Are you allowed to keep hotel keys?

The Keys to the Past: Can You Keep Hotel Keys?

For many, a hotel key serves as a tangible memento of a trip, a physical reminder of a vacation spent exploring new landscapes, meeting new people, or simply relaxing in a different environment. But what happens to those keys after checkout? Do we have to return them, or are they ours to keep?

The answer is clear: you are allowed to keep your hotel keys.

There is no hotel policy that requires guests to return their keys upon checkout. While some hotels might have a designated key drop-off area, this is generally for convenience and organizational purposes, not mandatory.

So, if you’re one of those folks who’s ever found themselves stashing a hotel key away in a drawer or tucked amongst old photographs, you’re in good company. Many travelers have their own little collection of these physical tokens from their travels, each one holding a story of a memorable trip.

Of course, the hotel doesn’t lose anything by you keeping the key. It’s a simple piece of plastic, usually pre-programmed to only work for that specific room during a particular stay. Once your stay is over, the key is rendered useless, serving only as a souvenir for the guest.

So, next time you’re checking out of a hotel, don’t feel obligated to hand over your key. Take it home and let it serve as a reminder of your time away. After all, it’s a small piece of your journey, and yours to keep.