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Did you know that a whopping $100 million dollars worth of luxury products are stolen from hotels each year?
You’d be surprised by what disappears. Or, maybe you wouldn’t be.
Hotel toiletries, pens, and notepads are free, aren’t they? But where does complimentary end and grand larceny begin? Guests have been known to take robes, towels, pillows, bedding, artwork, silverware, and mattresses. Yes, even mattresses number among the many luxury hotel products guests try to sneak past the front desk at checkout each year.
Occasionally, I’ve found items in hotel rooms I’d like to steal, I mean, take home. Luxury hotel products that have been curated by a designer with my identical sense of style and hygge. Things I covet from the moment I see them, touch them, or smell them.
So what’s the protocol on ‘included’ items versus the ones that will send you on an all-inclusive stay at Rikers? I’d like to see the manual, please.
Post-Pandemic Pampering
Luxury hotel products I crave usually fall into the creature comfort category. Linens, bath soaps, blankets, and candles are examples of items I’d love to stuff into my carry-on at the end of a trip. The desire to replicate the hotel room’s scent and ambiance in my own home is tempting.
Let’s flip the narrative. What if the luxury hotel products we’d like to take, we instead decide to track down and buy? More aspirational. Less illegal. Isn’t the reason these irresistible products are on display is so that we become future clients? That’s my rationale. It’s all a part of a master branding and marketing plan, which I fall for every time.
My Top Five Luxury Hotel Products
Read on for five luxury hotel products I’ve fallen in love with and eventually purchased. Ones I’ve googled, ordered, and found waiting at my doorstep before our plane touched down at Dulles. Need a little post-pandemic pampering? Which little hotel luxuries will you fall for?
And how, exactly, does one steal a mattress?
5/Sferra blankets, Amangiri
Sferra, in brief: In 1891, Italian-born Gennaro Sferra took a steamer across the Atlantic for a stab at the American Dream. His company sold exquisite lace, cuffs, and collars to the East Coast elite and socialites. Today, Sferra is a celebrated brand of luxury textiles, with products ranging from super-fine Merino wool throws to rare Egyptian cotton bedding.
Sferra maintains its linens were the in-flight bedding for Pope John Paul II. And says its fabrics topped the tables of Reagan-era state dinners. While I don’t have enough status on United to warrant custom bedding, Sferra linens can at least grace my dining room table at Thanksgiving.
Props to the source: I discovered Sferra at Amangiri, a boutique hotel located in the Escalante National Monument foothills of southern Utah. Aman resorts have a knack for creating rooms so enticing that we never want to leave them. They simultaneously offer one-of-a-kind excursions that make us constantly yearn for the outdoors. A champagne problem, indeed.
Our suite, a study in desert neutrals, had uninterrupted views of caramel-colored dunes, mountains, and scenic plateaus. Upon entering, a pop of bright orange caught my eye. A Sferra throw, (aptly named Paprika, I’d later discover), was draped across the sofa.
Paprika became my new BFF. I wrapped it around me each evening while searching for shooting stars. I swaddled myself in it while reading the latest Kristin Hannah bestseller. My husband felt replaced. Did I want to stuff Paprika into my roller bag? Absolutely. But I didn’t. Sourcing Sferra was only a click away.
And who wants to get blacklisted from Aman? Not me.
Why I love Sferra: The combination of hues, textures, weights, and patterns of Sferra blankets and throws is dizzying. With seductive, nature-inspired colors like Silver Sage, Slate, Lilac, and Lake, try to buy just one. I couldn’t.
We now have Sferra throws (Merlot, Mushroom, and Moss among them) piled strategically throughout the house. A luxury hotel product that speaks to my homebody nature and keeps me toasty on cool DC nights. And of course, I have my very own Paprika.
Shop It: Click for Sferra Throws
4/Aesop Toiletries, Dunton Hot Springs
Aesop, in brief: Headquartered in sunny Melbourne, Australia, Aesop has been in business since 1987. How this blissful brand escaped me my entire adult life is a question I can’t answer.
Aesop says their objective is ‘to formulate skin, hair, and body care products of the finest quality.’ Not an incredibly unique objective, frankly. It’s possible Aesop is spending its budget on ingredients rather than PR. Thankfully Aesop products require no explanation. If you haven’t tried the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, open up another tab and get an order going.
Props to the source: Dunton Hot Springs, a property with fourteen log cabins set in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado is where I first found Aesop. Its vast 1500 acres are flanked by majestic mountains, cool waterfalls, and the serpentine Dolores River. A natural playground for the multitude of activities it offers.
Our family stayed at the Potter House, set at the top of the property overlooking a pond filled with busy beavers. The bathroom had full-sized 16.9 fl oz Aesop products, rather than impossible-to-open, single-use ones. Dunton’s trust in its guests was implicit.
