Anyone who loves to travel knows the constant dilemma of paying for a high-quality experience and then worrying whether you have enough cash to see more sights. Constantly searching for discount hotels and cheap hotel booking sites is a real thing we all do. Luckily, we have you covered! The following hotel hacks should help you get that high-end experience without shelling out a fortune.
Bring A Water Bottle With You
It is important to stay hydrated throughout the day, but many people tend to overlook this when they travel. If you are only bringing a carry-on bag, you may think that taking a water bottle isn’t worth the hassle. However, we highly recommend taking an empty water bottle with you. No, you do not have to drink from the sink! If your hotel is equipped with a fitness center, there is a good chance you will find a cooler in there. Refill it before you head out to do some sight-seeing!
Bring A Water Bottle With You
Humidity Is Not Always Bad
A lot of people like to talk badly about humidity, but there are times when you will look for it. This is especially true when you are spending a long period of time inside a climate-controlled space. It will start to feel dry since there is no moisture in the air. When you are staying in a hotel room, we recommend draping a damp towel over the suitcase rack. Then move it in front of the radiator to maintain a better amount of humidity in the air. This will prevent you from drying up like a raisin!
Humidity Is Not Always Bad
Makeshift Blackout Curtains
Are you having trouble getting some z’s because of all the city lights you can see from your room? This is likely because there are gaps in the curtains. There is something you can do about it. You do not need to bring with you to remedy this problem, just grab a pants hanger from the closet and then use its clips to keep the curtain closed. You are on vacation, so it is more important than ever for you to sleep well!
Makeshift Blackout Curtains
Catching Up On Your TV Shows
When you are traveling to a foreign country, you might not have any luck finding a television channel in the language you speak. This is unfortunate if you were planning to catch up on your shows while you were away. Did you know that you can do something about it without shelling out money for on-demand videos? Just get your laptop, access Netflix or another streaming site, and you are good to go. If you want the same experience as watching it on your television, just bring an HDMI cable to hook it up!
Catching Up On Your TV Shows
Make Your Very Own Phone Pocket
Sometimes you’ll stay at a hotel that does not come with a nightstand. Instead of giving up and keeping your stuff on the floor. Why not make a phone pocket using the fold of your sheets? We typically use fitted sheets for our beds, so this is something that you can only do when you are staying at a hotel. Nonetheless, it is convenient and easy to do if you are in a pinch!
Make Your Very Own Phone Pocket
Just Like Flowers
It is not unusual to go into a hotel room and find that it does not smell particularly good. Sometimes, it can smell downright nasty! There is an easy way to deal with the unfortunate smell. Are you the kind of person whose car never runs out of air fresheners? If so, you are in luck because you can just clip a car freshener to the vent of the air conditioning unit. When you get back after spending the day outside, expect your room to smell better than it did before.
Just Like Flowers
Shut Out The Noise
When you find yourself staying in a building with numerous other people, you might find that your hotel room is rarely as quiet as you want it to be. Sometimes, people are not considerate enough when you are about to hit the sack! If it is not possible to be transfered somewhere else, you can always handle the light or noise on your own. Just grab an extra towel, roll it up, and stick it into the crack in the door.
Shut Out The Noise
Book Directly With The Hotel
It is only natural for us to think that discount travel sites will give us the best deals. However, this is not always the case. Actually, you will usually get a better deal if you book through the hotel itself! Typically, host websites charge an extra fee, which is why you will get secret deals this way.
Book Directly With The Hotel
No Charger, No Problem
Can you think of a scarier travel horror story than accidentally leaving your phone charger at home? Whenever you find yourself in this situation, there is no need to panic. Simply go to the front desk and inquire if they happen to have a charger for your phone. There is a good chance they will say yes and let you borrow it!
No Charger No Problem
Make Your Own Chiller
It would be a mistake to assume that every single hotel room comes with a mini fridge for your drinks and food. However, this does not mean you should chuck your leftovers in the trash or suffer through lukewarm drinks. When you find yourself in this predicament, you can make a cooler by putting ice in the bathroom sink. Your beverage will grow cold in no time at all! Another great thing about this is that you do not need to worry about cleaning up afterward. After all, the water will simply go down the drain.
Make Your Own Chiller
Stay In And Eat
Certain hotels do not offer any cooking implements, which can take a toll on your budget. There is no need to resort to room service! When you are home, you likely get delivery whenever you are hungry and too tired to cook something up. If you are in a major city, there is a good chance that you can simply order from the restaurant you want! Although checking out the restaurants is part of traveling, there are times when you need to rest your feet from all the sight-seeing you accomplished earlier in the day!
Stay In And Eat
Turn The Desk Into A Diaper Station
If you have ever had a child or taken care of one, you are probably aware that you can turn just about any surface into a diaper-changing station. It is going to be difficult to wrestle a squirming child on the floor and change their diaper there. You will have a much easier time by making use of the desk inside your hotel room. The surface is pretty similar to that of a changing table.
