Following on from Yvonne's thread about ironing facilities in American hotels, I thought it was worth touching on the subject of kettles (as we Brits on tour tend to like a hot drink now and again).

From my experiences, both with JY and independently over the years, I would suggest to anyone planning their packing for forthcoming trips and wondering whether it is worth taking a travel kettle, these observations:

• North America - Hotels tend to have coffee machines rather than kettles so, if you are a tea drinker, you may want to take a travel kettle and your own supplies (personally I don't take tea as they also have creamer rather than milk, so I pack Hot Chocolate sachets). Also be aware that, if there is a filter coffee machine, the coffee sachets/pods may not be complimentary, as we would expect in the UK. Check your in room bar tariff first because I once made that mistake and ended up paying $7 for a coffee sachet that I had innocently used! 

• China - All the JY hotels have kettles and complimentary bottled water (And, in some cases, complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste!)

• UK/ Eire - Usually a kettle and at least one tea bag/coffee sachet plus UHT.

• Europe - very variable - best to pack what you want just to be on the safe side.

• South America and Australasia - I'm afraid I can't comment because they are both still on my JY 'To do list' but I'm sure there are other community friends who can give you an idea with those!

Finally, if you do pack a kettle - remember to take the appropriate adaptor plug and - don't forget to unplug it and put it back in your case before you leave the hotel.

Happy travels

Mandy (shortly heading for Alaska - kettle in hand 😃  )

Cindy

Jaya

Thanks for all your replies. Ultimately, it's all down to individual preference but I thought it was worth offering a few suggestions. Personally, I never pack anything that needs ironing, so wouldn't have a clue about hotel ironing facilities. As I have rather mad naturally curly hair which I have to let dry in it's own time and do what it wants, I also never use a hotel hairdryer (unless I urgently need to dry out wet socks etc). But when it comes to a hot drinks, I always come prepared :)

I was interested in your point about Health and Safety Jaya. I'd heard that before but the cynical side of me thinks that it may be a ruse to get people order expensive hot drinks from Room Service rather than bring their own! Some budget airlines also refuse to allow you to board carrying a drink but are quick to try and sell you one - amusing when you see the pilot arriving at the gate with his 'Starbucks' mug in hand! Another hotel ruse - now illegal in the UK I think, was to deploy electronic signal blockers so that mobile phones wouldn't work in your room, forcing you to use the hotel phone if you needed to make a call.

The bottom line, for me at least, is that I will always pack my trusty friend Russell (as in Hobbs...). I think the day that Hotels try to stop me or instigate bag searches when you check in, will be the day I hang up my travelling shoes!

All the best (and have an amazing time with the other Borneo-ettes, Jaya)

Mandy

You may be right about the ruse to get people to order expensive hot drinks from room service and using health and safety as an excuse. I hope you do not have to hang up your travelling shoes for a long time! I too do not worry about hairdryers as don't use them at home and would never worry about iron as well. As it is I am not too fond of ironing so would not want to do any whilst on holiday. Anyway a few creases here and there does not matter when you are on holiday!

You too enjoy your holiday.

Jaya