When I used to work in hotels lost items were kept about a month then whoever found the item could take it. That was many years ago so I don't know what they do now. Since it has been so long I wouldn't expect them to still have it.

It really would depend on the policy of the particular hotel. Some places might contact the people last in the room if it was valuable items found, if they have the phone and address which most places require. Some would put it in lost & found for a period of time and after which probably someone would take it home. Some might just toss it. If it was valuable there's a possibility albeit slim that it could be turned over to the police but there's a time frame before they'd give it back, and it's not years from what I recall. One of the most common items left in hotel rooms is cell/ipod chargers. Some suggest if you need one, go to a busy hotel ask if anyone turned one in and go through the box to see if there's one that fits.

When I owned or managed stores, if someone left something and I knew who owned it, I'd call them. Sometimes they'd forget some cables, accessories or something, perhaps leave gloves or a scarf, hat or something. Occasionally a wallet, checkbook, credit card too. But at the gas stations the most common things left were gloves. During cold weather there would be a lot of gloves left on the pumps. I always put them in a box and kept them for a minimum of a month, after which I'd let the employees use them for work around the store/station. After a couple months if someone wanted them, they could have them. A couple times I found some cash and someone did claim it within a day or two and they got it back. Had I ever found something with very substantial value, I'd likely turn it over to the police, but as said before, it probably would come back in a matter of months at most.

But waiting for years? I can't envision anyone keeping it for that length of time. Certainly would be worth making contact. Miracles do happen.

The problem is you don't know whether you left it there. You could have lost it any number of places or it could have been stolen even from your own home. It could even be in the pocket of a coat somewhere too.

I would go ahead and contact them and see what happens. Personally I would call and talk to a manager. Not sure the size of hotel you stayed in but if it's a small place, talk to the owner or the manager if possible, not a desk clerk. They should know if something of value is there. They're probably going to have it in a safe or something. I wouldn't expect a letter or email to be as productive as a phone call.

Good luck.

YEARS? You are out of luck. No lost/found policy covers lost items for over a year. What possible reason would there be to wait years to recover something valuable and or important to you? No one would believe you. But to answer your question a letter continues to be the most professional and how people who want to be taken seriously would deal with this situation.

Boy this is a long shot but you have nothing to lose by contacting the hotel and I'd start at the top- the manager or if it's a large hotel the head of customer relations. In the remote case that you left it there and a staff member was honest and turned it in maybe they have a record of it.

However they can dismiss a letter just as easily as a phone call. At least by calling you can keep track of everyone you spoke to and you just might find a sympathetic ear who will try to assist you. Again it's a long shot but I'd still try.

"a few years"? Depending on how many "a few" is, it
might very well be surprising that they even have
a record of you staying there, let alone what happened
to your valuables, if, in fact, you did leave them there.

Or, could they have come up missing, by other means
than you just leaving them there?

I worked briefly as a chambermaid in a local motel. If we found anything left behind, we turned it in to the front desk where it would be held for exactly seven days. If no one claimed it, whoever found it was allowed to keep it. I found several interesting items- a bottle of sleeping pills, one diamond earring, and an expensive men's watch. I didn't get the pills back. But I kept the watch and gave it to my then-boyfriend. Not sure about the earring.

After this much time I'm not even sure you could claim it on an insurance policy or tax return.

Very sorry for your losses. We were burgled; I know how it feels to lose valuable and heirloom jewelry.

On a cruise I discarded a pair of pearl earrings when I tidied our cabin before going down to dinner. I'd (foolishly) wrapped them in a piece of tissue and threw it all out with some used Kleenex. I didn't realize this until I was preparing for bed. The ship's purser had the trash from our section of cabins searched and FOUND my earrings! We rewarded the steward who searched.

I wonder what someone who found your jewelry would do with it? Probably pawn it? I don't know how you'd follow up on that.

I think if a valuable was left and turned in they would call you. Minor stuff would not be worth the trouble. After a few months I think it would be a lost cause. When I travel I put the plastic cuffs/lock strips on my suit cases and check them as soon as I return to the room. Immediate notification would get their attention. I never leave my laptop in the room and when I fly or cruise I take along my receipts for cameras or any electronic items.

vala - I hope you don't mind if I ask - why do you take your receipts for electronic items with you?

You're living in a dream world if you think hotels would keep a record of lost items from several years ago!

My DH left an expensive antique pocketwatch in a hotel once, while on a business trip. The hotel tried to contact him at the next hotel, but was then on the phone to me at home in less than 24 hours. They shipped it back to me, insured, and added that amount onto his credit card bill (with permission of course).

That's what (good) hotels do if something valuable is left behind. They don't store things.

sometimes when you re enter the US you need proof the electronics were not bought in the country you are leaving. I have never needed it but just in case I don't want to pay taxes or customs whatever it is on something I bought in the states. I just slip it in my passport folder with my health card.

Thanks vala. That makes perfect sense. I thought it might have had something to do with losing something.

I left somethings in the nightstand drawer when my sister and I were in Las Vegas this past summer, when my Mom passed away. It was mostly costume jewlery but they called my sister in Canada to let her know. The room was in her name. The items were taken to the security area in the casino and she had to fax an ok for the security people to release it to one of my parents neighbors. They were kind enough to offer to go and pick it up for me..... and I got it from them on my next trip out there. I think after a few years it might be too late though. I'm surprised the hotel management didn't call you if they found it..... but it might not have been turned in. I was lucky.

I'm sorry you lost something of value, but I cannot imagine anything that would prevent me from following up for "a few years."

Thank you all for your responses and stories that relate. Many of you have given me new angles to consider.

To those who acknowledged my inexcusable actions of "waiting this long" (my personal reasons cited in my original post not withstanding) -- yes, I deserved the berating and should have acted sooner.

To those that simply addressed my issue and helped me think it through, I thank you as well.

As maire_cate put it, I have nothing to lose; if my items turn up I will be shouting it from the rooftop.

A heartfelt thank you to you all. I appreciate the time you took to respond to my dilemma.

Most hotels have policy place have tag each item date found, room# contents if it wallet, purse, ring, valuable policy was call housekeeping supervior as soon find any valuables this for five star resort hotel then from there supervisor would then look guest portfolio try determine who stayed in that room last.

Know think with so many people traveling from airports then book hotel room leave luggage, valuables housekeeping supervisor/front desk will ship item back guest insured via u.p.s. with confirmation number.

I once left my prescriptions and makeup in a hotel in Deadwood. I called them when we got home and they mailed it to me for nothing.

Another time we were in Michigan and had stayed at a casino hotel. I left my Camera there. I called them the next day and they told me I had to send a postage paid addressed envelope to them and they sent my camera back to me.

This was within a few days though in cheaper motels.

Wow! I have a similar story about my wedding ring and a bracelet. I never called the Hotel because I wasn't sure if I'd misplaced at home. It has never been found and I thought If the Hotel personnel was honest, I would have gotten a phone call. It has been 2 yrs and can't get it out of my mind. That ring I was going to pass on to my son.

Andrea -- I am here to tell you not to give up! Today, I found my rings! I honestly could not fathom that I had left them behind in a hotel, but concluded I must have since I had turned my house upside-down looking for them, several times, for many years. They were/are kept in a small wooded box which had fallen behind heavy office furniture. I am SO relieved - eight years later. So there's still hope for you too!

I just experienced this a week ago. I called the hotel (front desk) the day after I left, who checked with housekeeping, and the housekeeper had turned in my bracelet that I left behind!!! They then turned it in to security, as housekeeping does not have a safe. Security mailed it to me, at my expense.