How to Turn Any Hotel Stay Into a Relaxation Retreat

Okay, so the mini-fridge is really mini. Sometimes it’s packed with expensive goods you don’t want to spend your hard-earned cash on. Or, you might not even have a fridge at all. This isn’t ideal if you’ve packed your favorite wine or beverages and have no place to keep them cool. A simple remedy to this issue starts with a bag of ice. Some hotels have free ice. If not, just pop into the local supermarket and grab a bag.

When it comes to pressing clothes while traveling, there are usually two options. You either pay for expensive laundering services, or you have to pull out the board (often found inside the wardrobe) and put some elbow grease in. Either way, you’re coughing up big bucks or working during your precious vacation time. So, what’s to be done? Well, here’s an easy and quick way to flatten out those wrinkles…

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of being peered in on when you’re staying in an unfamiliar place. Unfortunately, hotel curtains always seem to have a pesky gap that you can never quite close. You’ve tried the delicate tug, but it just won’t close. Needless to say, closed curtains are a must if you like 100% privacy or simply want to avoid that 6 am streak of light. So, here’s an easy solution. 

Who doesn’t love the convenience of a nightstand? You can pop your phone and essentials on it to have beside you at all times. But unfortunately, not all hotel rooms are equipped with this necessity. Or, perhaps, you’ve got a few people staying in one room, and you pulled the short straw and can’t quite reach the table. So instead of grappling around at night trying to grab your phone to read that message, here’s an easy bedtime solution. 

Who doesn’t love a bargain hotel deal? When we use price comparison websites, we might think we’re getting the best offer, but are we? Well, there’s an easy way to check. Often, hotels provide better deals on their rooms when you buy directly from them. So if you spot a good deal on a price comparison website, it’s always a good idea to go straight to the source and compare.

Suppose you’re traveling with a big group or using a facility with a shared bathroom. In that case, a foggy mirror is an annoying, reoccurring hindrance. If you can’t be bothered to wait in line or get up before the crowds, you’ll need a solution for those foggy mirrors. Interestingly,  you can do this relatively simply with ordinary hand soap. Of course, you’ll want the solid kind, not the liquid.

When we go to pack a suitcase, there’s always that moment of turmoil when you’re faced with trying to figure out what to do with your shoes. This is especially true if you’ve planned a sporty vacation – you don’t want muddy boots spoiling your evening outfits. So instead of packing your shoes into an extra bag, you have to carry around the place, why not use your complimentary shower cap?

Suppose your whole family has previously bundled into a hotel room for a family vacation. In that case, you might already be familiar with the dinner-time kerfuffle that ensues. Eating off the bed is no doubt fun for the kids, but the mess left over can add a hefty cleaning tab to your bill. So, to better organize meal times, this trick is a no-brainer. Pull out your ironing board.

Discounted stays are another option for saving money on travel. There are tons of ways to get discounts. Still, many people don’t realize that, often, the hotels themselves can make concessions if you contact them directly. This is particularly true if you’re planning an extended stay. In that case, if you explain that you intend to schedule a long stay to hotel management, they might be able to cut you a deal.

Suppose you haven’t got the amenities to cook in your room or the budget to splash out on hotel dining; fear not. Did you know that most restaurants are happy to deliver to hotels? In fact, you usually don’t even need to mention it’s a hotel; you can just meet them in the lobby. Although hotels would probably prefer you eat at their restaurant, there’s no rule that you have to do that.

If you’re not cooking savvy but don’t want to splash out on food during your stay, consider packing some instant meals – noodles are a great choice. You can use your hotel amenities like a kettle or coffee dispenser to boil the hot water. For bowls and cutlery, you can usually ask reception or the restaurant. Alternatively, you can bring your own. Pack a few different instant meals so you don’t get bored, and voila, you have your meals set for the week.

Once you’ve finished your trip, it’s worth sharing your thoughts with the hotel managers. This is especially true if your visit hasn’t met your satisfaction. It’s worth getting the manager’s email before you leave so you can discuss your stay. There’s no need to be rude, but it’s worth mentioning if you were disappointed in your visit and why. Briefly describe any issues you had and what you tried to do to rectify the problems. 

So we all know hotels can be noisy places. Late-night party-goers and crying kids are the enemies of a restful night’s sleep. So, soundproofing is necessary if you want to escape the hum of hotel operations. Noise and sound often comes through the slit at the bottom of the door. You’ll know what we mean if you turn the light off and can still see the glaring light from the hotel’s corridor along with the hum of constant chatter and elevator noise. 

