Travel Hacks: Hotel Room Tips and Tricks 

I just heard that a scam that some criminals are using is they put what looks like a genuine restaurant delivery menu in the hotel rooms.. They take your order and credit card number and never intend to deliver. Always check the internet if it's the same number as menu. I hope that makes sense. ☺️

If you’re using the in room safe, on your last night get the pair of shoes you plan to wear when checking out and traveling. Leave one shoe in the safe, and one on the floor. This prompts you to really check the safe is empty before checking out.

I really appreciate the fact that you went straight into the video. No long introduction or word salad. Just straight to the point. Love your tips! I'm flying for the 1st time in a few weeks & after watching your videos, I feel super prepared. Thank you!!

I really like the hint about pointing your shoes towards the exit. I've never thought about that.

Another travel hack....if you have a rental car, take a picture of the license plate...today so many cars of different brands look alike so knowing your license plate is a game changer!

My son is in the military so we’ve been doing ALOT of traveling. I watch your channel religiously! My husband asked me why we’re getting so many Amazon orders? I said “Laurie said i need these things!” You’ve helped me so much! Thank you in abundance!

One trick we were taught was to always pack a plain handkerchief for when you iron - put it atop the item you're ironing as a protection barrier.

Hacks: if you need a bathing suit to dry quickly, lay flat on a towel and roll up. Then twist as much as you can. Bathing suit will be damp and dry quickly. Pack old PJs and socks and toss instead of take home. Use the usb on the hotel tv to charge your phone Buy laundry bar at the grocery store for $.99 to do laundry in the sink. Bring 2 clothes pins. Use them to hang laundry or use them to mark which towel is yours. Pack baggies or containers to pack daily snacks at breakfast. Pack powdered flavored coffee creamer and instant coffee if you drink coffee.

I don’t unpack my clothes out my suitcase. For a while, there were issues with bed bugs even in high end hotels so I don’t want to bring any unwanted guests home. I leave the suitcase on the luggage stand provided.

After hearing how hotels don't always clean the bedspreads and blankets between guests, I NEVER lie on top of them. If I'm staying in one place for awhile, I unpack my packing cubes and don't refill them with my used/dirty clothe; I lay them flat in my carry-on suitcase. I only keep my clean ones in them and use a hotel plastic laundry bag to separate the clean clothes from the dirty ones.

On The last night in a hotel room with a safe, I put one of my shoes in with my passport and other documents, so I do not forget and leave then behind

I leave underwear and pads in packing cubes and put in drawers. I hang up slacks, skirts, and tops. I bring plastic grocery bags, fold my dirty laundry into them, and when full, put into empty packing cubes. When it's time to pack up half the job is done. Grocery bags keep packing cubes clean.

I used to work at a hotel both in housekeeping and laundry. not every stain could be removed from towels even having great system and stain remover. we would have to cut them up and housekeeping would use as rags. I suggest trying to be respectful of this when cleaning up messes or make up with them. also anything left behind would be held for 30 days then if a guest didn't reclaim it would go up for grabs in the housekeeping staff. if a room isn't cleaned spotless or to a guests expectations during stay, we were not allowed to even move a suitcase or any items left out on desks ect. if I stay at a hotel ever I try to remember those things and tidy up so things can be easier for the housekeeping.

In case fire…I was caught twice in a hotel and the emergency fire alarm sounded. I have learned the following: wether you shower before going to bed or the next morning, don’t put away your dirty/clean clothing. Keep it set out, like firefighters do, so that you can access it rapidly.

Check the air conditioning before unpacking. Also check the safe and the TV remote (if you are planning on watching TV). Check whatever is important (more towels etc...) so you don't have to hang around waiting for the tech guy etc... shows up. Waiting cuts back on vacation time. I'm speaking from experience. Love your videos - I've gotten lots of good ideas/

Taking a picture of your room number when you are staying in several different hotels on a trip is a good idea. We have gone on tours where we spent 2 nights in hotel A, one in B, 2 in C and by the time we got to the 4th hotel one of us would be looking for the wrong room number. A photo of where you parked is a good idea too. I forgot to to do it once and my friend and I spent 15 minutes trying to find the car. I always pack ear plugs. I've traveled with friends who snore and the only way to get any sleep is put ear plugs in. I found out that even if my roommate doesn't snore earplugs can block out noisy fans, and the elephants in the room above who seem to be dancing all night.

I leave my items in their packing cubes too, whether visiting friends/family, on a camping/road trip, or staying in a hotel. I haven’t used my new compression cubes yet but will be excited to see how they work out! I categorize like items in each cube and then slip a hang tag on each cube’s carry handle and label what group of stuff is in there. SUPER helpful 🙂

A friend takes her own bright orange silk pillow (case), so it stands out against the white linens.

