The dumb things people do in hotels

@boiboing (13147)
Northampton, England
January 28, 2016 3:33pm CST
I have been SO tired this week and I can only assume I was half asleep this morning when I packed and checked out of my hotel. When I got home I unpacked my suitcase (something I will freely admit I don't always do) and realised there was a good reason why my case didn't seem as full as I'd expected. I had left a bunch of clothes in the wardrobe. My normal habit is to not unpack at all but on this occasion I was in the same room for three days and I had a couple of dresses with me so I hung them up. Because I usually don't, I didn't even think to check the wardrobe before I left. I was probably too busy congratulating myself on checking the drawers. I just rang and housekeeping do have my stuff. Apparently the housekeeping manager will call me tomorrow to arrange 'what next'. I could drive over next week as I'll be sort of in the area, but given the choice, I think I'd rather pay them to post the clothes. My first reaction when I got home was to be annoyed with myself and to think "Ah well, I guess that's the last I'll see of those things". But then I started to think about what the three items I'd left mean to me - a long green jacket that I've had for about 14 years and wear a lot, a purple dress that somehow makes me look less podgy than normal, and a beautiful printed silk top I bought in Delhi about 8 years ago. I'm not willing to wave bye bye to such old friends. Considering how many nights I spend in hotels every year and that I've been doing it for 20+ years, I'm pretty amazed that this is only the second time I've left clothes in a hotel. The last time was another jacket that I love and have missed ever since so this time I'll do whatever I have to to get them back.
20 people like this
14 responses
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
28 Jan 16
I have left something at a motel once and had to call and ask them to hold it til I could come and take it back with me. Glad you will be able to receive your clothing back however you want to do it.
2 people like this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
I once left a book I had finished in a hotel in Portugal. I went back 2 years later and they had saved it for me. I didn't have the heart to put it in the bin.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
29 Jan 16
@boiboing Unbelievable they would hold a book for 2 years. In fact that is remarkable.
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
@Marcyaz They even made me sign for it!
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Jan 16
I once left a pair of shoes behind at a hotel, the one I stayed in when I was married. It wasn't any pair of shoes either, they were my dress white shoes for my Navy uniform. I never got them back and had to buy a new pair. I'm glad you're getting your clothes back.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
Those sound expensive. I hope you didn't get into trouble for losing them.
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Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
30 Jan 16
@boiboing No. The occasion to wear dress whites doesn't happen very often. Usually only for ceremonies. So I was able to get a new pair before I needed them again. I think it was a change of command ceremony when we got a new admiral.
AbbyGreenhill
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Jan 16
We get rental cottages for vacations and I always forget at least one thing - usually a shirt of my hsuband's!
1 person likes this
AbbyGreenhill
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
29 Jan 16
@boiboing since I'm in charge of packing of course he didn't notice.
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
I would not be surprised if your husband didn't even notice.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
29 Jan 16
It happens, I hope they are willing to mail!
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
Me too as it's quite out of the way.
1 person likes this
frances r
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
29 Jan 16
I hope you get them back soon. I'm the obsessive check the drawers three times type when I stay somewhere, but then I don't go away as much as you.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
I need to go back to simply not unpacking.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jan 16
I now go through every drawer, wardrobe, cupboard before I check out of a hotel. I've left quite a bit here and there in my younger days.
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
One time I left my bear in the hotel and when I realised, I really had a panic. Fortunately he was found. But after that I bought another and vowed that my old bear can only travel when my husband is with me to double the chance we don't forget him.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jan 16
@boiboing That would be very sad to leave your bear behind (bare behind?) . Our small son bought a little bear at a jumble sale and left him there. We were half way home before he realised. We offered him some money instead but with tears in his eyes he said 'I'd rather have my bear' so we turned around and drove half an hour back to pick it up.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
@JudyEv You think that's bad. I left my bear at my flat the day before we were due to fly to the USA on holiday. My husband had to do a 220 mile round trip to go and collect him.
2 people like this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
29 Jan 16
I hope they will return it to you . But considering that you stayed there for 3 days , i know they will , or else they will lose a client .
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
Well I had planned to review the hotel on TripAdvisor and what happens to my stuff will have a big impact on that.
Marlina
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
29 Jan 16
I hope that you get your clothes back and never do that again.
susan
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Jan 16
I'm glad they've got your things....and you'll be re united soon....I left my phone charger once and some curling tongues....when I phoned up...., no one had handed them in... so i'm glad yours ended happily....
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
I think it's hard to get electrical cables and suchlike back as housekeeping maybe don't perceive their value. I'm more surprised about your tongs.
1 person likes this
susan
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Jan 16
@boiboing yes I was dissapointed...but am more careful now.... lol's
1 person likes this
pgn
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
29 Jan 16
Good that you've located them, I sometimes wonder where all the unclaimed things left behind end up...
pgn
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
29 Jan 16
@boiboing And the ties, ear-ring backs and sponge bags...
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
@pgntwo That's the place.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
In the same place with all the odd socks
1 person likes this
Jo Ann
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
29 Jan 16
On the way to Florida, we stopped at a budget place and accidentally forgot a favorite pillow. On the way home, we stopped there again and they had our pillow and returned it.
Fleur
@Fleura (35119)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
It's so easy to walk out without something, you're doing well so far.
Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Jan 16
We always do a thorough check before leaving a hotel room. Many years ago my then ten year old daughter left her pyjamas under the pillow. She made her bed....
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
29 Jan 16
I once had a white cotton nightdress go missing from a hotel room - I assume it got thrown into the laundry with the sheets. The hotel refused to even look for it and I was really annoyed.
1 person likes this
Tiff Gray
@T_gray (7772)
• Salina, Kansas
29 Jan 16
My best friend is a housekeeper in a hotel and she tells me of all the interesting stuff people leave in hotels. Some of them never even call for their stuff back and the housekeepers get the choice to keep the stuff. I sure hope you are able to get your stuff back, even though I don't see a reason why you wouldn't. And I hope they can mail them to you to make it easier for you Good luck.