Shampoo, soap, shaving cream - at hotels???

I am finding now that nearly all hotels have something. Sometimes very min like a small packet or other times little bottles. Even if they didn't I am sure you could get something at the front desk.

It depends on the class of your hotel. Even my 2 star hotel had stuff. just snag what you can each day so they refill it even if you don't quite need it cause you never know. Plus its good for washing socks ect.

I always find shampoo and soap but never shaving cream. If your hotel is lacking in anything you are sure to find what you need nearby.

There is almost always shampoo, and sometimes soap, in hotels and B&Bs. I carry a tiny amount of shampoo from home (sample size) and my own conditioner (small tube). Shampoo can be used instead of soap usually. I favor men's deodorants because they seem stronger and are available in a variety of scents--the tiny dollar size is adequate for most trips. I take a small tube of hand lotion, which can be used for moisturizer and foot cream. The problem with buying these things abroad is that the smallest sizes can be impossible to find. For shaving legs, hand lotion will work, or use soap in the bath/shower. Traveling light is a challenge, but pays off when hauling stuff around buses, trains, up stairs, etc. It's also easier to keep track of everything if there is not much to keep track of....

I took a 17 day RS tour of Italy - the hotels we stayed at almost always had soap and usually shampoo. If your trip is a ways off, I'd suggest tracking your soap/shampoo/shaving cream needs for a week or so. You'd be quite surprised how little you actually need. You can buy it there, but only in big bottles. I have a $20 of sunscreen to prove that one...but the scent reminds me of my great trip, so it was worth it!

I always bring a backup. If you have a shared bathroom "down the hall" you never know who has been using the complementary soap and/or shampoo.

Lea, Hotel Italia does provide soap. I can't remember if they provided other toiletries since I brought small bottles of my own.

I ALWAYS carry 2 or 3 oz refillable bottles with flip top lids. I reuse the sturdy, clear squarish ones that hand sanitizer comes in. They're clear so I can easily see my colour coded system. The flip tops mean no removing/dropping the lid.

I like shampoo/conditioner in one that is green, lotion that is unscented in white, oatmeal liquid soap and hair gel. The colours tell me what it is without having to use labels that can come off when wet. I also carry a mini spray bottle of hairspray and carry an empty one for water. I refill as necessary. I know exactly how many uses are in each bottle. You can try this at home to see how long it will last. I use shaving oil that is by summersets that looks like a bottle of nailpolish.
Most properties will have complimentary toiletries. I always carry my own just incase. Plus, some of the cheaper products knot my hair or make it oily! Or make my skin break out!

Lea,
We stayed at the Adler last month and they had small bottles of shampoo/shower gel and little soap. They also had a mini fridge/mini bar in the room so we could buy our own water bottles and keep them cold. Every single one of our hotels in Italy had their own soaps/bottles of shampoo, etc. I really didn't need to bring any from home at all. I don't think you need to worry!
Tom and Sherry Trojanowski
Steger, IL

Dear lea

Just returned from Italy last night. maybe consider a bar of your favorite soap to bring along. I got this rash on my body which I am sure came from those "soaps" since it was the only new offending agent. just a thought...

Hi Lea,
I just came back from Italy and I brought with me my own shampoo, hair gel and soap. I'm allergic to perfumes and I did not want to use the toiletries offered by the hotels. My boyfriend brought his own shaving cream. He got a small bottle at CVS and he paid like a buck.
I hope this help.
Enjoy your trip.

I always take a washcloth, as they never have them. You can also use it on the way home to wrap around a breakable treasure. If you use a washcloth, which I know many men don't, besure to take a small ziploc bag to put it in, as it may not be dry when you are ready to move on to your next city/town.

We have this program at the Airport which encourages Flight Crew to collect those itsybitsy bottles of soap/shampoo/conditioner/lotion/mouthrinse etc. Instead of piling them up at home (like my cheapo Ex does!) we gather them up and donate them to the Red Cross. It works out to a donation of an estimated 10-15 thousand bottles each year.
We figure they're paid for when we rent the room so why not pass them along to someone who might appreciate using them!

You could possibly solve the whole wet washcloth problem by using a microfibre, quick drying facecloth. Gotta love microfibre! But the ziploc idea is a good one, too! ;->

Saw shampoo, body wash, etc., but never saw shaving cream in any of our hotels. I collected the bottles as we moved on in case the next place did not have any. My husband bought some shaving cream when needed at a Pharmacy in Venice.

That's right, shave cream/gel often is NOT provided at hotels. When I used to run a Hotel Front Office we always got people hoping we'd have some at Reception. Instead, we sold it at our Gift Shop for four times the price elsewhere and it literally flew off the shelves! (I guess no one wants to sport their bikini all stubbly!)

You can get Shaving Oil by "Summersets" which comes in what looks like a tiny bottle of nail polish. It costs around $5USD but last about 25 shaves for women, more for Men. No idea how may shaves for Men but I'd imagine more for Men unless you shave more than your face! Or you can get "Aqueous Cream" in a small tube at most Pharmacies. I stopped buying those inexpensive, yet expensive by volume, travel size shaving creams. Those are anything but a bargain!

take a small micro towel (camping style - or even the super-small compack round camping towel that is the size of a couple silver dollar stacked!)

Take 1 small toothpaste, and one small shampoo -just incase your hotel didnt have it. In Northern and Central Europe - the 5 countries i was in this spring/summer almost all had shampoo/soap all purpose dispensers in the LAV and Shower. Small shave cream (or even better - the Ausie Shave Oil in the tiny tiny bottle) is all you need if you can squeeze in 6 extra oz.

If the hotels don't have them you can buy them locally. You should be able to find a cheap store that carry all kind of brands. I was able to buy 2 soap bars in Roma for an 1.09 euros.
I personally never had a problem with the European quality, even I consider them of better quality than many found in the US