For years I was one of those who would never use a hotel soap. I'll bring my own travel size of Dove or Axe body wash to maintain that fresh from home body clean smell. But one day I forgot to refill my soap and was forced to use hotel soap. I was surprised at how luxurious and moisturizing the soap was to my skin. Not the old school ivory bar hotels used in years past. This change my look on hotel soap, and I've begun searching for the best in hotel soaps. Recently, I came across 3 different hotels in 3 days that led to the ultimate comparison:

Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, CA

Our first stop is Pechanga resort and Casino in Temecula. We stop off to spend the night before heading for our global entry interview in San Diego. If you haven't been to Pechanga, it's pretty much the largest casino in California, and I would say the largest casino in the western United States. The rooms are nicely appointed but what caught me, and started this article, were these Vanilla Bean scoops of ice cream posing as soap. It looks so delicious you almost want to eat it, and the half moon shape is actually great to shower with. Sense brand provides the soap is gentle, moisturizing, and lathers very well. The display of the soap garners points as well, with that little square China soapdish

Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, CA

The following night we stop off at the Hyatt Palm Springs in Palm Springs California. The Hyatt Palm Springs is one of those classic hotels that have been there forever, located on Palm Desert Drive, in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. The location alone garners points for its excitement aspect, central to several bars, pubs, restaurants, clubs and general fun time summer activities. The hotel is a little dated and so is it's presentation. The KenetMD branded offerings of 1 ounce toiletries, desert pastel color branding, and a small round bar soap does not scream Palm Springs lifestyle. And unfortunately it is a little dry on the moisturizing scale. But they do offer a liquid soap as backup, which is gentler on the skin. For this hotel, I would say bring your soap from home if you want to stay soft and supple in the desert heat.

The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV

After leaving Palm Springs we make it to Las Vegas for our Saturday night stay. The cosmopolitan is definitely Vegas baby Vegas! The hotel is hopping, the decor is top notch, and it's soap offering is extensive. But unfortunately, it is nothing over-the-top, in contrast to the hotel. The Bigelow branded offerings are simple yet effective, and the peppermint scent of the shower gel does have a soothing effect, in the shower. As for moisturizing, it ranks in the middle of the pack. But they do get an extra point for the fact that they do offer both bar and liquid soaps. They also offer a mouthwash. I know that has nothing to do with soap, but oh well.

And the winner: Pechanga! The Pechanga soap was so nice, both from decorative and from our moisturizing and lathering aspects, that not only did we take the remainder of the soap home, I also grabbed an extra bar when walking past the maid card on the way out. You did not just read that!