Disclaimer: TPOL was compensated for providing a referral link for Jurlique, my favorite lip balm.
Is life better on the road? Holding the quality of life in Mongolia as a constant, the answer, thanks to hotel room amenities is yes. On my recent trips to Japan, China, and Korea, I made a concerted effort to gather all the free hotel room amenities from my flights and stays. I returned to Ulaanbaatar with a treasure trove of body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, cologne, lip balm, a sewing kit, shaving gel, and a St. Regis luxury brand toothbrush.
While unpacking, curiosity and boredom got the best of me so I decided to Google the prices of these fancy potions. I was astounded to find that these ‘free’ giveaways cost more than a year supply of Axe Total Fresh 3-in-1 Shampoo+Conditioner+Shower Gel, conveniently available for bulk purchase at your [not my] local Costco. I am no expert in the field of body scrubs, revitalizing shower gels, and rejuvenating skin treatments, but I do have to say that the so fresh n so clean feeling that comes from using these products may be worth the cost of admission or, more aptly put, the cost of a night’s stay at an upscale resort.
Prioritizing for what is important in my daily budget, grooming goodies were never high on the list as I believed that soap is soap and shampoo is shampoo. I thought the same was true of lip balm until I flew Cathay Pacific and received a $35 tube of Jurlique lip care. Now, I dare not use anything else. Of course I say this tongue, lip, and cheek.
Looking out the window as the smog and pollution toxify the blue skies of Mongolia, I wish, for the sake of my skin, that I had kept all the hotel room amenities from my trip heard round the world. Alas, all I can do now is hope to preserve my current stash till my next voyagé.
Speaking of which, how’s award availability to Hong Kong aboard Cathay looking this holiday season?
