10 Free Things You Can Get at Hotels
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Socks
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Sewing Kit
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Yoga Mat
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Beach Towels and Chairs
On a business trip several years ago, I checked into my hotel only to realize I had left my entire bag of toiletries at home. After frantically searching the area for a late-night drugstore, I eventually paid a pretty penny at a bodega for a handful of overpriced, off-brand bottles. When I returned to the hotel lobby, footsore and $60 poorer, I mentioned to the front-desk agent my madcap dash around the city. She looked at me sideways, and then handed me an entire kit of toiletries … for free.
Lesson learned: Before buying something you've forgotten to pack, always check with the hotel. To give you a sense of what kinds of things might be available, here are some items many hotels will provide on the house.
They get lost in the wash, discarded in gym bags, and holey after just a few wears; it's no wonder travelers often forget to pack them. If you do, not to worry: Some hotels provide socks for the absent-minded (and cold-footed). Kimpton, for instance, provides zebra-printed lounge socks at its properties. (They may be a little funky to pair with your business suit, but they'll do in a pinch.) And as always, before you run out to the store, check with front-desk staff to see if they can provide you with a freebie set.
A sewing kit is essential for repairing wardrobe emergencies, from missing buttons to fallen hems, on the fly. However, needles and thread probably won't top your "must pack" list anytime soon. In case you've forgotten to stow a travel-sized sewing kit in your bag, don't fret: Many major hotels, including Trump hotels and properties in The Doyle Collection, stock them in the bathroom or nightstand. And if you can't find a kit, call up management or the housekeeping department.
A long, leisurely vacation is not the time to forego your yoga practice. Get your fitness on in-room with complimentary yoga gear at a number of hotels. Kimpton, of course, provides a yoga mat and on-demand fitness programming in every guest room. Affinia hotels in New York City and Washington, D.C., similarly provide yoga mats, blocks, and DVDs, as does InterContinental Hotels Group's holistically focused EVEN brand. Finally, Hyatt hotels also include yoga mats, available for purchase or on loan.
I once fielded a panicked phone call from a family member, wondering how on earth she was going to fit six beach towels in her small carry-on bag. Fear not, panicking family members of the world. Properties often include free beach-towel rentals in your room's rack rate. Call ahead to be sure, but many beachside resorts, especially all-inclusives, offer this amenity. Some hotels even include free beach-chair rentals and/or complimentary snorkel gear, so you don't have to tow along your own flippers and masks. When booking your stay, it's key to note what is included in the rack or all-inclusive rate.