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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.

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.

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Rosie Hamilton
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Suzi Gauthier
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never been in a hotel where you had to turn on the electricity in the room. Where does this happen?

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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.”

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“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.”

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Rosie Hamilton
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Hans
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was neccesary in times of bad WiFi. Hotels that still have individual access points in rooms might overhaul their technology...

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's this terrifying fear for hotel remotes? I've never had one that's particularly dirty, and it's not the only thing other people have touched yet people seem to freak out about it

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Chris Jones
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a lack of knowledge unfortunately. Bacteria (or germs) such as E. coli, salmonella, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and campylobacter, as well as viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus, Salmonella and campylobacter survive for short periods of around 1 to 4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. Flu can last up to 24 hours - so by all means be safe and use a quick antispectic wipe to be sure and it's fine.

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Marie Collins
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We wipe ours down with a lysol wipe & put it in a baggy too! To those that don’t understand why people are grossed out by them, remember, hotels still offer porn....

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Wil Vanderheijden
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to all the comment about germs, bacteria and virusses I (and many people of my age) should have been dead for at least 50 years now. I can remember the days when we were playing in a sandbox, occasionally scooping cat and dog turds out, running inside, getting a sandwich and running back to the sandbox to share the sandwich with my friend without even as much as thinking about washing my hands. We never got sick, we didn't even die.

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Kris Kocis
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4 years ago

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Louis Holler
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

people are insane with their fear of germs..they must have weak immune systems

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Chelle Snail
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is true, the remote is full of different kinds of germs and I'm not keen on the cups, cutlery and crockery as I have heard some hotels don't bother washing them!!! Or just wash them with a dirty cloth (as shown on a surveillance camera once, was on the news)!

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Abbas Fahmy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because your phone has IR (infra Red) .... Most smartphones ditched that ages ago.

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Lois Pack
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have stayed in many hotels, handled many remote controls and I am still alive, what i hate are hotel cushions, yeuch, also nooooo wipes they will end up in landfill or worse in the sea.

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Sonja
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, I never needed TV remote in the hotel...if I wanted to watch TV, I could stay home..

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agale
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4 years ago

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I don't get one thing - why would you even think about using tv @hotel? Can't you just survive a few days far from the brainwashing box and eventually enjoy the place, wherever you are?

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Liam Walsh
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on why people are in a hotel. If it's somewhere you have to travel to a lot for business you might have explored all the sights and be desperate for something to take your mind off work. Not everybody reads - my brother is dyslexic and finds it too much like hard work.

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Mimi M
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Radek Suski
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What hotel has doors like that? I never seen a gap between doors and the floor

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Janine B.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or just don't pick hotels with no hygienic standards. Never had a sticky remote in my rooms, no matter if cheap or expensive hotels. Cleaning should not be a matter of price.

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Hans
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Rosie Hamilton
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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).

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"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."

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Jace
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m super light-sensitive, but this seems extreme to me.

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