The hotel room can be a minefield when it comes to determining what’s free and what’s not. Is that water bottle on the bedside table going to cost me $10 or is it free? Can I take the hotel robe home or will my card be charged? 

Alas, etiquette expert and TikTok sensation William Hanson is here to help. In a recent post he explained that ‘basically anything small’ is fine to take home. Think dental and shaving kits and miniatures of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The jury is out on whether it’s ok to swipe all the amenities before housekeeping comes to replenish them.

@williamhansonetiquette And definitely NOT the kettle #hotels #etiquette #williamhanson @qe2dubai ♬ hotel r a s p u t i n service – veggibeats

And don’t forget the slippers. You can almost always take the slippers as they can’t be washed and are just replaced with a new pair when you check out. So be sure to take them home with you so they don’t end up in the trash. 

Little things like pens, writing pads and postcards are also allowed to be removed from the room. Hanson shares that these touches often act as low-level marketing for the hotel. 

Related story: How to beat jet lag, according to a pilot

When it comes to the food and the minibar, things like tea bags and instant coffee sachets are normally complimentary. But anything removed from the mini bar will be charged to your room. If there are bottles of water left out of the fridge, see if there is a tag that says whether it’s free or not. If you’re unsure, give the front desk a call to double check.

So, what’s off limits? 

Hanson says things like mugs, cups, saucers, glasses, robes (which get washed and reused) and pillows are all things that can not be removed from a hotel room and would be classified as stealing. If you do like any of these you can check with reception to see if you’re able to purchase new ones from the hotel. 

Rules to live by if you don’t want to be done for petty theft on your next holiday. 

Related story: Is it ever ok to recline your seat on a short-haul flight?