These Hotel Hacks Will Make Your Travels Infinitely More Convenient

Lifestyles

Americans love traveling and whether it’s for business or pleasure, it usually means that you’re going to end up staying in a hotel. Although sometimes staying in a hotel can be fun (room service? yes please!), they have a tendency to make your life more difficult and can be an anxiety-inducer.

Think of all the worries that run through your mind when staying in a hotel. Is it clean? Does it have everything you need? For those who worry easily, fear not: this list of “hotel hacks” will help you get by to make your stay that much more pleasant.

Keep That Light Out

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While hotel blinds are great for privacy and keeping some of the sun out in the morning, rarely is it fully dark in the room before you’re ready to open the blinds and see the sun. There is almost always a small (frustrating) gap between the blinds that will allow a sliver of light in the room.

A simple and easy solution to this problem is to use a few of the hangers provided and utilize the clips to hold the shades together. It might not look pretty, but it works.

You Don’t Need To Pay To Have Your Clothes Washed

PinterestWhen staying at a hotel, doing your laundry can be an all-around nightmare. Basically, your choices are to pay a ridiculous price to have the hotel do it and possibly lose some of your clothing, or you can go spend a few hours in a laundromat.
Neither sound very appealing but there is a third option: you can wash your clothes in your room’s sink! Put a plastic bag over the drain and begin to weight it down with coins so the water can fill up the sink. Wash away!

Sleep More Soundly

PinterestIf you are staying in a hotel, you have to accept the fact that you’re sharing a building with other people. While often time people are respectful of others, it might not always be as quiet or peaceful as you might like it.
So, one easy trick to block out some of the noise from that group of 8-year-old boys in town for a hockey tournament, and even make it darker in your room, is to place a bath towel at the bottom of your hotel door. This will help to muffle sounds and eliminate any distracting movements or light.

Make Sure Your Toothbrush Stays Nice And Clean

Sure, you could go out and buy a toothbrush travel container. But let’s be honest, after a few uses, they start to get pretty grimy on the inside and the side of the sink starts to look more and more appetizing.

However, by using clothing clips, you can eliminate this problem. Just lay the neck of your toothbrush in between the clips and let it rest elevated above the surface its on. This is a cheap, simple, and effective way to keep your toothbrush and mouth clean.

Forgot A Speaker?

In a scenario where you’re getting ready or having people over and you want to listen to music but don’t have a speaker, don’t despair. Although the volume from just your phone might not provide ample sound, if you put it into an empty cup with the speaker facing down it amplifies the sound greatly.

This also comes in handy if you’re staying up late and still want music without disturbing your neighbors. This is also great because you can do it just about anywhere.

Coming up, how a coin and some plastic wrap in the bathroom sink can do wonders

Don’t Forget About The Free Conditioner

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The majority of hotel rooms come packed with lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. They always have their own specially decorated bottles as well. We advise you not to take the conditioner for granted because it can be helpful.

Many people don’t even open it, but did you know all the ways conditioner can get used? Ladies can use it as a makeup remover if you forgot yours, it works as a shaving cream and cuticle cream as well. They’re sitting there just waiting for the taking.

Don’t Pay For Internet

If you happen to be staying at a hotel that charges you to use the Internet, there’s a trick you can pull from your sleeve to make sure you’re not paying any more than you need to. For most smartphones, you can have the option of using your phone as your own personal Internet hotspot.

This may take a bit of planning and communication with your provider, but it will pay off in the long run when you don’t have Internet bills to pay!

Make Sharing A Bed Easy

If you’re traveling with kids or bunking with your not-so-favorite cousin, and you don’t want to pay more for an extra room or a pull-out couch, worry no more. A simple solution is to make separate sleeping areas in the same bed.

All you have to do is ask for more pillows and blankets than you’ve most likely been provided and construct two different areas on the same bed. This way, each person has their own space!

Use The Shower To De-Wrinkle

Something that is almost impossible to avoid while traveling is wrinkled clothes. Unless you’re some kind of magician, chances are that you’ve arrived at your hotel only to realize that many of your clothes are wrinkled.

