Why hotels don't provide toothpaste
 

Ever wonder why you get a lot of useless stuff in hotel toiletry kits, but not toothpaste? According to this article there's no reason for it in particular.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/c...oiletries.html

I forgot toothpaste a couple of times. A teeny little tube alongside the stuff I don't use (shoe polish, sewing kit) would be appreciated.

I don't stay at Hyatt very frequently, but the one in Columbus, OH always provides little tubes of aquafresh extreme clean, which is nice.

Why hotels don't provide toothpaste
 

I always got free toothpaste when I asked for at the FD

I've also received it at motels/hotels running the gamut from Holiday Inn Express to Ritz Carlton.

My experience is that most hotels have it available at the FD if you ask. Along with disposable razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, and even deodorant.

Hilton (et al such as DoubleTree) has a place on their webiste where you can request certain things in advance to be left in your room. Extra towels, certain types of pillows, extra coffee or tea, toiletries etc. My last stay in New York, I requested toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and shaving cream. Was in the room when I arrived and it is gratis.

I know that HIXs and HIs always provide toothpaste (among many other toiletries). You likely need to ask the FD.

Start staying at Hyatts, and you'll never need to buy toothpaste again. :cool:

Stayed at a Hyatt Place last night and was pleasantly surprised by the toothpaste on the counter.

Every hotel I've stayed at outside the US has provided it.

Yep, Hyatt Regency at DFW has toothpaste

Cause not everyone brushes their teeth or had teeth to brush ???? :D.

Hyatt offers toothpaste in their rooms. At most other properties, a quick call to the FD will get you complimentary toothpaste delivered to your room.

Based on recent experiences, Sheraton hotels are now only providing tiny mini-packs of toothpaste (cannot be resealed) and only after serious begging at the front desk.

I nearly always request tooth brush and tooth paste when checking in to a hotel, suites place etc.

If you wait until you get to your room and request items like this housekeeping will do the delivery and expect a tip.

All the Choice Hotels I stay at have tooth paste:)

I am currently at a Renaissance in Chicago they had tube of toothpaste with everything else. I have gotten mixed things when I asked at the FD, sometimes I get a single use pack, other times they have small tubes but they always had something.

+1. I've got several months worth of little tubes of toothpaste from Hyatts.

It seems as if everybody got toothpaste except for me and the writer of the article.

You need to stay away from the Best Value Inn (oh the nightmares are coming back)

Why hotels don't provide toothpaste
 

I was at the Fairfield Inn NY last night and there was toothpaste and tonight I am at Fairfield Inn DC no toothpaste in room tonight but I bet if I went downstairs I could get a tube - this is a regular expected courtesy

4 out 5 hotels recommend going commando in the oral hygiene department.

I've never seen toothpaste left. Mouthwash once and the odd hotel has a sign up saying you can buy a male/female amenity kit containing various essentials.
Always bring my own and a brush.

Cheapskates! Same reason they don't supply 3 towels to a couple. Cost! I need an extra towel for my hair.

Hyatt must have some sort of promo deal with Aquafresh. I guess it works (at least sort of), since I do remember the brand they offer without looking in my freedom baggie.

Really? Most hotels have a little card saying, did you forget something?, and offering complimentary toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream. I don't recall ever seeing a price associated with this. Even lower-end hotels like Holiday Inn Express often offer this for free.

Believe it is Hyatt hotels that provide a small tube of toothpaste maybe a 1.5oz tube, whereas many others provide a single use toothbrush and toothpaste. Really enjoy the Hyatt product because covers the duration of the stay and is small enough to keep as carry-on for long layovers - great to brush up.

You said it Mike :)

I actually took one home and my mom tried it and she really liked it. She insists I get her more of it.

Stayed at plenty of cheap business hotels in Japan, and every single one of them provided a small package with a disposable toothbrush and tiny tube of toothpaste. Certainly wish it was more prevalent in North America to provide the same.

IHG Branded hotels Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn etc don't include in ones room, but may either sell to you or occaisionally provide minitube/mini-toothbrush set.

Intercontinental Hotels bathroom kit includes toothbrush/toothpaste in the kitbox in every room, even the most basic room type, along with razor/foam, cotton buds and other assorted useful items.

What? I think you meant the EconoLodge and Super 8. :cool:

The Renaissance Vinoy in St Pete FL does leave it in the room, at least your first night. That is the only hotel where I have seen it. Just about every hotel has provided it upon request though.

As a loyal Hyatt person, I never knew this was NOT the norm (i.e. never had to carry toothpaste). Whenever I traveled with people, I was always clueless at why people brought toothpaste. :D. Now I know...

Most hotels will provide it, if you ask at the front desk. I did stay at the St. Regis in Houston a few months back and was shocked that they had a toiletry kit in the bathroom, but it had a $5.00 price tag if you chose to use it, come on St. Regis - you're better than that!

The more expensive the hotel, the more they will nickel and dime you for everything. It's an odd industry!

Most hotels I've stayed in seem to provide those single(ish) use toothpaste packets. Those are fine, but definitely prefer the Hyatt mini-tubes.
http://www.thetoothpastesource.com/s..._500_Packs.jpg

I personally would be leery of using anything but a name brand tooth paste supplied by a hotel including the one time tooth paste/brush combos.

Where do you think the hotel chains buy them from, CHINA, the land of who knows what they put in their food products. I believe a few years ago Chinese made contaminated toothpaste was the cause of many deaths in a Central or South American country.

The hotel chains buy the cheapest toiletry products they can get to keep their costs down and unless they have a promotional deal with a US toothpaste company, I highly doubt it is made in the USA.

Just my 2 cents opinion

Mr. Elliott

Aloft Automat
 

Aloft sells various toiletries from an automat like device. Some funky items too.

sofitels will provide a full-size toothbrush and a travel-size crest/colgate on request.

A tube of toothpaste travels well. It's easy to pack, doesn't mind being smushed around and is re-sealable. Plus the taste and type is a personal preference. I do like to pocket the travel sized tubes when a hotel provides them, but I always pack my own tube along with my brush. Shampoo and conditioner on the other hand are bulky, expensive, and a disaster if they open in transit. The bottles get wet during use and since they are in the tub, they would likely be overlooked when I am packing up to check out. A used bar of soap also is a slippery mess.

So I don't think you can equate free shampoo and soap to toothpaste. The article is a joke, IMHO.

I don't understand why it seems some people expect hotels to have it in the room. Yes, at request is fine but always? I bring my own stuff...