So, we always leave a note and a cash tip for daily service. Have always received excellent care and the tips are always appreciated. Also, brag on hotel staff. Taking a few few minutes to say thank you and job well-done brightens their day.

I didn’t know you could add a photo to Notes! Thank you!!

Great tips. I bring extra grocery/trash bags from home (two or three) to have as extra trash bags or for dirty laundry. Also, travel size Lysol wipes to wipe down handles and counter tops just in case anything was missed during cleaning.

I appreciate that you suggesting the hotel room alarm clock to see if any alarms are set.1 time I unplug the clock and put it in the drawer since I have my phone and didn't need it but didn't realize that it was still running on batteries and, sure enough and alarm went off at 4:00 AM! So check for alarms even if you unplug in the clock!

I pack a night light for the bathroom. This is especially useful on a cruise in an inside cabin.

Excellent Laurie!!!

Love your bangles!

My tip is to look up numbers and locations of nearby pharmacies that deliver and 24 hour urgent care centers near the location of your resort before you arrive. Recently my husband had an allergic reaction while we were on vacation. When you are panicked it helps to save a step by knowing this information ahead of time. Precious moments can be lost waiting on the concierge. Also, make sure to pack a list of prescription medicines and insurance info. in your bag. We have used many of your tips in our travels. Thank you!

Travel Tips: *If international, pack a cable w/ a combination lock to secure your suitcases/bags/purse, etc. when riding on a train, subway/metro or bus to prevent theft. *Place your foot through a bag strap (for your bags on the floor) when at a hotel counter to prevent theft. (A female had her soft luggage bag stolen from the floor soon after she arrived at a 5-star hotel counter in Paris by a man who used his foot through her bag strap & stealthily dragged it away). *Pack a drain stopper because some hotels/motels don’t have one for the bathtub. *Wear a Sky ID holder when taking a flight. Include ID, passport, boarding pass, small notepad/pen, ear plugs, sticks of gum, Gas-X (for nervous tummy); Tylenol Extra-Strength & Benedryl (for night flight). *Pack a headlamp flashlight, lantern flashlight & tiny flashlights. *For a hotel room, avoid booking a room near the ice machine, elevator or stairwell (>noise). *Pack a battery-operated travel clock w/ batteries. *Use Post-it Notes on the inside of your hotel door to remind you what not to forget to pack back up when you leave. *Pack moleskin (in case of blisters); Ace wraps (sprains); Sunblock, Magnesium 200-250 mg (sore muscles), Tinactin (to prevent foot fungus). Wear flip flops when using the shower. Pack non-slip material. *If swimming in a pool, bring a bathing cap & use a permanent marker to write down combination lock numbers on the inside of it. *Pack 3 money belts: 1 to wear; 1 to wash; & 1 that’s drying. Store luggage locks in them & cc’s of important documents & cc’s of passport, flight info; important phone #’s & email addresses & cc’s of bank card info. *Wear an elastic abdominal back support when carting luggage.

Hello! Thanks for the tips.

Love your advice

I always take disinfectant wipes with me when I travel. As soon as I get in the room I wipe down majority of surfaces, remotes, light switches, sink handles, potty seat and handle. I also check the the sheets to make sure they're clean and not just pulled tight. Hotel cleaning staff try and do their best, but they are all on a time limit and risk getting in major trouble for taking to long and not meeting their time requirements.

As a very light sleeper who has trouble sleeping in hotels, two of my best hacks are a white noise app on my phone (the one I use has a timer) and a 2-ounce bottle of linen spray for spritzing on the pillow to make the bed seem more familiar (smells just like home). Love your channel, Laurie!

Omg the ironing board hack was genius!

Love all of your tips

Thank you for sharing!

Thanks Laurie! I love your travel tips! Keep them coming!

I love your tips!!

Excellent tips! 👏🏻👍🏻💙

Great tips! Thank you!

Love your video's Laurie.

If I’m staying at a hotel for more than 3 nights, I unpack my cubes into drawers. It’s easier to keep organized. On the flip side, I keep all my toiletries and makeup in their bags, not out on the sink counter. (Except the toothbrush). Love your videos Laurie. They are very helpful and clear - lots of info packed into a short video!

You can also use hair clips to keep,hotel room curtains closed. And you can use the hotel plastic laundry bag inside the small trash for ice from the machine, as hotel ice buckets are pretty small.

Great ideas thanks for sharing

Supper cute top! Thanks for all the tips.

