Brits are the worst when it comes to stealing various objects when staying in hotels abroad, a survey has revealed.
In a recent survey conducted by the discount travel site ‘Hotwire.com’, results showed that when Brits holiday abroad they are notorious for stealing various objects from the hotel that they are staying in.
Of the general public that were interviewed, almost half of holiday-makers thought it to be perfectly acceptable to take hotel items as and when they pleased, especially if they felt that they had over-paid for their room.
The survey by hotwire.com showed that over 15 per cent openly admitted that they had stolen various bits and pieces from their hotel rooms, regardless if in Rome or New York.
Approximately sixty per cent of people questioned agreed that taking shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles was a customary thing to do, stressing that these were among the more mild and minor items to pinch. Hotel stationary also proved popular entities for over 30 per cent of Brits to pocket; ranging from notepads, pens and even clipboards guests of the hotel freely inherit.
A smaller number of tourists opted to nick larger items such as slippers, mini bar drinks and towels; casually stuffing them into their suitcases an hour prior to checkout and then sauntering through reception without so much as an anxious scan at the staff.
Studies have shown however, the most prolific offenders tend to be men, Londoners and younger holidaymakers. Nineteen year old Psychology student Alexandra Rose’ said: ‘’We went to Malia this year on a party holiday and we all took the hotel dressing gowns and towels. We were paying for the room and whatever was in there, at least temporarily belonged to us.’’
This attitude is magnified somewhat in male holiday-goers, with hotel guests going so far as to pocket the batteries out of the television remote controls and pillow cases from the bedding. Results also prove that English people were the most frequent thieves whereas Scottish people were least likely to rob something from their hotel room.
Many surveyed didn’t classify their newly adopted items as ‘stolen’, merely complimentary goods the hotel issued them as guests. When it’s close to the expiration of our holiday, after we’ve had a dip in the chlorine star shaped pool, slapped on enough after sun and eaten our own body weight in shellfish, we instinctively glance around the room to size up, exactly, what is up for grabs.
Article by Emma Boyle