Turn The Desk Into A Diaper Station
Cooling Down Without Complications
Nowadays, it is very easy to find a hotel that offers air conditioning. However, there are actually numerous areas in Europe where the older buildings do not offer amenities like this. When you are in the area and in staying in such a building, you might find yourself feeling a little too hot for comfort. Why not grab a wet towel, roll it up, and put it right beside a window? The breeze will then blow cooler air to where you are!
Cooling Down Without Complications
Warm The Butter
You can normally expect real butter to be available at hotel buffets, although there is one drawback. It is often served too cold, which means it is no longer spreadable. Instead of wasting your time as you wait for the butter to soften, you can simply toast your bread and place the packets atop the toaster. When the bread is ready, the butter will be too. Feel free to spread the buttery goodness on your toast and enjoy your breakfast!
Warm The Butter
Speakers Are Not The Only Way
It can be annoying to work with limited luggage space. Normally, you only have the space to bring the necessary items with you. This might mean leaving your speakers behind, although it might make for a dull trip! There is no need to fear, however, we recommend making a makeshift one. Use one of the mugs in your hotel room to amplify the sound. Trust us, you will not be able to tell the difference.
Speakers Are Not The Only Way
No Need For Room Service
We all know how nice it is to get room service, although you might be surprised when you see the bill. You can still eat inside your hotel room without using the overpriced service! Typically, you will find a coffee maker inside the room. Did you know that it can actually function as a hotpot? If you do not feel experimental, it is always possible to cook some instant noodles with it. With some creativity, you can cook up excellent meals without leaving the confines of your room.
No Need For Room Service
Keep The Lights On
Nowadays, most hotels will hand you a key card that you can then insert into a slot by the door. Not only will it open the door, you also have to leave it there to keep the electricity on. Instead of turning the power on and off every time you need to leave, simply ask for an extra card upon check in. If you forgot to do this, it is not the end of the world! You can actually use any card that fits.
Keep The Lights On
Always Ask The Front Desk
Great hotels often come with more free amenities than just soap. If you do not find them in the room, you can normally approach the front desk to ask for whatever toiletries you need. They generally offer basic appliances such as hair straighteners and dryers as well! There are even ones that come with gaming consoles for children and older adults who are kids-at-heart.
Always Ask The Front Desk
Hold On To The Caps
Let’s face it, we don’t normally use shower caps regularly. However, it is a good idea to take the ones in your hotel rooms for unexpected reasons. Aside from keeping your hair dry in the shower, you can also use it in lieu of plastic bags! If you want to store your dirty shoes inside your bag, you can simply wrap the pair in a shower cap. It will also work as a plastic cover for the TV remote if you are particular about germs.
Hold On To The Caps
Dine In Without A Mess
If you are traveling with children that need to eat before heading out, we have a suggestion that will make it much easier to prevent messes. Although you might not have the chair space to keep them seated at the desk, keep in mind that many hotel rooms have an ironing board. Simply set it up in front of the hotel bed and place a tower over it. This is one way to give the messy eaters a table of their own!
Dine In Without A Mess
Your ID And A $20 Bill
Although this is not exactly the most popular thing to do when cutting costs, you can bet that it works wonders. Whenever you check in to your hotel, you are normally asked to show a form of identification. According to various internet users, they will normally give you an upgrade if you slide the staff a $20 bill together with your passport. This is always going to end up as a win for you. The worst case scenario is that they return the money, while the best case scenario is that they upgrade your room! You have nothing to lose.
Your ID And A $20 Bill
Tell Them The Cause Of Celebration
When people travel, they normally do it for a special reason. It could be a honeymoon, a wedding, a bar mitzvah or a graduation. You should always let the hotel know if you are celebrating something! Not only will they give you their congratulations, but they will normally give you something free. Perhaps it will happen in the form of a discount or a room upgrade. Don’t be shy. Aside from this tip, it will also go a long way if you take the time to get to know the employees of the hotel.
Tell Them The Cause Of Celebration
Keep Your Toothbrushes Clean
Hotels do not normally give some special cup in which you can store your toothbrush. What a bummer. Although hotel rooms are usually cleaned, we are sure that there is always going to be bacteria festering on the surfaces. Are you ready to hear our tip? Keep your paper cup, cut out a hole in the bottom, and then place the toothbrush inside. This way, you will no longer have to worry that the bristles are touching the gross surface before you stick it into your mouth!
Keep Your Toothbrushes Clean
Complain But Do It Respectfully
Is it the last day of your stay and there is no hot water? Perhaps the front desk did not give you the wake-up call you requested, so you missed your return flight! If you are right, there is no need to worry about complaining. Just remember to be respectful, and the hotel manager will likely compensate for their mistakes. It would not be unreasonable to expect a discount or a voucher for a free stay the next time you come by.
