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The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

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Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#81

Post by Aloha »

Theodores wrote: post #46

I am 'ashamed' to say that I have worked in hospitality sector - hotels - and there are some things in this article that are definitely true in the UK: Things do get topped up. Those big soap dispenser things with some posh label on, they do get topped up. There are different ways to do this - sometimes the trolley with towels and stuff on has a few pre-topped up ones on and they get swapped over. Some staff top up o…

The big soap dispenser things are all but unheard of in the north american hotel market

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#82

Post by Aloha »

nstj wrote: post #55

> The average daily rate for staying at U.S. hotels is $111. The average number of tubes of toothpaste these hotels provide is zero. I've never stayed in a high end hotel in the US which didn't provide a toothpaste and toothbrush kit on the bathroom counter on arrival. And like many other people are stating on this thread at almost every hotel I've stayed at in other regions around the world (Asia, Oceania, South Ame…

Perhaps you've only stayed in hyatt properties?

In the last year, I've been in a full service Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton and a Hyatt - and out of those, only the Hyatt had toothpaste. The Sheraton also had one, but it was clearly marked as a special promotion, and my last stay at a sheraton before that, had no such amenity.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#83

Post by ghaff »

malz wrote: post #76

Soaps and shampoos are a bit of a luxury item, which is why there are whole stores like "Bath & Body Works" that just sell them. It's a marketing opportunity for the manufacturers to pay hotels to put out their mini-bottles for free. There's no such niche for boutique toothpastes.

I'd be rather surprised if hotels routinely got their mini-sized bathroom products for free. In the case of the big chains, they mostly slap on their own house brand anyway.

But, yes, there's at least the opportunity for boutique hotels to use a "luxury" shampoo/soap brand as part of their overall image and guest experience.

Whereas for toothpaste, it's pretty much Crest or Colgate. Or, if you're a somewhat frou-frou B&B in Vermont or California, maybe Tom's.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#84

Post by ghaff »

Aloha wrote: post #81
Theodores wrote: post #46

I am 'ashamed' to say that I have worked in hospitality sector - hotels - and there are some things in this article that are definitely true in the UK: Things do get topped up. Those big soap dispenser things with some posh label on, they do get topped up. There are different ways to do this - sometimes the trolley with towels and stuff on has a few pre-topped up ones on and they get swapped over. Some staff top up o…

The big soap dispenser things are all but unheard of in the north american hotel market

I've certainly seen them but they're not that common--especially at the big chains.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#85

Post by dsr_ »

ghaff wrote: post #77
silencio wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever tried using hair conditioner instead of shaving cream? I prefer conditioner even at home. I never get enough shaving cream for my legs, if I even get one that doesn't smell "manly", so I always just pack extra conditioner.

Huh! I have a beard and don't shave regularly but I sometimes want to on longer trips. I'm sort of a lightweight packer and resent taking even the travel-sized shaving creams for something I might use once but never found a more compact alternative that I liked. I will give conditioner a try.

I shave my head as well as my face, and I find conditioner is significantly superior to soap or shaving cream.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#86

Post by tomjen3 »

copperx wrote: post #53
careersuicide wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> risks offending users of a "higher" or competing brand I strongly suspect that I am not alone in the stubbornness of my toothpaste preference. I will grudgingly use a different shampoo if I have to as most shampoos don't have too strong of a smell. In any given day I use probably 3 to 6 different soaps, with only the one in my house being my preference (mmmmmmmm coconut ginger) so using some random soap at a hotel…

I feel like an alien after reading your comment. I will gladly use any soap, shampoo, or toothpaste as long as it's free. I have never met someone as picky as you say you are with your toothpaste. I don't think you're the norm in any way.

I have to agree with you there. My toothpaste and soap is based on what is the cheapest option.

The only exception I make is for anti-perspirant (also something I haven't ever seen in hotels) because some brands make my skin become red and fall of and some don't work well enough.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#87

Post by tomjen3 »

igf wrote: post #4

Bringing my own shampoo is a hassle, because I buy shampoo in normal-sized many-use bottles that are quite large and might leak. Bringing my own soap is even worse, because nobody wants to carry around a slimy wet cake of soap. Bringing my own toothpaste is easy, because it's small, and I get the brand whose taste I'm accustomed to. Also, I've got to bring my tooth brush with me anyway, so the toothpaste as well isn'…

By shaving cream do you mean the stuff that comes in a tube? Because I don't think that is such an issue, and the stuff that requires a brush is something that only very few men would use today.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#88

Post by ghaff »

nullc wrote: post #80
igf wrote: post #4

Bringing my own shampoo is a hassle, because I buy shampoo in normal-sized many-use bottles that are quite large and might leak. Bringing my own soap is even worse, because nobody wants to carry around a slimy wet cake of soap. Bringing my own toothpaste is easy, because it's small, and I get the brand whose taste I'm accustomed to. Also, I've got to bring my tooth brush with me anyway, so the toothpaste as well isn'…

> Bringing my own toothpaste is easy You don't fly anywhere where TSA 'protects' the skies then?

Yes, it's easy. You just buy a travel-sized tube at pretty much any chain drugstore in the US. (Or, as is the case with many people, use the trial sizes your dentist gives you when you're in for a cleaning.)

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#89

Post by igf »

nullc wrote: post #80
igf wrote: post #4

Bringing my own shampoo is a hassle, because I buy shampoo in normal-sized many-use bottles that are quite large and might leak. Bringing my own soap is even worse, because nobody wants to carry around a slimy wet cake of soap. Bringing my own toothpaste is easy, because it's small, and I get the brand whose taste I'm accustomed to. Also, I've got to bring my tooth brush with me anyway, so the toothpaste as well isn'…

> Bringing my own toothpaste is easy You don't fly anywhere where TSA 'protects' the skies then?

I thought toothpaste was fine because it's a paste, not a liquid, gel or aerosol.

Unless of course you buy the "gel" type.

Re: The Mystery of the Missing Hotel Toothpaste (2013)

#90

Post by henrikschroder »

nullc wrote: post #80
igf wrote: post #4

Bringing my own shampoo is a hassle, because I buy shampoo in normal-sized many-use bottles that are quite large and might leak. Bringing my own soap is even worse, because nobody wants to carry around a slimy wet cake of soap. Bringing my own toothpaste is easy, because it's small, and I get the brand whose taste I'm accustomed to. Also, I've got to bring my tooth brush with me anyway, so the toothpaste as well isn'…

> Bringing my own toothpaste is easy You don't fly anywhere where TSA 'protects' the skies then?

For most liquid toiletries, it's actually difficult to buy "travel size", i.e. less that 4 fl oz. But for toothpaste, this is a standard size that you normally buy, so it doesn't add much of a burden.
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