A video from Bali’s Asvara Resort Ubud shows staff confronted four Indian tourists during checkout after discovering that several hotel items had gone missing from their rooms. The staff then opened their luggage
and pulled out a large collection of non‑complimentary items such as bath towels, pool towels, plush robes, a hairdryer, a doormat, a TV remote box, tableware, and other reusable amenities.
The incident sparked widespread outrage online, with many calling the behaviour embarrassing, although local police confirmed the matter was resolved amicably after all items were returned and no formal case was filed. A similar incident had shed light on tourism etiquettes a few years ago when Indian tourists were caught stealing similar such items from a Bali resort.
As a tourist, while one pays for a hotel room, not all items in the respective room can be picked up and taken home. Tourists must understand what qualifies as hotel property and what becomes theirs when they pay for the hotel room. The Bali incident has once again pushed the need for a clear distinction of such items that you can take home from your hotel room and those you cannot.
As a hotel guest, the simple rule is: you may keep small, disposable “freebies” meant for personal use during your stay, but not anything that is part of the room’s fixtures, reusable equipment, or shared property.
Items You Can Take Home From Your Hotel Room
These are usually viewed as complimentary “consumables” and are okay to pack if they are left in your room.
- Mini toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, lotion, and shower cap sachets.
- Disposable slippers (the ones meant for one‑time use).
- Small sachets: tea, coffee, sugar, creamer, and bottled water that were placed in your room.
- Small stationery: a few pens, notepads, or hotel‑branded paper.
- Magazines, brochures, and postcards provided in the room.
Items You Cannot Take Home From A Hotel Room
These are hotel property meant for reuse by other guests or for the room’s operation. Taking them can be treated as theft:
- Toiletries And Furnishings: Towels, bathrobes, bed linens, pillows, blankets, and doormats.
- Fixtures and decor: lamps, mirrors, clocks, artwork, and any decorative items fixed or placed in the room.
- Appliances and electronics: hairdryer, iron, kettle, TV remote, TV itself, mini‑fridge, etc.
- Crockery and cutlery: plates, glasses, mugs, spoons, knives, etc., even if they’re left inside.
- Reusable or refillable bottles: larger liquid‑soap dispensers, body wash dispensers, or anything clearly part of the permanent setup.
If you are in doubt, ask the hotel reception if you are allowed to take a particular item home.
In the Bali case, the tourists were caught with towels, hairdryer, doormat, TV remote, utensils, and other reusable items, all of which clearly fall under what a guest should not take, which is why the hotel treated it as theft and reacted strongly. The next time your are out travelling, make sure you have this list handy and be a good guest.