Complain But Do It Respectfully
Check Out The Other Available Rooms
We completely understand if you are too timid to ask for an upgrade by “bribing” the people at the front desk. A subtler technique is to ask to see the other rooms. Hotels normally try to get the worst rooms occupied first, which makes perfect sense. It won’t hurt to ask since you might end up with a room that is equipped with a great view! Would you prefer looking out the window and seeing this view, or a dumpster?
Check Out The Other Available Rooms
Say Goodbye To The Fog
To everyone who shaves in the morning, this is one hack that you can also do when you’re at home. You know how you normally wait for the fog to clear? Normally, you wipe the mirror over and over with a towel, but why not rub a section of the mirror using a bar of soap? The next thing you have to do is buff the surface using a dry washcloth. The soap ensures that the condensation does not collect on the mirror. Do this every few days to cut down your grooming time in the morning!
Say Goodbye To The Fog
Multitasking With The Conditioner
The conditioner that most hotels provide for free will likely be as good as the ones that you will find in the supermarket. Make sure to use this knowledge to your advantage! We all know that it can help keep your hair smooth as silk, but did you know that it also works well as a make-up remover, cuticle cream, and shaving cream? It’s true. In a pinch, it is also possible to use it when handwashing delicate clothing and protecting any of your leather accessories.
Multitasking With The Conditioner
Keep Thieves Away
Do you find your hotel to be rather shady? Perhaps you accidentally got into a fight with the cleaning staff. Let us face it, there are times when people get robbed in their hotels. If you are afraid this will happen, simply hang the “do not disturb” sign on your door. Now you have no reason to worry that the cleaners will come in and take your belongings! Most people who see the sign will also assume that you are inside, so only the bravest thief will try to come in.
Keep Thieves Away
Check Out The Competition
We have another great hack for you when you are making your reservation! When given the choice, book a room for a refundable amount and then check out other accommodation in the area to compare prices. Although it is more expensive to use this method, it is always possible to cancel before you check in and receive the money you initially paid. If no one is offering a better rate, simply go back to the hotel and pay for the non-refundable quote. How brilliant is that?
Check Out The Competition
Hack The Breakfast Buffet
Have you ever noticed how hotel buffers normally offer much smaller cups for the juice machine than for the coffee machine? If you are a big juice drinker during breakfast, you will no longer need to come back again and again for refills. Simply get one of the larger cups for coffee and take it to the juice machine! Fill it to your heart’s desire and you are off to a good start to your day.
Hack The Breakfast Buffet
Split The Bed
We all know that traveling with your children can be a rewarding experience, but it can easily turn into a nightmare if you book a room that is too small for the family. You need to think long and hard when splitting up the little ones, but an extra cot might make the room even more cramped. We recommend using the extra pillows to make two sleeping spaces on the larger bed. It separates the kids and gives them breathing space!
Split The Bed
No Need For The Iron
There are hotel rooms that come equipped with irons, while you can sometimes ask the front desk for one. Unfortunately, this is not the case at all times. Some places ask guests for a significant fee to make their clothes appear presentable. You would not believe the hack we are about to tell you. You can actually straighten out your clothes by hanging them in the bathroom as you take a shower. The steam will release the wrinkles in your clothes!
No Need For The Iron
Thanks To The Television
When you travel to a foreign country, you might have overlooked the fact that the outlet there is different from the one you use at home. A situation like this one calls for a converter. Luckily, there are several ways to get around this problem if you forgot to buy one. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is plug your cord into the television’s USB port. As long as you are staying in a room with a modern TV set, you should be good to go!
Thanks To The Television
Washing Clothes In The Sink
If you are traveling with children, you will normally have to do laundry while you are away. We all know that hotels can charge hefty fees for laundry services. Unfortunately, it is not always an option to head to a laundromat outside. Nonetheless, there is an easy way to clean the clothes in the bathroom. If you are only washing several small items, you can use the sink! Just plug it with some plastic and put coins on top of it to avoid draining the water.
Washing Clothes In The Sink
Makeshift Clothes Dryer
Hotel laundry services can get quite pricey. Skip this altogether and save some money by hand-washing your garments in the sink and then drying them on the heated towel rack. Most hotel rooms have this awesome gadget, so if yours does, make use of it! Your clothes will be dry in a few hours!
Makeshift Clothes Dryer
Handy Door Prop
Nothing is more annoying than the heavy hotel room door shutting in your face while you’re trying to lug all of your luggage through the door. If you don’t see a door stop in place, get crafty and use a hanger. Simply slide the hanger so that it is in the right location, and attach it to the door!
