Leave third-party booking sites in the dust
Forget third-party platforms like Booking.com or Hotels.com – try booking with the hotel directly!
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Most hotels are more than happy to offer the best deals to guests who book with them directly so they don’t have to pay these booking sites a commission.
Don't be shy, let the hotel know about special occasions
Whether it’s your birthday, graduation, honeymoon, or wedding anniversary, be sure to let the hotel know all about it! Write a note in the comments box when booking online, or mention it if you’re making a reservation over the phone.
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Chances are, you’ll get a free room upgrade, or they’ll give you a special gift like a bottle of champagne. After all, the hotel would want nothing more than to make your stay extra memorable so you will talk to your friends and family about it!
Leave no toiletries behind
The hotel’s towels and bathrobes may not be yours for the taking, but those tiny soaps and bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hand cream, and lotion certainly are! Don’t hesitate to take as many as you can – you already paid for them, even if they don’t show up on your bill.
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Even if you don’t use them right away, they will surely come in handy for camping trips, sleepovers, or long plane rides. You can also place them in little bags to donate to the homeless.
Keep the light out after a long flight
If you’re feeling jet-lagged, you might find yourself dozing off in the middle of the day. However, no matter how exhausted you are, catching up on sleep may be a challenge if your hotel room has those curtains that always seem to leave a gap in the middle.
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To remedy this, grab a few hangers from the closet and use the clamps at the bottom to keep the curtains tightly closed. You’ll never have to worry about unwanted light entering your room ever again!
Optimize your space
If you don’t have enough space in your room for all your personal items, check the closet for an ironing board. If there isn’t one, try asking the folks at the reception desk if they can have one sent to your room.
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Aside from using the ironing board as an extra shelf, you can also use it as a work desk or as a dining table. Just remember to cover the ironing board with a towel to avoid staining it!
Put the laundry bag to good use
Many hotels have a laundry service for their guests, which is why laundry bags are provided in each room. However, if you’re not planning to take advantage of your hotel’s laundry service, why not use the laundry bags for something else instead?
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You can use the laundry bag to separate dirty clothes from unused ones in your luggage. You can also use it to store snacks or act as a trash bag to keep your car clean during the long drive home.
Keep your shoes away from the rest of your things
Picture this: you’re in your hotel room packing your bags before catching your flight when, to your horror, you realize you don’t have anything to store your dirty pair of shoes in. It’s late at night, and all the shops are closed. What do you do?
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The answer is simple! Head into the bathroom and look for an unused shower cap. Simply wrap the shower cap around the soles of your shoes, toss your shoes into your luggage along with the rest of your stuff, and you’re good to go!
Wrap the remote control in plastic
With so many rooms to go through each day, there’s always the possibility that cleaners will cut corners. No matter how clean your room looks, there will always be certain areas and things that are covered in bacteria and germs.
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The remote control, for instance, is one item that rarely gets disinfected. Just think about how often you clean your remote control at home! To reduce your chances of getting sick, simply wrap the remote control in a clear plastic bag.
Child-proof your room with band-aids
Unfortunately, most hotel rooms aren’t designed with babies and small children in mind. If you’re traveling with your kids in tow, it might be a good idea to pack some band-aids in your luggage so you can use them to child-proof your hotel room!
Photo Courtesy: msumuh/Pixabay
Use the band aids to cover any open electrical outlets to keep your children safe from electrocution. You can also use them to keep electrical wires or extension cords pinned down so that your kids won’t accidentally trip and injure themselves.
Use the heat from the toaster to defrost butter
Getting cold, hard butter served to you at breakfast can be frustrating. Trying to spread the butter will probably result in bread that’s torn, or a piece of toast with a large chunk of butter in the middle.
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If you want to keep this from happening, try putting the small packs of butter on top of the toaster while you’re warming up your bread. The heat from the toaster will help melt the butter and make it easier to spread.
Use the shower as a garment steamer
Trying to fit all your clothes into your suitcase will surely get them wrinkled. This can be especially annoying if you’re traveling for an important business meeting or if you’re attending a wedding and you want to look your best.
