When you come to stay at a hotel, usually all that you want are the basics: to relax, watch a movie on TV, get a good night’s sleep, enjoy some delicious English breakfast in the morning, maybe get some advice about what interesting sites there are to see nearby. The last thing that should be on your mind is how uncomfortable you are.
It shouldn’t take 5 stars for a hotel to provide the basics and make you feel welcome. However, the sad reality is that far from every hotel you stay at will be up to your standards. Luckily, people have come up with plenty of life hacks while you stay at hotels, especially bad ones. And one person’s hotel hack to get rid of the annoying gap between the curtains inspired others to share their own tips and tricks.
We here at Bored Panda have compiled a list of hotel hacks to improve your stay and help you circumnavigate bad experiences as best you can. So scroll down, upvote your fave hacks, and share them with your friends. And be sure to leave us a comment with any hotel hacks that you might know as well.
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When Rick Klau shared the hack where you can use a hanger to close the blackout curtains in your hotel room, the internet’s response was phenomenal. The hack was liked 396,700 times and retweeted 71,500 times. Klau’s post inspired other social media users to share their own hotel hacks, and some of them are brilliant in their simplicity.
I always carry individually wrapped antiseptic wipes. As a dog owner I've found them to be a very good idea just generally.. The packaging can be recyled on these. EDIT: and the wipes are as well with the ones I use. I only mentioned packaging as I was looking at that large plastic container in the photo.
I've never been in a hotel where you had to turn on the electricity in the room. Where does this happen?
Almost every hotel in Europe as far as I'm aware, it's for saving energy ensuring everything is off before you leave the room.
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Most of new hotel can not use this trick anymore. It already use somekind of magnetic card.
Yes, i discovered 2 hotels which i stayed require a special card. Other hotels were ok.
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I knew this one, but I wonder if it's safe. Should there be some kind of short circuit, you might be the one to take responsibility and pay the damage, or something like that.
I expect that there's a switch that is triggered by the card. The card doesn't conduct electricity or anything
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At the rates hotels charge I should be able to leave every light on if I choose to.
Many of you are saying this is for energy saving but it’s actually for a monetary purpose of the hotel doesn’t have to pay for electricity. But I love how you all think these businesses are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts for the environment. That’s why you’re doing it not them.
I encountered this in Brazil, where the AC would go off when you left the room and then be incredibly humid when you got back. I defeated this by using my grocery store rewards card to occupy the slot and keep the AC on.
Almost. Had an experience at a hotel on Cote d'Azur where the slot would only accept the room card :)
I don't travel, and I live in the US. This concept blows me away! I love it! Cut your power useage!
This applied to the "push-on" switch style of yesteryear (which a lot of hotels still have)... Modern hotels now use the chip in your electronic key card to engage the switch. Sigh!
I have been doing this for years, because I once left my hotel card(key) in the room.
Wow... I never knew this existed... The more you know! But I’m more likely to stay in a motel 6 state side.
I don't remember where it was, but I was in a hotel that you had to do that- in the US
Common in many Asian Countries to conserve energy, as others have posted. Also, on several visits to Taiwan, we discovered the hotel room thermostats could not be set any lower than 23C (73.4F), although a toothpick in the thermostat mechanism at one hotel solved that 'problem'
Why..... isn't it by the door so you don't forget it on the way out...?
I always worry I'll turn the lights off when I leave but forget the card in the room
50 / 50, the older version of this might work but nowadays the hotels especially the new one upgraded their card slot with RFID. With this, only hotel key / card can give power =)
What cheap a*s hotel are you staying at that you need to use a card to keep the lights one, dam bri just tell your officer that your not tiered an you need some yard time
This will not work everywhere. I was in Egypt and tought the same. Put an other card inside the adapter. And it doesn´t work either... SO.. Sometimes maybe worth a try.
