Most travellers expect a sense of comfort and relaxation when they step into a freshly cleaned hotel room. But behind that welcoming feeling, there may be hidden hygiene risks.
While hotel toiletries might seem like a convenient perk, Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away, warns that what’s inside those bottles isn’t always what it appears to be. “Travellers often assume hotel toiletries are safe and fresh, but the reality can be quite different,” she explained. With years of experience in the travel industry, Morwood has come to recognise a set of subtle but disgusting red flags that could turn the whole experience upside down.
According to Dawn, guests should first inspect toiletry seals closely before getting comfortable and jumping into bed.
“If the seal looks damaged or there’s residue around the cap, don’t use it,” she advised.
Broken or missing seals are often the first indicator that a product may have been tampered with or reused, a surprisingly common practice in some accommodations looking to cut costs.
Even if the packaging appears intact, the product inside may still raise suspicions, in which case, it’s best to steer clear of it.
“Shampoo shouldn’t look like water, and lotion shouldn’t have chunks floating in it,” Dawn warned.
Any odd consistency or unexpected discolouration is reason enough to avoid it as they are “major warning signs” – even if it causes the inconvenience of having to go out to buy some.
Scent can also be a strong indicator of quality (or lack thereof), as a bad or unfamiliar odour might suggest expired or contaminated products.
“Trust your nose,” the expert urged. “If something smells off, chemical-like, or completely different from what you’d expect, step away.”
Although it’s something instinctive, Dawn also recommends paying attention to the cleanliness of the bottle itself, explaining: “Clean hotels maintain clean toiletry containers. If the outside of the bottle feels sticky or looks grimy, imagine what’s inside.”
Finally, the travel specialist recommends always inspecting the labelling, as “professionally branded products should have proper labelling.”
“Handwritten labels or generic stickers are immediate red flags,” added Dawn.
These could point to products that are either homemade, diluted, or misrepresented entirely, which is why Dawn simply states that “the safest approach is always to bring your own toiletries.”