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If you want to get rid of those wrinkles, simply hang your clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. All that steam can help get rid of most (if not all) of those wrinkles in no time!
Placing An Empty Toilet Paper Roll or Red Cup Under The Toilet Seat
This simple hotel hack has been gaining popularity. We’ve all been in that situation when we realize too late that there’s no more toilet paper. With this hack, the last guest to use up the toilet paper can place the empty toll underneath the toilet seat.
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This will serve as a warning to others when they enter the bathroom to see the strange set up. It’s a sign to help them realize there’s no more toilet paper left, thus stopping them in their tracks. A red plastic cup can also serve as a bright colored warning.
Keep your toothbrush OFF the bathroom counter
You probably don’t lay your toothbrushes directly on your bathroom counter at home, so why would you even think of doing that in a hotel room? If you want to keep your toothbrush germ-free, consider this simple solution.
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Just flip a paper or plastic cup upside down, then poke a hole in the middle using the toothbrush handle to create a makeshift toothbrush holder. Now, you no longer have to worry about the toothbrush bristles touching the countertop.
Keep your wet swimsuits in ice bucket bags
If the hotel you’re staying in has a pool, then you’re probably going to use it at some point. Once it’s time to pack your bags, are you just going to stuff your wet swimsuits into your luggage and risk getting your other clothes wet?
Photo Courtesy: Stokpic/Pixabay
If you want your clothes (and other personal items) to stay dry, take the plastic bag in the ice bucket and toss your wet swimsuits inside. Make sure that the top of the bag is properly tied before placing it in your luggage.
Don't let your phone die
If you left your phone charger at home, there’s no need to panic! If you have your phone’s USB cable with you, just plug it into the USB port of your hotel room’s TV. Most smart TVs these days have one!
Photo Courtesy: StockSnap/Pixabay
If this isn’t an option, try dropping by the front desk to ask if they can lend you a charger. They most likely have a bunch of chargers in the lost and found that you can borrow.
Stay cool! Redirect the air coming from the A/C unit
If your hotel room’s air conditioning unit is positioned too close to the bed and you’d rather not have a stream of cold air blowing directly on your body or face while you sleep, try moving some furniture around.
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If your room has a sturdy chair, try placing it right in front of the A/C vent to redirect the flow of air. You can also do this using other objects like a couch, an ironing board, or a piece of luggage.
Block out light and noise with a towel
Some hotel rooms have a huge gap under the door, allowing light from the hallway to enter the room. This can be annoying if you’ve had a long day and all you want is to get a good night’s sleep.
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To block out the light, take one of the used bath towels in the bathroom and place it under the door. Depending on how thick the towel is, this can also be a good way to muffle the noise coming from outside.
Keep the room humidified using a wet towel
If the air in your hotel room feels a bit dry and you don’t have a humidifier, try using your room’s air conditioning unit instead. All you need is a wet towel and something to hold it in place, like a luggage rack.
Just drape the towel over the luggage rack and place it near the A/C unit. If you want to keep your room properly humidified through the night, just keep one end of the towel soaked in a bucket of water.
Keep your phone within reach
Not all hotel rooms have a bedside table on either side of the bed. If you want to keep your phone, glasses, wallet, or other personal items right next to you while you sleep, then you’ll love this simple hack!
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All you need to do is to untuck the top end of your bed sheet and rewrap it to create a horizontal pocket. Now you have a nice little storage space to keep everything you need within your reach.
Use the kettle for some disinfecting
If you intend to use the mugs, glasses, spoons, and forks in your hotel room, it would probably be a good idea to disinfect them first. Just boil some water using the kettle and use the boiling water to wash them.
Photo Courtesy: davidlee770924/Pixabay
If you’re really super paranoid about germs and want to go the extra mile to get rid of them, just head on over to a nearby supermarket or convenience store and grab a travel-sized bottle of dishwashing liquid and a sponge.
Keep food and drinks cool with a makeshift cooler
If your room doesn’t have a fridge or if you’ve run out of fridge space, you can still keep your food and drinks cool with the help of a makeshift cooler! All you need is some ice – lots of it – and your sink!
