Staying at a hotel has its own unique challenges, especially as greedy hotels continue to get stingier and charge you for every little thing.
But every traveler has a few hacks they’ve picked up throughout the years that makes their stay just a little less painful.
And it involves using what you’ve got in your hotel room already – but not in the way you would normally think.
A little bit of creativity can make your next hotel stay more pleasant if you use some of these hotel hacks to beat ‘em at their own game.
Pants Hangers
Most hotels have their gaudy curtains draping over those windows that just don’t seem to close all the way.
And if you prefer sleeping in, the light from the early morning sunrise – or the outside lights at night – can wake you up long before you’re actually ready to get out of bed.
Pro-travelers have long discovered you can simply use a pants hanger to clip the curtains shut – creating the perfect dark sleeping environment!
Such a simple yet beneficial hack is bound to make your next stay more pleasant.
Shower Caps
Okay – so you might not use these on your head – but they have a whole host of practical uses during your next hotel stay.
Order room service and didn’t finish your plate? Simply use the shower cap as a plate cover and store the remaining leftovers in the fridge.
Packing up at the end to go home? You can place your extra dirty shoes in a shower cap before placing them in your suitcase.
As for the most popular use – a makeshift remote control cover.
You better believe the cleaning crew didn’t sanitize your remote control (probably ever) and if the thought of placing your fingers in the same place hundreds of other grimy fingers have been – just put your shower cap around it and you can surf away!
Ironing Board
Okay – maybe you don’t like to iron and don’t even pay attention to where your ironing board is.
But if you happen to stay in a room that doesn’t have a desk or table – bust out the ironing board (just be sure to lay a towel over it) and use it as a table to eat your meal!
Not glamorous – but definitely practical.
Bottled Water
What used to be complimentary often comes with a fee now.
Instead, see if your hotel has a gym with filtered water for people to rehydrate.
If you’re thirsty and in a bind and just can’t justify paying $5 for a tiny bottle of water, you could possibly score free water there.
And don’t feel guilty – you paid enough for your room – the least they can do is keep you hydrated.
Makeshift Cooler
If you don’t have a fridge but want to keep your beverages cold, simply load up the ice bucket with ice and place your beverages inside.
Or if you’re having a few people over and need a “bigger cooler” – fill up your sink with ice from the ice machine and place your drinks in that!
Sure it might remind you of college, but hey you can only work with what you’ve got.
Just Ask For It
We know hotels are stingy, and they’re not going to list a sign of all the free stuff they can give you.
But often times if you simply ask, you shall receive.
Some hotels will let you check in early or check out late without charging you a fee.
Others have complimentary toiletries (at least for now) they’ll let you use should you forget a razor or toothpaste.
Many hotels even have extra phone chargers should you forget yours.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, you might even be able to score free upgrades on an unsold room – but you’ll never know unless you ask!
Next time you stay at a hotel, look for other ways you can hack your stay! Your own creativity and ingenious might surprise you.
What are some hotel hacks you use when you travel?
Which hack on this list will you try first during your next hotel stay?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with all your friends!
