Hotel items go on to live useful lives

Regarding “Souvenirs, You Say? Hotels Might Call Them Stolen Goods” (Travel Insider, July 4): I have traveled extensively domestically and internationally. I am one of the 61% of people who have purchased -- not “nabbed” -- the toiletries in my hotel room. I am offended at the insinuation that taking what I have purchased is stealing. Please do not call me a thief for taking shampoo and soap worth $3 when I spend upward of $200 a night for a room.

What do I do with the little bottles of shampoo? I give them to my church, which sends them to homeless shelters.

Sherrielyn Andersen

Santa Monica

*

Your article was fascinating. I have been traveling the world for the past 35 years and stayed at the best hotels in most cases. Every time I booked a hotel, I was required to use a credit card. I would expect that if a guest does leave a hotel with a robe, the hotel would charge the guest’s credit card.

In most cases, there are little cards or tags attached to the robe advising guests that if they want the robe, they would have to pay for it. That should also pertain to TVs, radios etc.

The bottom line is that the hotels should prominently display a notice advising guests that if they do depart with property that is not theirs, it will be billed to their credit cards.

Morris I. Diamond

Sherman Oaks

*

Travelers who accumulate drawers full of toiletries that they automatically scoop up when they leave a hotel room should immediately look for the nearest homeless shelter or an organization serving job seekers and donate their loot to people who could make excellent use of these supplies.

Susan Shields

Santa Barbara