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Just fill your sink with ice from the hotel’s ice machine or a nearby convenience store and carefully place your food and drinks on top of the ice. This will keep them nice and cool for several hours.
Use a mug as a makeshift speaker
Packing light is a must for any traveler. This means leaving your bulky Bluetooth speakers behind! If you want to play some music while you unwind in your hotel room, here’s one cool hack that you can try out.
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Simply get a mug or bowl and place your phone inside it. While you can’t expect the same sound quality as a high-end Bluetooth speaker, the sounds will surely be louder! Just don’t play the music too loud to avoid disturbing the other guests.
Connect your laptop to the TV
When you’re visiting a foreign country and don’t speak the local language, the chances of finding anything good to watch on TV in your hotel room are pretty slim. If your room has WiFi and a smart TV, why not stream your entertainment through your phone or laptop instead?
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Just plug in a Chromecast device (or something similar) and watch a movie or TV show from whatever streaming service you’re subscribed to. You can also connect your laptop to the TV using an HDMI cable.
Make yourself a snack with the help of an iron
Most hotel rooms don’t have a microwave or stove, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a late-night snack! If you’re craving a grilled cheese sandwich, you can easily make one in your room – all you need is an iron and some aluminum foil!
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First, prepare the sandwich as usual and wrap it in aluminum foil. Then, press the hot iron against either side of the sandwich. This should be ready to eat in a matter of minutes!
Solve your pillow issues with some towels
Have you ever been in a situation where one pillow in your hotel room is too soft, and the other one is too low? If this happens to you, consider this easy fix.
Photo Courtesy: Smylers/Flickr
If your pillow is too low, take a few towels from the bathroom and place them underneath the pillow. Add more towels if necessary. As for those extra-fluffy pillows, fold a towel and stuff it inside the pillowcase – this should help add a bit more firmness to your pillow.
Use duct tape to cover bright lights
Falling asleep when you’re in a new environment can be tough, which is why it’s important to minimize distractions. But what do you do if the blinking lights from the smoke detector and other electronic devices in your room are keeping you awake?
Photo Courtesy: @Crooked50/Twitter
The answer is simple – grab some duct tape or electrical tape and use it to cover those pesky blinking lights. These can easily be removed the next day after you’ve enjoyed a good night’s sleep.
Plug your drain with a plastic bag and some coins
Have you ever looked forward to a nice bath in your hotel room after a long day, only to realize that the bathtub drain plug is broken or missing? If you ever find yourself in this situation again, there’s no need to despair!
Photo Courtesy: Facts Verse/YouTube
First, grab a plastic bag and some coins. Next, place the plastic bag over the drain then drop a few coins inside to hold the bag in place. Finally, start filling the tub with water. Now, enjoy your bath!
Use a matchbook to file your nails
Most hotels no longer allow smoking on their premises. However, some hotels still give out matchbooks as a souvenir. Other hotels also sell these at their gift shop. If your nails require a quick touch-up but you forgot to bring a nail file, use the hotel matchbook instead.
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Here’s a fun fact: a matchbook striking surface is mostly made of the same material as a typical nail file, so this should be perfectly safe to use on your nails!
Make a facial scrub with sugar and lotion
Give yourself a DIY facial treatment without spending a fortune! All you need is a packet of sugar and a bottle of lotion, both of which are readily available in most hotel rooms.
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Simply open the packet of sugar and empty the contents into the bottle of lotion to make a facial scrub. Gently apply the mixture to your face, leave it on for several minutes, then rinse. This should help make your skin feel nice and smooth in an instant.
Stash your cash in unlikely places
Your hotel room is supposed to be your home away from home. However, unlike your actual home, other people – like hotel staff – can easily access your room. If you have some extra cash lying around, remember to hide it before you leave your room.
Photo Courtesy: 5-Minute Crafts/YouTube
If your room doesn’t have a safe, you can hide your money in your hairbrush. Just peel the rubber portion of a flat hairbrush then place your cash underneath. Put the rubber part back into position, then keep your brush in your suitcase.
Hack your room’s key card system
To reduce electricity costs, most hotels these days use a key card system. Your room will most likely have a slot on the wall where you’ll need to place your key card to activate the power in the room.
