People from my generation would actually be able to relate to how you graduate year on year with your hotel check- ins.
As a kid we hardly stayed in hotels during our holidays. Firstly, because parents that time never went on "holidays". Secondly, trips were usually to Bua, Mami house. Thirdly, if at all a sight seeing tour was planned after the cousin's wedding, the stays were made at Government Guest Houses through the Sarkari Naukari Wale Mamaji/ Chacha ji. Simple and sorted.
My first hotel check-in after marriage (definitely not on Facebook...by that time nobody had realized the importance of a virtual check-in) can be called my first guide to hotel stay. During this stay I realized that there are a lot of things that one can avoid carrying like the towels, hair dryer, bathroom slippers and most importantly, the toiletries.
With a few more trips I understood that you can recklessly use the complimentary stuff and ask for refills. Few more and I knew you could not only ask for more but carry a lot of it back home (and the House Keeping "would still know" that during your entire stay you weren't only writing and bathing considering the number of paper pads, pens, shower gels and body lotions you have asked for, thanks to people like me).
Some years down the line and a "few" check-ins old you know what brands to take back home, my personal favorites were Kama and Forest Essentials but a Boutique would still tempt me.
I remember taking away the Holy Bible from one of the hotels and later on wondering whom to gift.
Life comes full circle, today when I travel I rarely use anything displayed especially when its a very short trip unless required. I usually carry all my essentials (you may blame the stock at home for it, and of course now I am a little older)(Please note... "a little")
Two days back I took it to the next level (without even knowing) when I was at a hotel just for a night. My mineral water bottle seal was intact as I had my airline water bottle. I looked at the three miniatures of shampoo, shower gel, and body lotion and then thought "kyun waste karni ye bottles jab lekar bhi nahi jaani".
Translation: Why should I even use them when I don't even intend to carry them back home?undefined
Imagine the plastic trash that can be avoided... The House Keeping and Clearance staff came to check the room so I told them that everything was unused.
There was this very young bell boy who said,"Madam ye sab free ka hai aap le jaa sakte hain sirf mini bar ke paise lagte hain" (in the local accent).
Translation: It's all free, (unlike the mini-bar) and you can take it home.
And I kept thinking till the time I checked out if I should go and tell him that "I know"..."Madam ne saalon samaan uthaya hai ab badi ho gayi hain".
Translation: That's what I have done all these years...I am adulting now.
