A pair of guests were recently caught on CCTV stealing a whole horde of amenities from a hotel in Wales – from towels and a kettle to an electric fan. While most people don't tend to commit such grand heists when travelling, even those smaller pilferages (from bath towels to pens and paper) aren't the perfect crime: hotels can and will deduct what you’ve taken from your credit card, while airlines may fine you if you’ve walked off with something you weren’t supposed to.
Here we investigate the murky grey area of what you can and can't take from aeroplanes, hotels or cruise ships. Click through the gallery to find out more...
Who knows why you’d want to take a blanket that has been drooled on by countless other travellers, but a fair number of people do. In business class, some have even been known to take the duvet and/or the pillow. Several airlines have now added announcements or leaflets, telling customers to leave theirs in the seat upon leaving the aircraft, while others collect the items from passengers before landing.
Unlike the minibar in hotels, the snack box on a plane is a glorious free-for-all. Maybe don’t tip the entire thing into your bag, but definitely hoard some of the crisps and chocolate bars for later.
These come in handy later on for takeaway meals or eating on the go while away on holiday. Also, if the cutlery doesn't come in a sealed bag, any airline will assume that you’ve used them and likely bin them, even if you haven't. They're definitely there for the taking.
Taking cutlery or condiment holders such as salt and pepper shakers is a no-no (and this also applies on cruise ships). In the end, the customer is the loser because any losses incurred by the company tend to manifest in penny-pinching elsewhere.
Some airlines give you wine and spirits in bottles rather than pouring them straight into your glass. Many travellers will save a bottle or two for later, and that's perfectly fine – just ask the flight attendant, rather than trying to grab anything from the trolley.
This includes taking anything from the galley without permission. It also includes decanting the sparkling wine from premium economy galleys into a separate bottle, which is frankly just crass.
We're not sure why you’d want to, but if plastic tumblers are your thing, then filch away. Or, better yet, reuse them when the drinks trolley comes around again and reduce the amount of plastic that's wasted on planes.
As much as you may get attached to the Champagne flutes, mugs or nice wine glasses in your hotel room (or on the plane), you can’t pop them in your bag to take home. These are things that you will definitely get fined or charged for.
When it comes to hotel rooms, miniature bath products are yours to keep. In fact, this goes for pretty much any portable item you can use for showering, moisturising or cleansing. However – it's possible to go overboard. A pair of hotel guests were recently shamed on social media after their enormous stash of mini toiletries, tea, coffee and food was discovered by housekeeping staff.
It’s not strictly outlawed, but unless you are asking for extra teabags or sugar, it’s frowned upon to raid the housekeeping cart. The miniatures are designed for use within your room on a daily basis, so no tipping an entire tray of shampoo into your bag on the way out.
You can wear them, snuggle in them and go to sleep in them as long as they don’t leave the confines of your room. Some hotels have taken to writing notes on the hanger allowing you to purchase them, but be warned, they will charge your credit card if you take your bathrobe without paying up first.
Some travellers aren’t put off by the fact that thousands of people have slept on the same sheets and happily stash them inside their suitcases. Don't do it – you'll pay the price (which is usually outrageous).
This is pretty much the only thing on your bed that you are allowed to consume or take home. The same applies to the complimentary biscuits by the tea and coffee making facilities, if there are any.
You might think it goes without saying that you can't steal the actual bed, back in 2014, one lady was caught on CCTV trying to wedge a double mattress from a Premier Inn in the UK into the elevator. Needless to say, she was not successful.
Super handy when you're on the go on holiday, toilet paper is usually fine to take, as long as you don't go overboard. This goes for tissues from the dispenser too.
Unless it’s expressly part of the minibar, tea bags and coffee provided are generally free to take. Be wary when it comes to pricier items such as Nespresso and other coffee pods, though, as these may not be included.
It doesn’t matter how small the kettle is, you can’t pack it away to take home with you. Hairdryers usually aren’t a risk because they're often nailed to the wall, but a surprising number of people will also attempt to steal lamps and other gadgets. In fact, a couple were recently caught on CCTV at a hotel in Pembroke Dock, West Wales pilfering everything from a lamp to an electric fan and TV remote. You're unlikely to get away with it and, bottom line, it's illegal.
This is a topic of contention but taking a magazine with you is generally OK, because it's left for your consumption – and it will likely soon be replaced with a new edition anyway. Maybe avoid taking the whole pile, though.
If they are clearly there for you to write a message to loved ones back home, by all means, take them. You can also pin them on your fridge as a reminder of your trip.
People have actually been known to unhook curtains from the room and stuff them into their suitcase – some years ago, a woman was caught on surveillance video as she was making several trips up and down the hallway, removing curtains, an iron with an ironing board, rugs and even a television from the room. Don't even think about it.
Some travellers might think it’s okay to nab the artwork or steal photo frames from a hotel room or cruise-ship cabin. But, as artwork – like the curtains – are part of the interior decor of the room, it’s not allowed at all. It's pretty much certain that your credit card will be charged for the missing items.
Some hotels may leave you with a couple of fresh flowers to welcome you into the room. You’re welcome to take these with you, although we’d rather not imagine what they’ll look like after being stuffed into a carry on.
If you've got grand plans to smuggle that decorative plant pot from your hotel room or corridor, we'd suggest you think again. There's no question about it: that's stealing.
Most hotels or cruise ships have notices saying you will be charged for taking full-sized products, so just stick to using them in your room. And it’s definitely frowned upon to take the hand wash on a plane.
Cruise ship or hotel slippers are the only piece of clothing you can usually take, and if you’re lucky to stay in a room with waffle-fabric slippers and cushioning, you’ve hit the jackpot. However, be warned that some hotels have started charging for their slippers, so make sure there are no notices inside the room, in the wardrobe or in the info leaflet.
The most stolen item from hotels and cruise ships isn’t bathrobes, but towels. It’s so rife that, in 2019, Nimble Technologies created fabric tags with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking chips that can be sewn or put into bed linen and towels, remote controls and even lamps. Recently a TikToker named Téja Renée also sparked an online debate when she reprimanded her friend for taking hotel towels – most of her followers agreed that this was crossing a line. Make sure you leave yours in your room.
Hotel and cruise ship stationery is perfectly fine to pilfer, but make sure you aren’t taking any of the leather binders the sheets may be tucked into. Similarly, pens are a grey area – many people take them, so hotels that don’t want to lose money in this area tend to provide pencils.
The Bible you find in your bedside dresser has most likely been provided by The Gideons International, a Christian organisation who expects their donation to have a six-year life span. In fact, the organisation estimates that a quarter of travellers thumb through the Bible in their hotel room, so leave yours behind for the next guest.