What to do if you left behind your items in hotel room

You just arrived home after an enjoyable and exciting holiday trip and do the usual unpacking luggage.

You realize that you left your favorite items incidentally in the hotel room. You can picturize the approx. location when you left them, not exactly though but enough to inform the hotel.

Leaving something behind in hotel room often happens.  It can be because you are in a rush, you don’t do a thorough check list, or you just simply forget about the item.

What to do if you want the items back?

First. Call the hotel.

Call the hotel and ask to be connected to the reception or concierge.  If their lines are busy, then speak with the hotel operator informing your purpose of call so the hotel operator can forward your call to the correct department.

If a call is not possible, perhaps due to different country, then, you can send an email with the details of your purpose.

Second. Mention the details.

Inform the hotel on the following details,

• Your name and the hotel room number you stayed in.
• Staying periods details, meaning the check in and check out date.
• Type of items you left behind. This will include the color, brand and size if you left such as clothes, shoes, etc.
• Inform the approximate location where you left the items.  For example, in the cupboard, in the table nearby television, in the sofa, etc.
• If the items have sentimental value to you, then you can also inform this so the hotel knows how important the items are for you.

Third. Inform what you want to do with the items.

You can either ask the hotel to send the items to your address or alternatively, someone on behalf of you will pick up the items at the hotel.  When you prefer to have the items sent, do note that you might need to pay for the courier fee.  If your address is within proximity to the hotel, then, the hotel might send the items for free.

When you will ask your friend or relative to pick up the items, do remember to inform the hotel on the details of the person.  The hotel might ask the Identification Card of your friend or relative to verify and also to sign the receipt of the items.

As an additional note, do not wait for the hotel to call you because they might not do this.  The hotel will keep your left behind items in their lost & found department and waiting for the owner to claim.

Hope this information will be useful.

All the best.