While it may be tempting to use the free toiletries provided in your hotel room, especially if you’ve only travelled with some hand luggage, one expert is warning against doing so. These toiletries may look pristine, but there are a number of practices that could be putting holidaygoers at risk if using them.
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 explains. With years of experience helping holidaymakers navigate the travel industry, Dawn has seen enough to know that when it comes to hotel amenities, it pays to be cautious.
Ahead of the summer holiday season, Dawn has shared some of the hidden risks that come with using hotel toiletries.
Tampered and refilled bottles
Dawn highlights that one key concern is bottles that have been tampered with or refilled with cheaper alternatives.
“I’ve heard from travellers who’ve found bottles with broken seals or products that smell completely different from what the label suggests,” Dawn explains.
“Some hotels cut costs by refilling branded bottles with generic products, or worse, bottles that haven’t been properly cleaned between uses.”
She adds that the practice of refilling luxury-branded bottles with cheaper alternatives is a lot more common than you may think, especially if you’ve booked a rather low-priced hotel.
Reusing containers without proper sanitisation
Another problem that comes with refilling and reusing bottles is that they may not be cleaned properly in between guests checking out and checking in.
Dawn says: “You might think you’re getting fresh product, but some hotels simply top up bottles rather than replacing them entirely. This creates a hygiene nightmare.”
Branding over safety
“The focus is on making toiletries look expensive and luxurious, but what’s inside might not match the fancy packaging,” Dawn notes. “In some cases, the actual product will separate or change consistency, suggesting it’s been sitting there far longer than it should have.”
Warning signs to watch for
There are a number of red flags that suggest your hotel toiletries may be best avoided:
- Broken or missing seals
- Unusual consistency and/or colour
- Strange smells
- Sticky or grimy bottle exteriors
- Generic or handwritten labels