, ask at reception and they might be able to tell you where they bought it!).

Towels:

Taking towels from a hotel room is frowned upon, and most hotels will charge you if yours go missing.

Mugs and glasses:

Do you really want a mug that's been used by hundreds of strangers before you? Some hotels sell branded crockery in their gift shops - a nice new one will be far cleaner!

Dressing gowns:

Unlike slippers, hotels can easily wash dressing gowns which have been used by guests. These are expensive to replace for the hotel, so you're likely to be charged.

Batteries from the remote:

Leave these in the remote. If you need batteries, ask at reception as they might have some spare or they might be able to point you in the direction of a nearby shop.

Books:

Books in the hotel room are there for you to enjoy during your stay, but this isn't a library so you do need to leave them behind.

Plants:

If you love the look of the plant so much, just ask at reception what type it is, and head to your local plant market at home instead.

Lightbulbs:

These are some of the most commonly stolen items from hotel rooms, but they are not actually up for grabs. If you take them, it's likely the hotel will charge you an extra fee.

The grey area

Tea bags and complimentary coffee can be a divisive one.

These often come free with the hotel room, so some argue that if you drink it, you won't be charged extra and therefore taking them home is no different.

However, if you haven't used the tea or coffee, it may be worth leaving it behind.