This is the reverse of the DIY aircon, but it works just as well. Air conditioning can be a nightmare in hotels. It can leave your skin dry and your throat sore. While opening the windows can help, the main problem is the air con itself. So, grab a towel, and let’s fix that. You’ll need to run your towel over a warm tap and squeeze it until most of the water wrings out. 

When you pay for a room, you aren’t just paying for your bed. Your bill includes all the amenities that come with your stay. So if you want to get the most out of your money, put on a brave face and head to the front desk to enquire about the goodies on offer. You might be surprised to find there’s a bundle of free goods ready and waiting. The classics are toothbrushes, toiletries, and the like.

Many hotels love to help you celebrate special occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon, it’s worth mentioning to your hotel. Often they might put together something special to help you enjoy your stay. It might be off-putting at first to share your personal business with the hotel, but you never know what you might get in return. You can add a note to your booking or casually mention it at the front desk. 

Many hotel rooms have limited plug space. So, if you’ve brought a heap of devices, you’ll soon run out of plugs. The upside is that you can still charge your phone without the plug. Instead, you can run it off the TV. Most TVs have a USB slot you can use to charge your phone – no plug required. Then, of course, just make sure the TV is plugged in. Usually, it doesn’t actually need to be turned on to do the job.

You’d be surprised what you can put together with a limited range of appliances. If you’re a camper, you’ll know a fire burner kit is relatively cheap and convenient. This is especially true if you often travel because you’ll always be able to make food on the go. You can cook the same foods that you would at home so that you don’t have to shell out on the hotel restaurant or eat takeaway meals every day. 

Another sneaky way to bag a good deal is to book off-season. Many resorts and hotels aren’t as in much demand during these times, so they lower their prices considerably. This might mean booking when it’s a bit chilly or when the kids have just gone back to school. Weekdays are another excellent option, as most people will have to work. Different countries have different off-peak seasons, so do your research.

Most hotels have drinkable tap water, but not all. So instead of buying endless bottled water, why not use the hotel’s water dispensers? Typically, there’s one near the front desk or in the gym, but most don’t make use of them because of the inconvenience of making the trek to the room and back. So, this is where a big bottle comes in handy. Grab two large bottles and fill them up so you can avoid endless trips to the water cooler.

So, the weekend is just beginning, and you’re ready to get the party started, but – oops, someone forgot the speaker. No biggie. You can turn up the volume with this simple trick. All you need is a cup (any cup will do!) and your phone. The hollow space inside the cup acts as a way to magnify the sound on your phone. Just place the cup on a solid surface. 

This one is for all the parents out there who know what a hassle the bedtime routine is – especially if your kids have to share a bed while you’re away. The ensuing skirmishes and leg kicking can dampen an otherwise pleasant night. If you have little ones sharing the same bed, it’s a good idea to divide the space in advance. You can ask for extra sheets and pillows from reception if needed.

Using the bathroom can be a little chaotic if you share a room with others. Everyone wants space to put their stuff, and usually, space is limited. There’s also the issue of people misplacing belongings or using someone else’s stuff by mistake. For instance, if you’re using hotel toothbrushes, it can be hard to tell whose is whose. So, here’s a quick solution. First, you’ll need some plastic or paper cups.

Choosing the right hotel can be a compromise. On the one hand, you want to remain relatively close to the airport, but you don’t want to be miles away from the action. After all, you don’t want to risk getting stuck in traffic and missing that all-important flight. But, sometimes, where you’re looking to travel to is miles away from the airport. In instances like this, it might save you time, money, and stress to stay in a hotel close to the airport the night before your flight.

If you’re on an extended stay, sometimes housekeeping won’t cut it. After a few days, a small room can pick up odors. Sure, you can open a window, but a gaping window can be counterintuitive when it gets cold at night. Instead, this trick is a surefire solution to keeping your room smelling fresh- effortlessly. All you need is a car air freshener and to locate your hotel room’s aircon vent.

A quick spot of toast for breakfast or sandwiches for lunch is ideal if you’ve brought your own food for your hotel stay. However, sometimes even if you’ve packed everything from jam to butter, a cold room can present a challenge. That’s right – we’re talking about unspreadable butter. But whether you’ve brought it from home or have one of those foil sachets, there’s an easy solution to this one.

Getting to work as soon as you’ve just arrived might seem counterintuitive. After all, you take a vacation to relax, right? But getting chores out of the way early on is an excellent way to set the right tone for your stay. It can make you feel more relaxed knowing that you don’t have to troll through your suitcase, and having a few personal items around your hotel room can make you feel more at home.

