Your support helps us to tell the story

Find out more

Close

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A new survey has revealed some of the bizarre items holidaymakers have left at hotels across the globe.

More than 400 hotels worldwide took part in the survey that asked what sorts of things people leave behind after they’d checked out.

Topping the list are dirty laundry, device chargers, and makeup and toiletries, according to the research carried out by Hotels.com.

The Hotel Innsights report found that some guests left behind some seriously strange personal items, including two full leg casts and enough dentures to fill a hotel floor.

Some people even temporarily misplaced their pets with hotel staff reporting a lizard and a chick left behind by forgetful guests. Fortunately, both were reunited with their owners.

There were also some rather expensive items forgotten, including a Rolex watch, a Hermes Birkin bag, and another watch worth £4.8 million.

Further unusual things that hotels found after guests had checked out included a rice cooker, car tire, blender and construction pipes.

The Hotel Innsights report also asked what happened to the things that had been left behind and discovered some hotel staff had gone above and beyond to reunite guests with their belongings.

One heroic staff member drove 100 miles to return a forgotten passport, while another sprinted several hundred metres to deliver items before a departing cruise ship. Another dedicated employee even travelled four hours to return a misplaced suitcase.

Meanwhile, other hotels are taking action to help absentminded guests. The Viceroy Riviera Maya offers a soap concierge for those who forget toiletries, while the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel allows guests to borrow accessories like sunglasses and handbags through their ‘Forgot It? We’ve Got It!’ program with retailer Anthropologie.

Announcing the results of the survey, Melanie Fish, vice president of Global Public Relations at Hotels.com said, “By asking hotels to reveal the secrets behind their most memorable stays, we discovered that these ‘innsights’ have actually inspired services available to guests today. Hotels are catering to travellers’ unique demands, which may well become the norm.”

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

Read More