Well, instead of packing an iron with you or having to request one from the hotel staff, there’s a simple trick. Simply use a hangar from the room and hang up your wrinkled clothes in the bathroom while you shower. The hot steam will help to remove the wrinkles.

Coming up, how a coin and plastic wrap can do a genius task for you in a hotel

A Dining Room Table Perfect For Unruly Kids

When feeding your kids both at home or in a hotel room, chances are you don’t want them sitting on a bed with a plate full of food or on the dirty ground either. Without the convenience of the dining table in a hotel room, it puts you in an interesting position.

Well something that works and your kids might even find fun is setting up an ironing board at the edge of the bed using towels as a tablecloth. Now, the kids have somewhere safe and clean to eat.

Too Hot In Your Room?

We’ve all had that experience when a hotel room can’t seem to get as cool as you want it to be. While some people might just suck it up and be miserable the entire time during their stay, it doesn’t always have to be that way.

All you need is a damp towel and either a window or an air conditioning unit. Dampen a towel, and then place it near an open window or by the air conditioning unit. The water will be cooled by the air and pump cool air into the room.

Don’t Forget About The Coffee Machine!

Yes, the coffee machine is best used to cook up that much-needed cup of Joe in the morning, but it can be used for even more than just that. If you’re in the mood for a snack or maybe just in a hurry, you can use the coffee pot and the hot water to whip up a quick instant meal.

You can use hot water for just about any instant meal such as ramen, oatmeal, or anything else you have on hand.

Use Technology To Your Advantage

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It’s known that if you want to watch something outside of the cable that your hotel provides it’s going to cost you, usually more than the movie is worth. So, if you know that you like to watch movies at night or have kids that want to watch their favorite shows, don’t waste your money buying it from the hotel.

If you have one, bring something like Chromecast or Roku to the hotel and hook it up. Or bring a laptop and HDMI cable to watch movies on the TV from your laptop.

How To Keep Your Kids Busy!

While this tip might come off as a little odd, it really works! If you’re traveling with young children who enjoy playing with their toys, make sure to keep a roll of painter’s tape on-hand. Why you may ask?

Well, if you’re stuck in your hotel room for an extended period of time, create lines for them to follow with their favorite toys or watch them as they tape their own creations! It’s painter’s tape, so it will come off no problem!

Think Outside The Outlet

If you’re staying in a room with more than just yourself, sometimes, outlets can be in short supply. Everyone always has a device that they want to have charged either after coming home or before heading out.

Luckily, there are some secret spots in hotel rooms that most people think about. One of them is the USB port that usually can be found in the back of most hotel room TVs. Now you can charge your phone with no hassle!

Use Chrome’s Incognito

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If you’re looking on traveling out of the country, then this trick is something you need try out. Due to sites keeping track of their visitor history through cookies and other targeting methods, the Google Chrome Incognito setting is a big help.

What you do is open the hotel’s site with your regular browser, then you open up the site for the country you plan on visiting through incognito. Often times, you can find cheaper rates on the foreign site.

Put Those Shower Caps To Good Use

Whether or not you used the shower cap provided, they can still be put to good use when you’re packing to leave. If you brought more than one pair of shoes, chances are you don’t want to smash them beneath all of your clothes or put the dirty shoes on top of your clothes either.

So, put them inside of the shower cap and protect your clothes from all of the dirt and grime that the soles might have accumulated.

Don’t Be Overwhelmed By Dirty Diaper

It’s no secret that if you’re traveling with a young child, diapers can pile up quickly, especially if you’re stuck in a hotel room. It’s not exactly realistic to take the elevator down to throw away a dirty diaper in the dumpster every time you change your diaper, so you have to make do with what you have!

You can always ask the hotel for a larger plastic trashcan so that you can create a makeshift dirty diaper container, just like the one you have at home!

Baby Changing Time!

If you have a child that still needs to be changed regularly, it’s something that you just can’t avoid. Since there isn’t much space in a hotel room, and maybe you don’t want to do it on your bed, you can always just use the desk which can be found in even the most basic of hotel rooms.

