Taking details from more than 400 of its partner hotels worldwide, Hotels.com’s annual hotel room ‘Innsights’ report reveals the surprising items that have left behind by guests.
If you’ve ever stayed in one, you’ll not be surprised to learn the most common forgotten items are dirty laundry, phone and laptop chargers and makeup and toiletries.
Unusual forgotten items
However the new report also reveal a new list of forgotten items that are not for the faint-hearted:
The priciest: Hotel staff found a Rolex, Birkin bag, and a US$6 million watch.
Pet peeves: A chick and pet lizard were found (and returned) after their owner checked out.
Essentials only: Guests forgot two full-leg casts and 10% of hotels reported that guests left behind their false teeth.
The unexplainable: Items include a rice cooker, car tire, blender and construction pipes.
Thankfully, hotels are adapting to help forgetful guests. For example, leave your toiletries at home at the Viceroy Riviera Maya, which has a soap concierge. The Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel allows travelers to browse and borrow accessories like sunglasses and handbags from retailer Anthropologie through its “Forgot it? We’ve got it!” offering.
Despite efforts like ‘lost and found’ boxes, some hotel staff have also gone to the extreme to reunite guests with their possessions.
One hotel staffer drove 160km to return a passport, another ran several blocks to deliver items before a cruise ship departed, and another took a shopping trip to replace a lost teddy bear for a young traveller and included a book detailing the bear’s adventures.
Over a third of hotels surveyed say that guests leave behind items in their rooms on at least 25% of their stays.
While some items suggest extreme forgetfulness (how else to explain leaving behind your own false teeth?), others suggest some extremely strange hotel habits (special mention to whoever left their own vacuum cleaner behind at a business hotel on the outskirts of Monterey, California).
How to ensure you won’t leave belongings behind
Create a checklist: Make a list of all essential items you brought, such as electronics, toiletries, chargers, clothing, and personal items. Refer to this list when packing to leave.
Designate a spot: Always place important items like keys, wallet, passport, and phone in a specific area, such as on a table or in a drawer. This makes them easier to spot when packing.
Use packing cubes: Packing cubes or small bags help keep items organized and in one place, reducing the chance of forgetting things.
Check all spaces: Before checking out, thoroughly inspect common areas where things get left behind—under the bed, in drawers, on shelves, in the bathroom, and behind curtains.
Do a final sweep: Perform a final walk-through of the room after packing, including closets, safe, and mini fridge. Double-check less obvious areas like power outlets where chargers are plugged in.
Keep essentials in one bag: Have a dedicated bag for items like electronics, medications, and travel documents. Keep this bag handy so it’s the last thing you pack.
Set reminders: Use your phone to set a reminder to do a room sweep before checking out.
Use the hotel safe: If you use the safe, make sure you leave something essential, like a shoe, inside so you don’t forget your belongings when you check it.