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.
This post may include affiliate links.
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?
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.
There was a hotel worker on one of these posts a while back saying people should definitely take them as well...they'll go to waste if you don't.
Load More Replies...
Ecologicaly, it is hard to understand why not all hotels have wall-mounted dispensers for these things. So much less waste...
The USO's in airports accept donations of hotel shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and soaps to give to soldiers and their families when they travel. I always donate my extra unused items to them.
Get it, will donate to the clerk when I check out next time.
From CNN: Used soap from Hilton Hotels is getting a second life. The company announced Monday that it will collect used bars of soap from guest rooms across its hotels and recycle them into 1 million new bars of soap by October 15, which is Global Handwashing Day. Also consider donating the little shampoo, conditioner, and body wash to either homeless shelters, domestic violence centers, or to soldiers downrange. When I was in Iraq, we'd trade those with the locals, or give them to the kids. Just because they don't have a lot of water, doesn't mean they didn't want to be clean. They actually loved those as much as the chocolate bars.
A better alternative to this 'hack' would be to ask at the reception why on earth they still have these miniature plastic bottles and suggest the ought to stop providing them. Donate a full bottle of shampoo once in a while to some organization instead.
I don’t know about donating 1 little bottle of shampoo, 1 little conditioner and 1 little lotion. You should definitely pocket them, but donating would just be odd.
I just take anything that’s there for single use, like those things, and I use them for when I visit overnight anywhere that doesn’t have that stuff. Even if I’m staying at a friend’s or relative’s place. Also use them at home if I ran out of shampoo or conditioner before getting more.
I used to leave a tote for hotel staff to collect the barely used shampoo/lotion/soap where the wrapper had gotten wet and gave it to a local food pantry
Just don't touch them at all so they don't have to be replaced and the demand decreases. If you don't touch them, they're no gonna throw them away. They only do that if you open the bottles and unwrap the soap. Why not just bring you own anyway?
Not always true. Some chains throw them all away after your visit, no matter what.
Load More Replies...
I always do this as well. Alot if homeless shelters will take them and when we have made "Homeless Bags" with the Girl Scouts they can use them to fill the bags Some hotels though are starting to reduce waste and using a refillable shower system that can hold body wash, shampoo and conditioner. But then I think eww...did they clean that..
Or save the environment and leave them for the next guest..
One of the hotels we stay in when my husband has drill ,the Holiday Inn Express has shampoo ,conditioner and body wash on the walls locked into holders so people can’t tamper with them. Such a great idea.
Dispensers, like are used for hand soap, would be good for shampoo, lotion, bath soap. In the long run, after the initial installation, no doubt less expensive for the hotel as well.
Some Hotels have shampoo, soap etc in dispensers attached to the wall, they should all do that.
I bring them home and I can tell you when my kids come home for a visit someone has forgot shampoo or conditioner. I also throw the little lotions in my purse.
I'm violently allergic to every single product I've ever seen in a hotel. If it put them in my luggage, I would have to wash or dry clean every stitch of clothing before I could wear them again. I carry my own toiletries - including a bar of soap in a Zip-Lock.
One of my customers has an organization that collects all the little bottles and they send it to third world countries.
There is also hotels that recycle the leftover soaps. The last hotel I worked in recycled the soap, they ended up going to a charity.
I always take these, plus the pen and paper.... to use for other travel or needs later on
PLEASE DONATE THESE ITEMS TO WOMEN'S SHELTERS, as well as unused cosmetics, medical supplies and feminine hygiene products. Many women leave abusive situations with nothing and often they have children in tow.
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.
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... 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...