Where would you find a Stormtrooper costume, a trumpet, a marriage certificate, six Bridesmaid dresses and a Galleon made of matchsticks? Where else but Travelodge’s Lost & Found offices in Wales!
Today, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, Travelodge, has revealed some of the interesting items left behind in its 582 hotels over the last 12 months incorporating its 26 hotels in Wales. With millions of people annually staying in a Travelodge hotel across the length and breadth of the UK, detailed below are some of the unusual treasures that have been left behind in Welsh properties:
- A lucky Buddha diamond necklace
- A stained glass door
- A 6ft flower arch made from white roses
- A marriage certificate
- A family of garden gnomes
- A collection of Ronald Dahl books
- A Christmas village made of lego
- A Chewbacca costume
- A suitcase full of business receipts
- A vintage pocket watch
- A Bridegroom’s top hat
- A set of four palm trees
- A Japanese parasol
- A surfboard
- A work contract
- A Louis Vuitton dog carrier
With the Staycation being a top holiday choice in 2021, Travelodge hotel staff have reported a significant rise in items being left behind in their hotels over the last 12 months. Some of the interesting finds include a business plan left behind in Cardiff M4 Travelodge, a set of four palm trees abandoned in Swansea Travelodge and a Christmas village made of Lego, which a customer forgot in Bridgend Pencoed Travelodge.
The housekeeping team at Swansea Central Travelodge were pleasantly surprised when they entered a room to be greeted by a 6ft flower arch made of white roses sitting on the bed, while a customer staying at the Llanelli Central Travelodge left behind his prized collection of garden gnomes. A Louis Vuitton dog carrier was also left behind in Rhyl Seafront Travelodge.
The 2021 Travelodge Lost & Found audit has also revealed a growing trend of wedding-related items being left behind by brides, grooms and wedding guests across the company’s hotels. A newlywed couple staying at Swansea M4 Travelodge were in such a rush to get to the airport to catch their honeymoon flight to Dubai that they left behind their wedding certificate!
A bridesmaid staying at Cardiff Llandeyrn Travelodge had the important job of taking six bridesmaid dresses to the wedding venue, due to being too focused on her ‘bad hair day’. Luckily, the hotel manager managed to get them to the wedding on time for the vital ceremony.
A forgetful groom staying at Bridgend Pencoed Travelodge was in deep trouble with his future wife when he forgot to complete his bespoke wedding outfit with the Top Hat he’d left behind in the hotel. Luckily, the hotel team, who love a challenge, stepped in and got the hat to the church in time!
With more road warriors staying at Travelodge hotels than ever before, the hotel chain has seen a rise in items being left behind by workers across all sectors. This includes a suitcase of receipts left behind in Llanelli Crosshands Travelodge Plus, a work contract forgotten at Halkyn Travelodge and a portfolio of shop front designs being left at Leeds Central Travelodge.
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “In 2021, following Freedom Day, we welcomed back millions of customers to our 582 UK Travelodge hotels including our 26 hotels in Wales and we saw a significant increase in bookings. This has led to a range of interesting items being left behind by our customers across our UK hotels. This year’s Lost & Found audit includes a rise in holiday themed items, wedding props, precious sentimental items, smart gadgets and beloved pets. This includes a Stormtrooper costume, a trumpet, a marriage certificate, six Bridesmaid dresses and a Galleon made of matchsticks.
“When it comes to why so many of our customers forget their treasured items, it’s basically due to us all being time poor, juggling multiple tasks and being in a hurry to get from A to B. In the rush, valuable possessions are easily forgotten.”
Listed below are the top 30 interesting items left behind at some of Travelodge’s 26 hotels in Wales in 2021
| Item | Travelodge Hotel |
| A Stormtrooper costume | Cardiff Travelodge |
| A magician’s black book of tricks | Cardiff Central Queen Street Travelodge |
| A trumpet | Cardiff Airport Travelodge |
| A galleon made of matchsticks | Cardiff Atlantic Wharf Travelodge |
| Six bridesmaid dresses | Cardiff Llandeyrn Travelodge |
| A business plan | Cardiff M4 Travelodge |
| A pop-up tuck shop | Cardiff Travelodge |
| A collection of Christmas jumpers | Cardiff Whitchurch Travelodge |
| A lucky Buddha diamond necklace | Caerphilly Travelodge |
| A stained glass door | Newport Central Travelodge |
| A 6ft flower arch made from white roses | Swansea Central Travelodge |
| A marriage certificate | Swansea M4 Travelodge |
| A family of garden gnomes | Llanelli Central Travelodge |
| A collection of Ronald Dahl books | Llanelli Crosshands Travelodge |
| A Christmas village made of Lego | Bridgend Pencoed Travelodge |
| A Chewbacca costume | Llanelli Central Travelodge |
| A suitcase full of business receipts | Llanelli Crosshands Travelodge |
| A vintage pocket watch | Swansea M4 Travelodge |
| A Bridegroom’s top hat | Bridgend Pencoed Travelodge |
| A set of four palm trees | Swansea Travelodge |
| A Japanese parasol | Rhyl Seafront Travelodge |
| A surfboard | Colwyn Bay Travelodge |
| A work contract | Halkyn Travelodge |
| A Louis Vuitton dog carrier | Rhyl Seafront Travelodge |
| A cuckoo clock | Llanudno Travelodge |
| A jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne | Rhyl Seafront Travelodge |
| A portable beach hut | Bangor Travelodge |
| A mini jukebox | Halkyn Travelodge |
| A Victorian dolls house | Colwyn Bay Travelodge |
| A pearl necklace that was a wedding gift 50 years ago | Rhyl Seafront Travelodge |
Listed below are the top ten most popular items left behind in Travelodge hotels during 2021:
- Chargers for mobile phones, smart devices, kindles and laptops
- Mobile phones, tablets and Kindles
- Books
- Teddy Bears
- Toiletry bags with contents
- Jewellery
- Clothing
- Toys
- Business papers / notebooks / presentations
- Gifts / presents
All items left behind in Travelodge hotels which have not been claimed within three months are donated to the local British Heart Foundation Charity Shops, Travelodge’s nominated charity partner.
