16 ways to hack your hotel room

When you check into a hotel room, you can usually count on finding many of the conveniences of home, and some of the fun perks, like tiny shampoos. But, for routines that go beyond sleeping and grooming, a hotel room can sometimes fall short. Here are 16 ways to make the most of your stay...

1. Set the mood

Turn your hotel room mug or water glass into a speaker. Just remember to be mindful of your neighbours… and make sure it’s empty. 

2. Take an HDMI cable

Then you can play anything that’s on your laptop, on your TV (provided it’s not an old-school box). Whether you want to stream shows you have downloaded, or enlarge your work, sometimes plugging your laptop in (admittedly not the most high-tech fix), is the easiest solution. Pro tip: if you have Google Chromecast and you’ve got Wi-Fi hooked up in your room, you can stream shows directly from your tablet, smartphone or computer.

3. Never move another piece of furniture to find an extra plug

Some hotels are short on sockets — carry a small, 3- or 6-port mini power plug to maximize availability.

4. Draw the curtains, and keep them closed

When it’s nap time, sleep time or hungover time and the curtains don’t close all the way... connect the ends of each curtain with the clips on a hanger. Instant blackout shades.

5. Use the shower as a steamer

Not many hotel rooms come equipped with a steamer, but you can create your own by turning up the hot water and closing off the bathroom. Hang a suit, dress, or whatever needs to be steamed in the bathroom (as close to the shower as possible, without getting it wet of course), and wait a few minutes to see the wrinkles disappear.

6. Or, consider a hair dryer

If you don’t have time to steam up a bathroom, take the hotel hairdryer and hold really close to the shirt… move it up and down and it’s like an instant steamer. Just be careful not too hold it too close for too long.

7. Child-proof with a roll of tape

Some hotels are already equipped with child-friendly gear like cribs and socket covers — just call ahead and they’ll set everything up before your arrival. For child-proofing on the fly, a roll of tape will go a long way. From taping washcloths to sharp corners to keeping drawers from closing on curious fingers to covering sockets to making sure a bathroom door doesn’t lock, a simple roll of tape has a million uses.

8. Fight boredom

If bad weather has you stuck indoors, have the kids build a pillow fort, write postcards to friends back home, or hold a treasure hunt with convenience-store finds like candy and stickers hidden around the room. Or plan ahead by bringing DVDs, colouring books and portable games.

9. Plastic bags can be a real life-saver

Have a wet swimsuit you don’t know what to do with? Not too keen on sticking dirty laundry back in your clean suitcase? Ice bucket, hotel laundry bags (see why we think if you take anything from a hotel room, it should be this) and even packing your own dry-cleaning plastic bags in advance will be a saving grace.

10. Put that shower cap to use

Cover your room service leftovers and pop them in the mini fridge so they stay fresh.

11. Make conditioner your problem-solver

Don’t underestimate this hair product. Not only does it earn credit for keeping your locks smooth, it also can be used as a make-up remover, shaving cream, cuticle cream and more.

12. When life gives you lemons, make a DIY scrub

If you rub a lemon slice on dry elbow and knees they will soften instantly. Throw in a couple sugar packets and water and you’ve got yourself a homemade scrub. The hotel bar is a great source for lemon slices.

13. No excuse to skip the gym

While you probably shouldn’t attempt pull-ups on the doorframe or swing around a jump rope, the average hotel room affords plenty of space to do squats, push-ups, crunches, lunges and triceps dips. Resistance bands are lightweight and portable enough to fit into any carry-on. You can even use the luggage itself as weight resistance.

14. Stay connected

Free Wi-Fi is an increasingly common hotel amenity, but some hotels still charge by the hour and even by the device. Frequent business travellers should invest in a Wi-Fi base station like the Apple AirPort Express, which turns a single wired internet connection into a Wi-Fi hot spot, so you can connect all your devices without extra charges. And consider using Skype for business calls to avoid racking up mobile charges.

15. Housekeeping can provide just about anything

16. Look for (and ask for) perks