What do a pet lizard, a car tire and an Hermès Birkin bag have in common? Apparently, these are all items that hotel guests have left behind in their rooms after checkout.
That’s according to Hotels.com’s annual “Hotel Room Innsights Report,” which reveals some of the most common and most strange items left in hotel rooms. Data experts at the booking platform conducted a survey across more than 400 of its partner hotels in Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the U.S.
“Hotel staff were asked to share their experiences and document the items left behind by guests over a specified period,” Melanie Fish, the head of global public relations for Hotels.com, told HuffPost.
“Let’s be honest: It’s fascinating what guests leave behind,” Fish added. “One of the most surprising findings was the sheer variety of items left behind, ranging from everyday objects like chargers and clothing to more unusual items like musical instruments and even wedding dresses. Another surprising takeaway was the emotional value attached to many of these items ― it’s one thing to bring your beloved pet lizard along with you but to leave him behind is a shocker.”
In addition to the aforementioned lizard, car tire and Birkin bag, the list of the top 10 most unusual things guests have left behind includes a chick, a tooth, a Rolex watch, construction pipes and stacks of cash. The report mentions an ill-fated rice cooker, a blender, two full-leg casts and a $6 million watch as well.
As for the 10 most commonly forgotten belongings, there are some very familiar items like chargers, power banks, adapters, makeup, toiletries and dirty clothes.
The report also highlights some of the creative solutions hotels have developed to help forgetful travelers. For example, many Kimpton hotels offer a selection of Anthropologie accessories like sunglasses and handbags that guests can borrow during their stays ― which can be useful if you forget to pack your own, and also reduces the need to pack your own and thus the likelihood of forgetting it.
Many hotel staff also go above and beyond to reunite guests with their forgotten belongings.
“One hotel hero drove 100 miles to return a passport, another ran several blocks to deliver items before a cruise ship departed, and another took a shopping trip to replace a lost teddy bear for a young traveler and included a book detailing the bear’s adventures,” the report notes.
Other hotels have implemented reminder services, checklists and even personal packing services.
“If you’re someone who tends to forget things, there’s a hotel out there with a service that’s perfect for you,” Fish said. “At the same time, we want to show how hotels go above and beyond to cater to guest needs ― sometimes with services you didn’t even know you needed. And maybe, as a bonus, these stories will remind everyone to double-check their rooms before checking out.”