With my newfound hotel-thieving insights, I can’t help but wonder how many bottles are taken each year. Perhaps they don’t mind or don’t know. Most likely, I paid for them one way or another.
Why I love Aesop: The scents, naturally. Take your pick: citrus, woody, herbaceous, earthy, smoky, or spicy. The Geranium Leaf scent still takes me back to our spectacular week at Dunton Hot Springs. The simple and bold, typography-driven designed labels speak to the graphic designer in me. And not for nothing, they also look really good on the shower ledge.
Shop It: Click for Aesop Toiletries
3/New West KnifeWorks, Amangani
New West KnifeWorks, in brief: Corey Milligan, the founder of New West KnifeWorks, runs his company from oh-so-picturesque Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Corey says his passion for creating fine cutlery is matched by his love of food and aims to bring joy to the chore of cooking. I’m definitely in need of that, Corey.
That said, Corey’s knives can be found in the homes of everyday cooks as well as professional ones. Nancy Silverton, of LA’s Osteria Mozza fame, wields Corey’s critically-acclaimed knives. But you certainly don’t have to be a James Beard Award winner to own one.
Props to the source: The first time I noticed New West’s knives was while visiting Amangani. If the colorful cutlery had somehow eluded me there, I would’ve certainly spotted it when dining at the nearby restaurant, Snake River Grill. This might not be a typical luxury hotel product to desire, but then again, Amangani is far from typical.
Amangani is a low-profile and high-impact property perched upon a hilltop just outside of town. With illustrative snow-capped mountain views and green pastures of cows below, Amangani’s vibe is modern rustic lodge-chic. A worthwhile destination in Jackson no matter what the season.
Why I love New West KnifeWorks: Created with American-made steel, New West knives are strong and razor-sharp (certainly a must-have for a knife company). But, the USP (unique selling point) is its extraordinary and whimsical beauty.
Each G-Fusion steak knife is an individual work of art, designed with glass-woven fabric and epoxy resin. To me, that’s just a technical way of saying they are incredibly cool. Less technical are their illustrative and fanciful names: Peacock, Sunburst, Cadet, Lichen, and Huckleberry. A luxury hotel product that’s both beautiful and functional? I’m all in.
Our New West knives always remind me of tackling the Tetons, Amangani, and dinner at Snake River. And when I grill a steak at home, I always choose Sunburst.
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2/The Citizenry Sheets, the green o
The Citizenry, in brief: Established with the concept of celebrating the people behind their products, The Citizenry believes ‘homes should be reflections of the journeys we take.’ My beliefs exactly, The Citizenry! They partner with artisans across the globe to produce bedding, blankets, and home accessories that mirror that philosophy.
College friends Rachel Bentley and Carly Nance co-founded The Citizenry in 2014, inspired by objects and materials they discovered while traveling the world together. Ghana, Guatemala, Mali, and Morocco are just a few of the places where they found artisans to create their home goods.
I feel like Rachel and Carly should be my friends, too. I wonder where they are going next, and if they’d let me join.
Props to the source: Five minutes after falling into the ultra-cushy bed at the newly opened green o, in Montana, my husband bolted upright, and snapped on the bedside lamp. ‘We have to get these sheets!’, he exclaimed. For those who know Daniel, exclaiming is unusual. Of all the things I could’ve predicted to come out of his mouth at that moment, this would’ve been the last one. Since when did Daniel notice the thread count?
In fact, our tree haus at the green o was filled with items worth lusting after. Cozy blankets so dense I lost my glasses in them. Lush, waffled bathrobes and towels, and a modern desk lamp. This combination of highly-curated objects created a laid-back oasis. I wanted to steal, take, bring home every little luxury product in the haus. But mostly, I wanted the bedding.
Why I love The Citizenry: I may not have known what french flax linen was then, but I knew I wanted it. The website says the bedding is woven in the oldest, family-run linen mill in Portugal which in itself is a good enough reason to buy it.
The Citizenry sheets and bedding are stonewashed which makes the textured linen softer with each wash. The overall look is disheveled-chic, and ever-so-slightly wrinkled to make our bed even more enticing. If it was hard to get up in the mornings before we had The Citizenry bedding, it’s nearly impossible now.
It’s Daniel’s fault, as I remind him every morning.
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1/Pretentious Glassware, Blackberry Mountain
Pretentious Glass, in brief: Matthew Cummings is the owner, founder, and glassblower-in-chief of Pretentious Glass. Mr. Cummings spent years cultivating a relationship with Blackberry Mountain, a wellness retreat nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee not far from his studio in Knoxville. A fine art sculptor turned commercial artist, Cummings’ creations in glass are a modern, festive, take on classic styles.
