STAYING in a fancy hotel often comes with some very fancy toiletries.
Yet in a drive to reduce waste, more hotels now include large bottles rather than the usual miniature bottles.
This means taking them back as souvenirs are not always possible.
In fact, some hotels often have a sign saying that anyone who tries to take the full-size bottles will be charged after checking out.
I've stayed at some very nice hotels in recent years, which have had full-size bottles of Cowshed, Bramley and Le Labo products.
Trying to take them, however, would have resulted in a nasty credit card bill.
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A full-size bottle of Le Labo body wash costs a whopping £44 on the high street, while Cowshed and Bramley can be as much as £30.
And you can't feign ignorance – most have polite signs next to the bottles telling people they can't be taken.
But there is a way to take some of the product without getting in trouble.
After realising I had used up all of my own toiletries, I realised there was a simple way to take some back with me.
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This was because I had some empty mini bottles, having used up my own toiletries by the end of the trip.
Rather than leave them empty, I filled them up with nice products, before putting them back in my suitcase.
Of course, I only had my 100ml reusable bottles, as I often only travel with hand luggage.
So I opted for three filled-up, each with body wash, shampoo and conditioner.
And I would advise against taking your own full-sized empty bottle to decant into, which is a big hotel no-no.
However, it means that when returning home, I have some expensive toiletries for a treat – without having to pay for them.
They make a great souvenir too, with the small reminding me of my holiday.
If you really want the full-size bottles, most hotels will let you buy them at the check-in desk.
Some luxury hotel resorts have some very bougie products.
If you stay at a Sofitel in Luxembourg or the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, you'll spot Hermes products, with the Eau D'Orange Verte.
The Mandarin Oriental in Paris has Diptyque products, while Cipriani Hotel in Venice has toiletries by Bulgari.
And at Waldorf Astoria, you'll find Aesop toiletries.
Just make sure you check before leaving the hotel.
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A woman last year was told by her hotel to return the normal-sized toiletries after she packed them.
And one man went one further – by trying to gift their hotel mini toiletries as Christmas presents.
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