Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Hotel Freebies. Whaddya Think?

I had an awesome time away with the girls this weekend and we had this incredible condo that we were fortunate enough to stay in at an unbelievable price.

And I didn’t even think twice as we were packing up to go home to stick the extra toilet paper, Kleenex, lotions, soaps, and laundry detergent in my suitcase as I left. I figured they put it there for me to use and since I didn’t use it I decided to take it home. It will help pad my grocery budget a bit and give me some travel size stuff for my next trip.

But then I thought, I wonder how people weigh in on that issue. Do you think you should take that stuff home or leave it there?

On another note, I have a great tried and true, frugal and healthy recipe that I thought I would share. It became an instant favorite at our house, is speedy to make, it’s thrifty, cooks up in one pan, and the kids love it.

Southwest Chicken and Rice

2 Tablespoons of taco seasoning mix (homemade is only pennies to make)

4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts (I use any skinless/boneless chicken pieces and even leftover chicken.

1 cup salsa

2 cups water

2 cups uncooked instant rice

1 can of black beans rinsed and drained

1 cup shredded cheese

Sour cream optional

Rub 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning over chicken. Combine remaining taco seasoning, salsa, and water in a large skillet; Top mixture with chicken. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from skillet. Stir in rice, beans and cheese; cover and cook over low for 5 minutes. Top with chicken. Serve with sour cream.


I serve this with frozen corn sautéed in olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay I am all about saving money but to tell you the truth that is just plain cheap. If you feel you need to take the extra kleenex, toilet paper and soap you should save money by not taking a vacation.

Anonymous said...

My opinion is that those items are included in the price of the room and they're yours. If you leave them, they just increase the profit margin for the hotel. This is, of course, a personal choice.

I take the shampoo and other sample sized stuff but leave the sandpaper tissues and toilet paper behind.

YMMV

Sally

Wendy said...

Yes, yes, yes! I always take the sample sized items. I have never taken the toliet paper - just haven't thought of that. I enjoy using the products - it reminds me of the time away and is like a mini vacation in my own home.

As for the anonymous poster - we are going to reread the post and imagine that she was laughing when she typed her comment, and not being mean or hateful. Who knows maybe she is having a PMS kind-of day. We have to remember that emotion does not come across very clearly when we type. If it sounds mean - well, then it's mean.
We are all just trying to save money for a common purpose - our wonderful families! Don't make someone feel like a thief for taking the products that were already paid for in their own room.
Taking from the cart in the hall way is a No NO. Taking from your paid in full room - ENJOY!

Anonymous said...

I've never worked in a hotel, but I always assumed any disposable thing that you don't use and leave behind they throw away before the next guest...so why not take it? It's like if you are at a hospital (after having a baby) and don't take home the diapers you didn't use while there. They will toss them out.
And to the anonymous: it's not that you feel the NEED to take these items it's just not being wasteful :)

~Laura
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/duckygirl

Sharon said...

I guess I'd never even thought of taking the TP but the sample soaps, coffee and such.... YES.

Now you have to share what you use for your taco seasoning.

MaryLu said...

I agree for the most part with the other posters.
Hotels refill the used items and toss the opened ones, so why not enjoy them at home. the cost of those tiny, use only one time, samples is all wrapped up in the price of the room. Now as for the towels, pillows, showercurtains, clock radios and televisions--I don't think so!

Amanda said...

Wow, what a rude anonymous poster. Personally, I take the sample-sized soaps and whatnots and keep them in a nice jar in my guest bath. It comes in handy for our guests on holidays and they can pick what brand of shampoo, lotion, etc. It makes them feel like they're staying in a fancy hotel instead of sleeping on an air mattress on our game room floor.

As for the toilet paper and kleenex, I haven't taken that, but I don't know why it would be wrong. My kids end up making a mess with the whole box of kleenex anyway as they invent regtangular shaped snowflakes, so I can't imagine why it would be wrong to pop it in my suitcase.

Jenny's Vegcafe said...

I always take the mini toiletries and beverages. But, I wouldn't take the
toilet paper or the kleenex. I don't know that there's anything wrong with it but I just don't. I've heard of people even taking the lightbulbs but I wouldn't do that.