Props to the source: On our three-day girl’s trip to Blackberry Mountain, we spent much of our time hiking, sound bathing, and eating. But we also spent much of our time ‘rehydrating’. The Firetower bar, at the peak of the property, was a great place to settle with a cocktail and a glass of wine. I would soon learn that all of the glassware at Blackberry Mountain was created by Pretentious Glass.
Why I love Pretentious Glass: At dinner, I fell in love with our decanter’s fanciful design. I swore it made our cabernet taste bolder, which then made the food taste better, and our night even funner. (Yes, I know funner isn’t a word, but it should be).
I tried to buy one on the spot to no avail. In fact, they aren’t for sale even on Matthew’s website. I’m still trying to get my hands on one to this day. I don’t give up easily, Matthew. Be warned.
In the meantime, I’m content to purchase other hand-blown glassware from Pretentious Glass. For Father’s Day, I bought Daniel four Subtle Beer Glasses. The designs are truly extraordinary, sculpted to fit his hand like a well-worn baseball mitt. I wish I liked beer just to have an excuse to use one.
Stealing Time, among other things
Ever curious about what the rules are when it comes to what’s included in a hotel stay, I dug deeper. I’m a rule follower. I get nervous when I color outside of the lines. If a bathroom is for customers only, I become a customer. I’m not sure where this annoying moral compass comes from but will make a note to take a deep dive with my therapist next Thursday.
While in some cases, it’s a blurry line, others are razor sharp. Maybe it depends on one’s perspective. Pens, toiletries, and notepads all seem legit. Take a robe, towel, or duvet and you may get charged for it eventually. Walking out with artwork and furniture seems downright illegal.
But hey, that might just be me.
Here’s a list of the most commonly stolen luxury hotel room items:
Alarm clocks
Hangers
Pens
Artwork
Silverware
Lamps
Lightbulbs
Robes
Towels
Batteries
Pillows
And for those still wondering how to steal a mattress? Apparently, your best bet is to sneak it out in the middle of the night and hope there’s a sleepy bellman on duty. Happy travels!
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If you ever want to get in touch, ask a question, or discuss a way to partner, please email me at [email protected].
Love this! I’m constantly trying to recreate some aspect of places we’ve stayed. And yes, all Daniel’s fault. Obviously
I’m sure you have some great hotel finds, Bec!
I love that decanter!
Oh, I know. Seriously going to get it somehow! I’m not ruling out begging.
Now I need a Sferra throw. And maybe the sheets.
The Sferra site is a rabbit hole, Margaret. You may never get out. : )
Loved this article and of course am coveting many of the items. Especially fascinated by the background and historical content. Not to mention the vicarious enjoyment I get from reading of your travels. I didn’t expect to run across Sfrrra throws. The founder, Gennaro Sferra is my guy’s grandfather. And in his house hangs the same picture of his family you would see if you Google him. The little girl in the picture – the youngest and only daughter – is my guy’s mom – Elinor, who will be 103 this May. And still pretty healthy! She has many interesting stories to tell. Unfortunately the family sold the business years ago, along with their townhouse at Gramercy Park. The adage, timing is everything, sure rings true here ?. So enjoy your site Jamie.
Wow, Cynthia. Crazy small world! My grandmother is 103 too. Good genes in that Sferra family. Thank you for the great story! -Jamie
Oh that decanter! Still longing!
I love going to Jamie’s website and discovering yet again how the other half lives. Or perhaps I should say the other 99% lives. Jamie, you’ll be pleased to know that while I don’t have anything that Corey Milligan has produced in his New West shop, while living in London years ago, I did make frequent trips across the channel and on one of them, purchased a (small) set of Laguiole steak knives. While I look around my kitchen and question many past purchases (how many coffee cups does one person really need), those knives have a special place. They are in fact the chief incentive for having a steak for dinner. I should also add that while in London, I found an Aesop shop in Covent Garden and I did indulge myself on occasion. But you have to admit, they look better on the shower ledge if you have a black and white tiled bathroom, don’t you think?
For all the wonderful things that you describe and recommend on your site, there is one that always sits very high on your list that few have the opportunity to enjoy. Daniel is perhaps the best traveling companion that a slightly cynical, world-weary, former globe-hopper like myself could hope for, and I appreciate your being kind enough to share him this year. It wasn’t Christmas, but it felt like a Christmas gift, one of the best I’ve received. Remind him of that will you? Dinner at a waterside seafood restaurant, a failed search for a recommended kabob restaurant, scratching the Hagia Sofia off my bucket list, several dips in the Aegean, and of course, the best, most enjoyable running commentary on all things worldly and mundane over the course of seven days made the trip unforgettable. I hope you realize how special you all are to me.
I just had to pop back in, months later, to say that the Pretentious Glassware Decanter was finally back in stock and I am now the proud owner! It brings me great joy, and, yes, the wine does taste better!!