Photo Courtesy: JohnDragonMan/YouTube
If you need to charge your phone while you’re at the pool, just replace the key card with a business card or loyalty card and the power should stay on. This may not work in all hotels, but it’s worth a try!
Keep the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door
If you don’t want people to enter your room and do some housekeeping while you’re away, just leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. Hotel staff will see this sign and stay away from your room even if you’re not actually there.
Photo Courtesy: bardzofajnynet/Flickr
Leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign at the door can also keep away thieves who might try to break into your room while you’re away. Consider doing this if you’re checked into a hotel with rooms that have doors on the outside of the building.
Place An Empty Glass on Your Door Handle
This tip is used to protect you, especially when you are staying in a hotel or Airbnb and are concerned about the security of the area. If you’re fearful of intruders that could potentially put your life in danger, before going to bed, lock your door and put an empty drinking glass on the inside handle.
YouTube/ Bright Side
This way, if an intruder jiggles the handle and enters your room, the glass will fall and break. The sound of the breaking glass acts as an alarm system for yourself to alert you that someone has entered the room. It may serve as an alarm for the culprit as well. The noise may scare them away or perhaps they’ll immediately step onto the broken glass within the room, giving you more time to act.
Make delicious meals with a kettle
Eating out all the time when you’re traveling on a limited budget might not be such a good idea. If you want to save money, you can easily whip up delicious meals in your room – all you need is a kettle, some water, and a little bit of creativity.
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Aside from using it to boil water to make instant ramen or oatmeal, you can also use the kettle to boil some corn or hotdogs. You can even chop up some veggies and make soup!
Forget room service
It may be tempting to just order room service at the end of an exhausting day, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want the convenience of having a plate of chicken fingers and fries sent to your room.
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If you want to pay less for that same meal, get yourself out of bed and go down to the restaurant to eat. You can also order it to go instead if you’d rather enjoy your meal in the privacy of your room.
Save some food for later
If you have a long car ride ahead of you, it may be a good idea to save some food from the breakfast buffet for later. Try getting a few slices of toast or some packets of peanut butter and jelly in case anyone wants a sandwich.
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If you want something healthier instead, get some fruit like bananas or apples. You can also pick up some packs of yogurt for the fridge – just don’t forget to bring disposable spoons.
Score some freebies at the gym
Even if you don’t intend to work out at the hotel gym, you might want to check it out anyway – hotels usually provide guests using the gym with all sorts of freebies which might come in handy later.
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If the gym offers free water from a dispenser, for instance, be sure to fill up your water bottles before you check out. If they have complimentary bottles of water, go ahead and take a few. This will help you save money as you won’t need to buy some water while you’re on your way home.
Put Luggage In The Bathtub Upon Arrival
Once you enter your hotel room, it may be a good idea to put your luggage immediately in the bathtub or at the very least leave your belongings in the hallway. Why is this odd luggage placement an important hack? Basically, it can save you and your belongings from bed bugs!
Source: Snopes.com
Although the chances of hotels having a bedbug infestation are relatively low, if you’re worried you can temporarily place your luggage safely in the bathtub as you search the bed, mattress, and box spring for bed bugs. Once your search is complete, move your luggage to a luggage rack. Placing your bags on the bed or hotel floor can be dangerous since if bed bugs are present, they may crawl into your luggage and cause an infestation when you return home from your travels.
Keep A Bread Clip in Your Wallet
Often times traveling and vacation time equates to days spent lounging on the beach. When soaking up the sun on your beach day, flip-flops may be your footwear of choice. They are cheap yet versatile shoes and perfect for sandy shores.
Nick Wharton
The only problem is that sometimes our beloved sandals choose the worst time to break. If you’ve often found yourself in this situation, it’s time to consider carrying a bread clip with you in your wallet. If such a situation occurs whether you’re at the beach, at the airport, or elsewhere, simply use your handy bread clip to save your flip-flops.
Put A Cup Of Water Under The Bed
Traveling can be an exhausting and stressful experience. This new trend is a popular way to rid yourself of those travel woes. If you believe in energy levels and chakras, this hack may be for you!