Most hotel that use card to open the room door, need to slot the card inside this special thing to turn on the room electricity. But, you can put any other card. When you are going outside for a meal, just replace the card with other card and keep the air-cond on. So the room will kept cool when you back.
A lot of them fixed this already... but then it is for saving power consumption when no one is in the room, lets just bear with it.
I expect that you could get a duplicate room key card and use that in the case a business card doesn't work.
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Many people seem not to know it. Last time I show it to a guy he was pretty amazed
Usually. There are some hotels where it requires the specific door key but this is infrequent happily!
Bored Panda interviewed Dr. Gabor Forgacs from Ryerson University about the hotel industry, as well as the challenges it faces in the 21st century.
“Technology is offered as an option for convenience but not as a replacement for service. Automated check-ins and wake up calls etc. are fine, however, it is a guest preference to choose them as a lot of guests appreciate the human interaction instead. Technology is used to expedite service (curbside check-in, messaging, digital coupons, etc.) not replacing it.”
“How we leverage our data is important for hoteliers. We have a data-rich operational environment and we have to walk a fine line in terms of using our data sources for improving service without invading guest privacy and respecting sensitivities," Dr. Forgacs said.
“The philosophy of old school hoteliers, and I am one, still rules: we see everything, we know anything about our guests but never disclose anything, never reveal what we know and keep all that to ourselves. Best hoteliers are unassuming, discreet and highly knowledgeable.”
They always throw away any of the small soaps that remain so you might as well take those. Hotels need to stop providing these things in mini plastic containers for the sake of the planet.
And also, one where the outlets fit the configuration of the plugs that you use (American, European, whatever). Better than having to depend on getting multiple adapters for each of your devices. If the plug on the strip doesn't fit the wall outlet, you can get just one adapter at the front desk.
What hotel has doors like that? I never seen a gap between doors and the floor
This is exactly what the hotel chains want you to do. Usually, it means thta you do not pick by quality and price andmore but by brand. Maximizing a hotel program usually is only worth it if you stay in hotels A LOT and/or if you can status match with other loyality programs, like that of airlines. Which again make only sense if you travel a lot. From my experience, there is little sense below 25 nights a year.
Small point but it will take you longer to get out when the fire alarm goes off (happened twice in hotels I've stayed in).
"Please be careful not to cover any air holes so you don't disable the detector. Please remove the tape in the morning so maintenance can inspect the detector."
You can be reasonably clean, but thinking too much about germs can suck all the fun out of any trip and holliday.
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This is somewhat disappointing. Some hacks are rather dumb, some are really selfish, and many would be mitigated by using 5-10 USD or EUR more a night to book a hotel that cares for its customers.
Even the top-rated hotels' cleaning staffs don't always do a top-rated job. I've read a number of articles where it's been proven that cleaning staff take shortcuts and don't do all the things we would expect them to do (like sanitizing bathroom counters).
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I've never done any of these and I somehow survived all the hotels I've stayed in.
In which country do hotels provide irons and ironing boards? I have been to a lot of countries and never seen one.
All the hotels I've been in the EU, ALL have ironing boards & heaps of other services as standard :-)
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This is probably one of the worst articles I've ever read on bored panda.
I knew this would be bullcrap when I read "hacks". It's always the same, "life hacks" are a mixture of tips on how to be selfish and stuff you get by thinking about your "problem" for three to five seconds.
Yes, I may be revealing myself as an old fart but I refuse to call them 'hacks'. It's just jargon. How about "tips" or "shortcuts"?
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Best hotel hack, don't use the public WiFi and if you do, pay for a VPN to keep your device secure. Hackers can sit outside a hotel and read the traffic on public WiFi.
Got excited -> read the post -> got disappointed . Useless hacks
Well I think I've learned that lots of people select really crappy hotels. Off course understanding if you are on a budget, better to rent an apartment for a couple of days & do some of the 'hotel-services' yourself? :-)
Want an upgrade? Book it. Want a phone charger? Bring it. Want to store your bags? TIP THE BELLMAN. And for fvcks sake.. put down your fvking cell phone during check in... or we will give you the absolute worst room available.