Assuming that you already have a changing pad, all you have to do is put it on the surface, that is if you’re not using it.

Cook Your Own Meals

One of the hardest parts of staying in a hotel is eating. For the most part you don’t have much of a choice and it’s usually between ordering room service or going and buying food from somewhere else.

If you’re on a diet or just trying to save money, this can be a big issue. So, if you put a planning and effort into it, you can usually whip up something that is healthier and cheaper than most hotel or takeout food. Check out some recipes online for some help!

Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh

When traveling and staying in a hotel, your clothes become vulnerable to unwanted smells. Since you don’t exactly have a washing machine on hand, there is something you can do to solve this problem.

All you have to do is pack in a few loose fabric softener sheets into your suitcase along with your clothes. This will keep all of your clothes smelling nice and fresh. It will even help keep your shoes from stinking up your clothes too!

Offer To Write Up A Review

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If you are active in the community of Yelp or Trip Advisor, you have a sneaky advantage. Mention this information to the hotel manager and also suggest that you’ll write a review of your stay. If you’re a blogger, you can still offer a write up.

Don’t tell them that it’s going to be a positive review, because it might not be. Remember that being completely transparent that receive a discount is expected. Don’t be shy about your blog!

Book During The Right Time

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The key to booking for your next vacation is all about timing. This is as much of a hack as it is common sense. If you have your heart set on going somewhere exotic during the time of the year when it’s most attractive, be prepared to cough up serious cash.

This is why you need to plan during the off-season. You are bound to save big bucks when booking during the period right before or after the peak season.

Book Through The Hotel

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Yes, we know that there are tons of websites out there that promise huge savings if you book through them. However, these third-party websites don’t ensure that you get all of the discounts available.

If you call a hotel directly, your chances of getting “off the books” upgrades or deals shoot through the roof. All it takes is one phone call and your odds of saving rise dramatically. This works even better when booking during the off-season.

Join AAA

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Here’s a secret, AAA is one of the most useful organizations to be apart of when traveling. There are tons of hotels abroad and domestic that offer great discounts for AAA members. Being a member also gives you access to a special feature.

If you plan on driving while in another country, AAA can issue International Driving Permits. That makes things a whole lot easier to rent a car while abroad. It can also sub for your passport if you’re asked for identification.

Book Together

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If you do plan on booking your hotel or flight through a third-party provider, we offer you a huge tip in that regard. A lot of sites like Expedia and Kayak offer sensational discounts if you book your hotel and flight together.

There are a few catches. One being that you need to pay for everything in advance. The other catch is that cancellations or changes might be expensive. A loss of flexibility, but the savings are worth it.

Be A Negotiator

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This hack only applies to those who plan on taking an extended trip that lasts at least seven days. What you need to do is ask about discounted rates for your longer stay. You might be able to find deals online for these type of longer stays.

However, you are still more likely to get the discount if you contact the hotel directly (as we mentioned earlier). The only thing is you might have to pay in advance that isn’t a big deal if hotels let you do a weekly payment.

Get Payback

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The headline might sound a little violent, but not at all. This hack is simply about using your past experiences to your advantage. For example, was there no hot water your last stay at this hotel? If no, you can use that as leverage.

If they missed your wake-up call causing you to miss your flight, then feel free to post a firm complaint directly to the manager or the marketing department. This often results in vouchers or free upgrades for an upcoming stay!

Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Up

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Ask and you shall receive. That’s an old saying, but it applies wonderfully for this situation. Sometimes, the best way to receive some perks or even a completely different and better room is to be forward and ask!

If you aren’t that bold, an indirect way is to ask to see different rooms before you have to check-in. They might have had you in a room facing a brick wall, but you could switch to one with an amazing view for no charge at all if the hotel has it available.

Check The Aggregator Sites

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You would be clueless not to try this hack out. Just like you can check sites like Hopper and Kayak for different airfare prices, you should do the same with hotel prices before you book anywhere.

Comparing what different outlets have to offer can give you the most leverage ever. In some cases, you can call up the hotel directly and tell them you’ve found a great price and ask them if they will match what you discovered.