Source: bezprob.ru
Some people believe that placing a cup of water with salt and vinegar under or by the bed can rid the room of negative energy by absorbing that negativity. Some even report that it helped them sleep better and feel more refreshed. It’s your choice whether or not to believe it, but at the very least trying out this hack can’t hurt!
Keep A Crayon In Your Wallet
This next hack comes with a few different purposes. If your wallet is prone to bending your cards or leaving them disorganized, adding a crayon to the bottom will act as a spacer to keep your cards straightened out. Secondly, if you’re traveling with kids, having a crayon wrapped in a piece of paper can be a simple way to keep them occupied on car rides, planes, or while waiting in restaurants
Source: facebook
The last reason has to do with emergency situations. If you need to write a note reliably, a crayon will always work. It’s not a marker or pen that may run out of ink or a pencil that may break and need sharpening. If you need to write a note whether on a parked car or something more serious like in a hostage situation, your crayon will work, and the color will make it stand out to others in case of an emergency.
Sprinkle Baking Soda on Your Hotel Bed
Hotel rooms are your convenient home away from home while traveling, but have you ever thought about how many other people have slept in that hotel room before you? While hotel staff do thoroughly clean each room, if you have any concerns about the room or bed’s cleanliness, a bit of baking soda wouldn’t hurt!
Melissa Maker/ Clean My Space
Baking soda is a great household trick when it comes to deodorizing spaces or absorbing moisture. If you’re concerned about how clean your hotel mattress is, simply sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for about an hour. This will give the baking soda time to shine as it absorbs moisture, odor, and mold particles. Now vacuum the baking soda up, and your hotel mattress will be clean and odorless!
Get rid of unsavory odors
Now let’s dive into some top packing and luggage tips to assist with your travels. Trekking in the countryside is known to be beneficial for the mind and body. It’s become popular as it allows you to get close to nature while exploring lesser-known paths.
Source: aboutamom.com
It won’t take long for your clothes to smell in a humid atmosphere, especially once you’ve changed and put used items in your bag. Simply pack a dryer sheet in your belongings so it can absorb odor while keeping everything fresh for longer.
Handle with Care
Most passengers travel with at least one thing that needs to be handled with care. If a delicate item is placed in luggage that isn’t marked fragile, it could be thrown around or damaged under the weight of other bags.
Source: Twitter
Mark luggage as fragile to keep the bag from being mishandled. Even if you don’t have breakable items in it, at least you won’t have to wait long at baggage claim as they see to it that these items are prioritized.
Use Unique Luggage or Tags
You want your bags to stand out. Airports are littered with black and silver luggage. Beyond a fashion statement, it will make the process of claiming your bag off the turnstile much easier. If you desire to find your bag more quickly, buy luggage that’s unique.
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Add a pop of color, design, or pattern. Bright colors, like yellow or red, are easy to spot. Or, personalize a common-colored bag with bumper stickers and decals. At the very least, get a luggage tag that will be easily identifiable.
Pack Tennis Balls in Your Carry-on Luggage
If you’re preparing for a long flight, you may want to pack a tennis ball or two in your carry-on. Why a tennis ball you ask? Well, this compact, everyday object is easy to fit in your luggage, it will get past TSA without an issue, and it will serve as a makeshift massager for long flights.
Source: facebook
That’s right, rolling a tennis ball along your body on longer flights will help stimulate blood flow throughout the trip and help prevent blood clots. Sitting down for hours on a flight at high altitudes has been known to cause blood clotting. That’s why it’s often advised to get up, walk around, and stretch your legs once in a while. However, with a simple tennis ball, you can also get your blood circulating by massaging it along your arms and legs. Doing so may even save your life!
Stay Fresh
It might be challenging to stay fresh all throughout a long flight, road trip, or throughout your travels. If you’re going for the whole gamut, the longest non-stop trip could last around 18 hours.
Source: aol.com
Staying fresh and comfortable is key in a situation where you’re practically tied to a chair for so long. Change your clothes, bring extra underwear, freshen up, and avoid drinking liquids other than water. You wouldn’t want to wake up the next morning smelling like yesterday.