I have been travelling with my roku or Amazon fire stick! As long as they have wifi and a hdmi slot, you can watch apps instead of the limited channels they offer!
Some nicer hotels now allow you to log into Netflix, Hulu and other services right from the channel. It also automatically logs you out when you check out.
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what to do when travelling to the UK or a country that uses 220 volt ac power and your laptop uses a 120 vac US power transformer? The best solution is to buy a second power adapter that is set up with the funky UK plug for use in the UK or Africa... The step up/down cheap outlet adapter they sell can burn out your power transformer and/or laptop
I always bring my own pillow and toiletries because most hotels use horrid scented detergent in the laundry and perfumed soap and shampoo. The last time the smell was so overwhelming, this year I'm taking a sleep sack for the bed and throwing the hotel sheets on the floor.
What is the purpose of sticking tape on the smoke detector? I don't get that one.
My daughter made an OUT OF ORDER sign and put it on the ice machine that was right next to our room because whenever anyone got ice it made a huge racket. Genius
My daughter made an "OUT OF ORDER" sign and put it on the ice machine that was right next to our room because whenever anyone got ice it made a huge racket. Genius
Note on the remotes from someone who used to work in hospitality... just because you can’t see anything on it or just because it’s not sticky doesn’t mean someone has cleaned it well. All it takes is one guest who had the flu, or pinkeye, or who drooled on it after they fell asleep watching tv in bed. It’s not a matter of being a germaphobe; it’s a matter of knowing what places in hotels (at any price level) are most likely to get skipped or barely cleaned enough to kill the bacteria on them. Places like this are the remote, the mini-fridge door handle and front/top, the closet, nightstand, and desk drawer handles, the lamp switches and wall light switches...
Terrified of the remote, but no problem sleeping in probably unwashed bed sheets
Who are these people covering everything in plastic, have they all got problems with their immune systems...?
I always check the bathroom vents for dust. A dusty vent probably means no hidden camera!!
All these Pandas packing clips and cords... I'm doing well if I remember both my shoes.
I always travel with my own toiletries in refillable travel bottles. Then I don't need to use the hotel's tiny bottles! I also use a weighted sleep mask. It keeps the light out of my eyes, and the gentle weight is calming, stress reducing.
I'll share my own hack... always brings a stack of post-it notes: you can attach them to the inside of the room door covering the peep hole
Good one. Also (not specific to hotels) put a scrap of tape over your laptop's camera unless you're sure you want to be video-ing.
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Take a blacklight bulb with you if you want to see some body fluids left in your room. They only cost around $2 at Walmart and most places that sell light bulbs. But, if you are going to use one, do it before you unpack - you may be moving to another room...or hotel.
Not sure what s**t holes your staying at. Every single Marriott hotel I have stayed at has both a trash can and recycling can in every room. Also, you can take those soaps and shampoos you don't use and give them to shelters.
Load More Replies... You can be reasonably clean, but thinking too much about germs can suck all the fun out of any trip and holliday.
Load More Replies... This is somewhat disappointing. Some hacks are rather dumb, some are really selfish, and many would be mitigated by using 5-10 USD or EUR more a night to book a hotel that cares for its customers.
Even the top-rated hotels' cleaning staffs don't always do a top-rated job. I've read a number of articles where it's been proven that cleaning staff take shortcuts and don't do all the things we would expect them to do (like sanitizing bathroom counters).
Load More Replies... I've never done any of these and I somehow survived all the hotels I've stayed in.
In which country do hotels provide irons and ironing boards? I have been to a lot of countries and never seen one.
All the hotels I've been in the EU, ALL have ironing boards & heaps of other services as standard :-)
Load More Replies... This is probably one of the worst articles I've ever read on bored panda.