If you’ve ever gone to a hot destination and found, to your despair, a weak or absent aircon, then this is for you. Even opening the window might not be enough in humid climates, so here’s a quick tip. First, you’ll need a towel and some cold water. Simply soak the towel in a cold bath and strain it. Next, lie the damp towel over the edge of the window. When the breeze comes, it’ll be cooled by the towel.

Suppose you’re worried about your valuables being stolen from your hotel room. In that case, a little creativity with your suitcase can work wonders. One simple trick is to use dirty clothing you’re not planning to wear again to store your valuables. Then fold them into your suitcase, and then lock your bag. Either use a padlock or if your luggage has a built-in lock, even better! Voila, your suitcase now doubles as a safe! 

It’s not uncommon to stay in a different hotel every time you travel. Usually, it’s a matter of finding the best deal at the location you’re looking to visit. However, brands (especially larger chains) often reward customers who stay with them consistently. So while it might be pricier to stay there at first, the more nights you accumulate with a given brand, the greater the reward. So, research hotel loyalty schemes to see whether you could benefit. 

This one is just common sense. If you’re traveling and roaming on your phone, you’re bound to rack up a considerable charge. After all, if you’re a frequent traveler, the convenience of using your mobile network can make it easy to forget the extortionate internet bills you’ll accrue. The easy way around this is to check the WiFi situation at every hotel you stay at. Then, log in and make the most of the free internet when you’ve got the code.

It’s a lesser-known fact that hotels usually assign guests the first room that’s ready. So even if you can’t negotiate an upgrade, you can often swap to another room if there’s something you don’t like. For instance, are the taps broken, or are there stains on the bed sheets? A change of room can be a fresh start. After all, you want to begin your vacation knowing that you’ll be comfortable for the rest of your stay. 

One of the best parts of an all-inclusive hotel stay is the breakfast. Often, it’s a buffet, so you should get your money’s worth. One way to do this is to use bigger cups so that you can pour more of the drink of your choice. Most continental breakfasts include a selection of orange juice, apple juice, and milk. So, bring larger cups with you so you can take your fill.

So, you want an upgrade but don’t want to pay big bucks for it? Well, the classic $20 bill slipped in with your card might do the trick. At the end of the day, you haven’t got anything to lose (except potentially $20). But, if they can do an upgrade on the down-low, then a little persuasion can’t hurt. However, this is one of those things that depends on the hotel and who’s staffing the front desk. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that there is nothing wrong with good hygiene. Of course, many people like to maintain a high standard of hygiene while traveling. Unfortunately, hotels aren’t always the cleanest of places. Despite housekeeping’s best efforts, things like TV remotes aren’t frequently disinfected. So, if you’d prefer to enjoy a higher level of cleanliness during your stay, wet wipes and plastic wraps are your friends.

Going on vacation isn’t always about seeing the sights. Sometimes we just need a little rest and recovery. At times like these, it’s great to settle into our favorite Netflix show, but as you might have guessed, there’s only cable TV. So if you’re not a fan of the wonders of daytime television and want to catch up on your missed shows, pack an HDMI cable. Most hotel TVs have an HDMI slot. 

One of the worst parts of a hotel stay is getting home after a long journey and realizing you’ve left something behind. It can be hard to keep track of all your small devices, wires, and keys lying around. You might be tempted to tuck them in your bag each night so that you know exactly where they are at all times and bear the inconvenience. But there is a better way.

Arguably, this is one of the most important albeit obvious tips on this list. Always be kind to hotel staff. It makes sense that if you treat someone with respect, they’ll do the same for you. Whereas, if you’re rude, aggressive, and downright unpleasant to hotel workers, how do you think they’ll view you? Not favorably. Not only is being kind the right thing to do, but you’re far more likely to enjoy a pleasant stay when you have the hotel staff onside. 

Having enough clothes is always a problem if you’re going on an extended stay- or, more accurately, keeping them clean. While many hotels offer laundering services, generally, they’re pretty expensive, especially if you need to use them regularly. However, a cheap alternative is to wash your clothes in your sink. You can buy a tube of travel wash designed for this purpose online or in-store. ​Line your sink with cling film and pop a few clean coins in the bottom to hold it down.

When it comes to hotel disasters, sometimes our worst enemy is our inability to speak up. Always remember you paid to stay here, so you’re allowed to expect a certain standard. If your room is unsatisfactory, say so. If you haven’t received the service you ordered, for instance, laundry- bring this to someone’s attention. You don’t have to be rude or offensive, but it’s okay to stand up for yourself if there are significant problems that ruin your stay.