Spotting An Abandoned Phone Charger
When you first arrive to your hotel room, you’ll want to do a decent inspection of your temporary living quarters. Not only do you want to search for cleanliness and make sure bed bugs aren’t infesting, but you should also be alert to any out of the ordinary objects.
Bright Side/ Youtube
If you spot a phone charger left in the room, you’ll want to report the issue immediately. Items like this may seem ordinary, but they can also be hidden cameras infringing on your privacy. To check for other cameras, use your smartphone’s flashlight to scan your room in the dark and see if any objects reflect the light to identify possible camera lenses.
Check The Restrooms
Whether it’s the bathroom in your hotel room, the public restroom in the hotel lobby, or any restroom you use while traveling, be aware of your surroundings. If you spot an unusual coat hook in any restroom you enter, you should leave immediately and alert security or the proper authorities.
Bright Side/ Youtube
Strange or out of place coat hooks have recently been used to hide small camera inside. These devices can record or take photos in a setting that you thought was private. So, stay alert and be on the lookout in new locations. Oftentimes these devices will have two hooks instead of one.
Make Sure You Have Some Pockets
Hands-free may be required at any given time. Throughout the check-in process, you may need to use one or both of your hands. You’ll also be passing off your luggage too, so the amount you can carry is limited. Having pockets is incredibly valuable when traveling.
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Dress appropriately by wearing pants or a jacket that has pockets. Therefore, you’ll have a place to put your keys, wallet, phone, passport, or any other essentials.
Download Some Entertainment Ahead of Time
Prepare for “airplane mode” by downloading movies and TV shows beforehand via a streaming app. This way, you can binge content without tearing through your data or being reliant on a WiFi connection. If you get motion sickness from watching a screen, try downloading some music, podcasts, or audiobooks instead to pass the time.
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Remember that the amount of content you can stock up on requires hard drive space. Plan for unexpected delays by deleting older entertainment that you’ve already watched or listened to.
Don't get left in the lurch
Mobile phones are now a constant companion, especially for travelers who need to contact distant friends and family. In a new city, finding your way around via the many useful apps and maps your phone has can be a lifesaver.
Source: elibs.info
Phones have become indispensable, so it makes sense to bring a portable power source to ensure your lifesaving device never dies. Choose one that’s light and sleek to bring along during long flights.
Exercise Before You Travel
Long hours in a car or on a plane can be brutal. Sitting for extended periods of time can be even worse. This is especially true if you are accustomed to getting lots of physical activity each day. That’s why you should workout before you depart.
Source: envato.com
Tire yourself out. Hitting the gym or going for a run can burn off any extra energy. You may even fall asleep on the flight faster. But exercise affects your mood too. Working out boosts endorphins, which will help keep your mood upbeat and positive during the stressors of travel.
Meet New Friends
Traveling in the company of old friends is hard to organize in a real-world setting. It can be hard to agree on a given date, and money could be an issue, among many other things. Still, it’s nice to have somebody to share your adventures with.
Source: Twitter/ @policybazaar
Thankfully, apps like Backpack and Travel Buddies allow you to meet other travelers for these exact reasons. You can chat, meet up, and travel together if you wish. At the very least, you can swap travel hacks and advice.
Navigating the Easy Way
When out and about on an adventure, it is a good idea to use a map to familiarize yourself in advance. Wireless connections are not always guaranteed in all areas, and your network operator might have roaming connectivity issues in the location to which you’re heading.
Source: Facebook
Download the map when you have the chance for a quick study. That way, if Google Maps can’t be accessed when in the field, your offline version can be pulled out, allowing you to navigate to wherever you want to go.
Spontaneity Is Key
A long flight or trip to a new city or country can be an escape from everyday life for those who are tired of uniformity. It is symbolic of a new start and a brand new outlook that is exciting and spontaneous.
Source: facebook
There’s magic in knowing you’re going places unplanned, without the typical restraints. Enjoy a trip without an itinerary and see where each day takes you. You may be surprised at how relaxing and enlightening such an adventure can be.
Blend in with the Locals
Instead of going out to popular tourist spots for selfies, delve in and meet the locals. It can be a fascinating experience to gradually learn a new language and be immersed in customs and traditions other than your own.