I knew this would be bullcrap when I read "hacks". It's always the same, "life hacks" are a mixture of tips on how to be selfish and stuff you get by thinking about your "problem" for three to five seconds.
Yes, I may be revealing myself as an old fart but I refuse to call them 'hacks'. It's just jargon. How about "tips" or "shortcuts"?
Load More Replies... Best hotel hack, don't use the public WiFi and if you do, pay for a VPN to keep your device secure. Hackers can sit outside a hotel and read the traffic on public WiFi.
Got excited -> read the post -> got disappointed . Useless hacks
Well I think I've learned that lots of people select really crappy hotels. Off course understanding if you are on a budget, better to rent an apartment for a couple of days & do some of the 'hotel-services' yourself? :-)
Want an upgrade? Book it. Want a phone charger? Bring it. Want to store your bags? TIP THE BELLMAN. And for fvcks sake.. put down your fvking cell phone during check in... or we will give you the absolute worst room available.
I have been travelling with my roku or Amazon fire stick! As long as they have wifi and a hdmi slot, you can watch apps instead of the limited channels they offer!
Some nicer hotels now allow you to log into Netflix, Hulu and other services right from the channel. It also automatically logs you out when you check out.
Load More Replies... what to do when travelling to the UK or a country that uses 220 volt ac power and your laptop uses a 120 vac US power transformer? The best solution is to buy a second power adapter that is set up with the funky UK plug for use in the UK or Africa... The step up/down cheap outlet adapter they sell can burn out your power transformer and/or laptop
I always bring my own pillow and toiletries because most hotels use horrid scented detergent in the laundry and perfumed soap and shampoo. The last time the smell was so overwhelming, this year I'm taking a sleep sack for the bed and throwing the hotel sheets on the floor.
What is the purpose of sticking tape on the smoke detector? I don't get that one.
My daughter made an OUT OF ORDER sign and put it on the ice machine that was right next to our room because whenever anyone got ice it made a huge racket. Genius
My daughter made an "OUT OF ORDER" sign and put it on the ice machine that was right next to our room because whenever anyone got ice it made a huge racket. Genius
Note on the remotes from someone who used to work in hospitality... just because you can’t see anything on it or just because it’s not sticky doesn’t mean someone has cleaned it well. All it takes is one guest who had the flu, or pinkeye, or who drooled on it after they fell asleep watching tv in bed. It’s not a matter of being a germaphobe; it’s a matter of knowing what places in hotels (at any price level) are most likely to get skipped or barely cleaned enough to kill the bacteria on them. Places like this are the remote, the mini-fridge door handle and front/top, the closet, nightstand, and desk drawer handles, the lamp switches and wall light switches...
Terrified of the remote, but no problem sleeping in probably unwashed bed sheets
Who are these people covering everything in plastic, have they all got problems with their immune systems...?
I always check the bathroom vents for dust. A dusty vent probably means no hidden camera!!
All these Pandas packing clips and cords... I'm doing well if I remember both my shoes.
I always travel with my own toiletries in refillable travel bottles. Then I don't need to use the hotel's tiny bottles! I also use a weighted sleep mask. It keeps the light out of my eyes, and the gentle weight is calming, stress reducing.
I'll share my own hack... always brings a stack of post-it notes: you can attach them to the inside of the room door covering the peep hole
Good one. Also (not specific to hotels) put a scrap of tape over your laptop's camera unless you're sure you want to be video-ing.
Load More Replies... Take a blacklight bulb with you if you want to see some body fluids left in your room. They only cost around $2 at Walmart and most places that sell light bulbs. But, if you are going to use one, do it before you unpack - you may be moving to another room...or hotel.
Not sure what s**t holes your staying at. Every single Marriott hotel I have stayed at has both a trash can and recycling can in every room. Also, you can take those soaps and shampoos you don't use and give them to shelters.
Load More Replies...