Handy Door Prop
No More Spills
We’ve all experienced our toiletries leaking at some point or another…it’s only natural with the way our suitcases are thrown around at the airport! Take the plastic the hotel affixes over their glass cups, and put it to good use! Unscrew the cap of your bottle and put the plastic over the opening. Screw the cap back on and voila…say goodbye to spills and messes!
No More Spills
Handy Dandy Nail File
There’s nothing worse than uneven nails, but what do you do when you forget to bring a nail file along? It may sound a bit strange, but the back of a book of matches makes for a great replacement.
Handy Dandy Nail File
Mini Bar Treats For Less
Mini bars are not only visually appealing, but they get our taste buds excited as well! The only downfall of tasty treats and fizzy drinks at our fingertips is the high price tag. Simply go to a local convenience store and stock up on the exact same snacks…but for so much less!
Mini Bar Treats For Less
Child Proof Your Room In Seconds
Although some hotels do offer child-proofing if you call ahead, others don’t have this option. If that’s the case, don’t worry, just bring along some duct tape. You can easily tape down loose cords, cover outlets, and tape washcloths to sharp edges.
Child Proof Your Room In Seconds
DIY Spa Mask
If you didn’t have enough space to pack your favorite face mask or exfoliator, get creative. Sugar packets are most often next to the coffee machine in hotel rooms, grab one and the lotion they provide. Mix the two and you’ve got yourself a DIY spa treatment that’ll leave your skin feeling incredibly soft and hydrated!
DIY Spa Mask
Take Them With You
Most hotels provide guests with travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and mouthwash. They’re free and if you don’t use them all up, be sure to take them with you! They’ll come in super handy for your next trip, or even in your child’s camp backpack!
Take Them With You
The Later The Better
Checking in later in the day is always a good choice. Fewer guests come at this time, meaning shorter lines. Oh, and it’s less likely the hotel will book all of their best rooms, so they may be available for you!
The Later The Better
For The Little Ones
If your little ones are having difficulty reaching the bathroom sink, find an empty trash can and put it to good use. Simply flip it over and all of your problems are fixed. You won’t have to hoist them up every time they need to wash their hands or brush their teeth.
For The Little Ones
Book Together
If it’s possible, book your room and flight together. You will save money and will usually receive a nicer room. Many airlines and hotels also work together to offer customers the best of both worlds.
Book Together
Let The Hotel In On Your Anniversaries
If you’re traveling for a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, let the hotel know beforehand. They’ll often give you a free upgrade or they’ll put out complimentary champagne and sweets. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Let The Hotel In On Your Anniversaries
Incognito Browser
When searching for a room or flight, websites remember your IP address and often increases the price the more you visit the site. When booking, be sure to use the incognito setting on your browser. You should also do this when booking a hotel outside of the United States because the rates on the hotel’s foreign site are usually cheaper than those on the domestic site.
Incognito Browser
Offer Them A Review
If you have a travel blog or are an active Trip Advisor or Yelp member, mention this to the hotel’s manager and offer to write a review. Don’t bribe the hotel, just simply mention the offer. Many are willing to offer a perk, such as a free breakfast or discount.
Offer Them A Review
Common Appliances You Can Borrow
Many hotels have household appliances available for guests to borrow. The next time you’re on vacation, ask if there is a Crock-Pot or blender for your convenience. Save some money with breakfast or dinner in!
Common Appliances You Can Borrow
WiFi Hotspot > Pricey WiFi Charges
If your hotel doesn’t offer free WiFi, the charges can add up fast. If this is the case, turning your phone into a WiFi hotspot is usually a much cheaper option. Just remember that if you have a family of 5, you may go over your regular data plan so be sure to check with your provider first.
WiFi Hotspot > Pricey WiFi Charges
Stale Odors Begone
Dryer sheets are great at ridding almost anything of stale odors. When packing to go home, don’t worry about your dirty clothes stinking up the suitcase. Simply lay some dryer sheets in your luggage; you’ll be amazed at how good dirty clothes can smell!
Stale Odors Begone
Be A Loyal Member
Almost every single hotel has a loyalty program, so just ask! Many brands offer guests free perks when they sign up, and then it just keeps getting better! Loyal members can receive anything from late check-out, to early check-in, free WiFi, free breakfast, room upgrades and more!
Be A Loyal Member
Travel During The Off-Season
Traveling in the off-season may not be possible for families with children or parents with obligations, but for those who are retired or have flexible work schedules, this is for you. The off-season, often called the low season, is the best time to travel for multiple reasons. Not only will you save loads of money on airfare and lodging, but your destination won’t be as crowded. In other words, no packed beaches like the one below!
Travel During The Off-Season
Stay Awhile Longer
If your check-out time is set for 11:00 am, it does mean you have to be out of your room by then, but it doesn’t mean you have to leave the hotel itself. Most hotels allow guests to leave their luggage at the front desk while they enjoy the pool for a few more hours!
Stay Awhile Longer