Source: Club La Costa World
Party with a Local is an app that allows you to get to know the locals, and of course, party with them. It also gives updated suggestions on where to hang out when you’re in the area.
Touring and Backpacking
To go on a tour or backpacking excursion requires more detailed planning. Otherwise, the journey could quickly become costly and time-consuming, which defeats the purpose of attempting to become the pro-traveler all backpackers are perceived to be.
Source: REI
You don’t have to unload your bag at every hostel you visit for a quick stay. Only take out what is needed, and plan what those items will be. Place them in easy reach in your bag to save time getting prepared for the next adventure.
Independent Tour
Finding a dependable tour guide can be tricky, especially for a first-timer in an unfamiliar region. If you’re traveling solo, any tour you take could be priced as a one-on-one, making it many times more expensive than regular group tours. It’s even more challenging when traveling off-season.
Source: Techexplorist.com
With this in mind, it might be best to be your own tour guide. If you haven’t done this before, now is as good a time as any. Use the Google Goggles app to take pictures of landmarks and other beautiful locations, and the app will send you interesting facts about them.
Join a Loyalty Program
Score better deals by joining a hotel loyalty program. Most major hotel chains have one and most are free to join. Hotels typically offer a wide range of benefits for loyalty program members who book directly, such as free night stays, room upgrades, or complimentary meals.
Plus, you are able to transfer hotel points to your travel partner if you have some small number of points you probably won’t use.
Get Lounge Access
Save money on food and drinks with your hotel’s club lounge! Naturally, hotel club lounges vary in size and quality, but at the very least they typically provide free snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
To get into a hotel club lounge, book a room that includes lounge access is one way, another is to continue booking at one hotel and earn points until you reach elite level status.
Get a Digital Room Key
When you check into your hotel, don’t forget to add your room’s digital key. To do so, download the hotel’s mobile app.
Hyatt
This serves two purposes, one being you can access your room, another is that you’ll never forget your room number.
Request an Extra Room Key
If you are not the digital type and prefer to keep physical objects instead, this simple trick is for you. If you are staying in a hotel that requires that you have a key card inserted while charging your electronics, this will allow you to do so while out of the room.
This is especially useful if you’re traveling solo, as you don’t have to worry about losing a card.
Don’t Unpack Your Suitcase on the Bed
When you first arrive at your hotel room, avoid the temptation to throw your suitcase on the bed and start unpacking. Do not do this! This suitcase has been dragged all over the airport, and presumably it is not its first rodeo.
Instead of putting your dirty suitcases on the bed use a luggage rack to prop up and unpack. You can find these in your hotel room closet.
Create a Toddler-Friendly Bed
If you are traveling with your children this hack is for you! If your hotel room has a small couch or loveseat, simply turn the open face towards the wall and you have instant guard rails for your little one.
The armrests create a barrier, and are usually quite tall, so you’ve basically made a super convenient crib.
Bring Hanging Toiletry Bags
To save bathroom space (most especially if you are traveling with someone else) pack your toiletries in a hanging toiletry bag. This will keep your bathroom essentials organized.
Most hotels have a hook or a towel bar that you are able to hang your toiletry bag on.
Get Adjoining Rooms
If you are traveling with a large family, you’ll likely need to book more than one room. In that case, adjoining rooms may be preferential to two rooms that aren’t connected.
Most hotels allow you to request adjoining rooms. This will make your stay have a feeling of connectedness while still allowing space.
Pack Your Own Coffee or Tea-Making Equipment
If you’re a caffeine lover, it is a good idea to pack your tea or coffee along with you on your next trip. Many hotels have tea and coffee makers in the rooms, along with a few paper cups and two or so packets of tea or coffee.
Rather than spending time requesting the front desk offer you coffee every morning, come prepared and start your day off right.
Raid the Minibar Without Paying Over the Top Prices
If you want to raid the minibar for snacks and drinks but are not interested in paying the insane upcharge that hotels usually charge, we’ve got a solution for you.
Simply take photos of the mini-fridge contents before you eat or drink anything and replace it with the exact same products the next morning before you check out.