One think I always make sure to do is when I travel to a new place, I make sure to arrive during the day rather than at night. Especially if I'm visiting a country where I don't speak the language or am unfamiliar with the area.

I leave my clothes in the packing cube, helps to keep me organized!

Thanks for ur useful travel tips

Brilliant ideas. The hanger and ironing board! So clever. ✈️

I’m your own city hotel breaks , small airfryer for late night snacks !

I leave things in the packing cubes. I feel like they stay organized and I don’t have to worry about cleanliness of the drawers that way. Thanks for all your tips!

THANK YOU LAURIE! That tip to point your shoes in the direction of the best emergency exit route just might save lives! One little tip I have is to get the BRIGHTEST silk pillow case you can find so that it’s easy to see , therefore less likely to get left behind.

Wanted this one for a while 🥰 a Uk fan

Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. Have a great summer!!

Another tip for toothbrushes is to tent a ziplock baggie over them while on the counter. Gets air but keeps the droplets from descending on the brush! I love the tip of putting in a paper cup! Why didn’t I think of that 🤦🏼‍♀️. Love your channel and tips Laurie ♥️

Oh, love these!!

I’ve always just used a binder clip for the curtains or a clothespin

Really great hacks! I never would have thought to use most of these things!!! Thanks, Laurie!

Hi, Laurie. Beware using the plastic hotel laundry bad for wet swimsuits. Most are vented. So the liquids leak out in your suitcase. Pack a 1-gallon freezer ziplock instead.

Hi Laurie, Thanks for realising that we aren't all in the same part of the world and have different seasons! It's Winter in Australia! I leave my gear in their cubes but put them in the drawers or on the shelves. If there are only shelves (like on a river cruise I took) the cubes keep things nice and neat. I love to hear your tips.

The shoe emergency exit hack is pure genius! Thank you

Great video!

I love the post-it idea for lights! Thank you!

I absolutely love your videos!! I feel like I can pack so much better after subscribing to your channel! Thank you so much

These tip are genius! Definitely going to use these in my next hotel stay!! ❤️

Another great one,Laurie.. I dont unpack my compression cubes.. I just slip it right into the drawer..

Just found ur channel ‼️‼️‼️. TY so much for all the tips/ hacks when traveling 🧳

Your tips are unique and innovatove. Thank you so very much for your assistance. Sincerely appreciated.❤

I have a caddy that folds up. I can put everything in it. Best buy ever.

Hey great tips!

Hello. New subscriber here. I been watching all your videos. These tips are great. Keep them coming. I just received one of those personal bags you recommended. I can't wait to travel next month. I'll be ready and more organized.

I love the post it note tip! I'm actually going to use that on my cable box in my bedroom at home! 😊

All good advice. Thanks! Yes, I use packing cubes....love them!.....and yes, I leave my clothes in them when in hotel .

I like the tip about pointing your shoes toward the nearest fire exit. Very clever.

I leave my clothes in the packing cubes and have different colours for different family members to keep things organised

Some newer cruise ships also use key card inside the cabin to turn on lights and air conditioning. Commenters say using an old card works there as well.

Saying hey for the first time. Traveling to San francisco via Hawaii from New Zealand with only carry on. All your tips have been very helpful to me. Thankyou

I carry a bright red silk pillowcase. That way it sticks out and I don’t leave it behind.

We always buy extra hangers. They are inexpensive at the Dollar Store. We also take a folding pop up hamper with handles. Easy to tote dirty clothes to the hotel laundry room!

Great content, as usual. ✌️

My god excellent tips... I already use some but these are so helpfull..thank you

Best and most useful channel ever! I am getting ready for my first overseas trip, and these videos are heaven sent! Thanks for your time and work!

I put dry sheets in all shoes and packing cubes too. Door stop great idea

Great hacks. For me, checking to see that the coffeemaker works is also a must, and that there is real sugar and not just the fake chemical stuff!! I leave my tees/tops and my underwear in their cubes. My last trip, I took along some folding travel hangers (Amazon) and they were great for two women sharing a room in London (where there are never enough)! I left them behind, as the room maid thought they were great! Inexpensive enough to buy more when I travel next.

I use packing cubes and unpack the shirts I expect to need. I also pack clothes for one extra day beyond the planned trip. My cube with socks and underwear just gets unzipped and put in the top dresser drawer. I also have a 5 foot travel extension cord with 3 usb ports. I use a CPAP and often the nearest outlet is too far for the CPAP cord to reach. A non-hotel tip that just helped me: AT DFW airport, the shuttle from the parking to the terminal gives me a card with my spot number. I always take a photo of the spot number on the ground in case I misplace the card. This time around, they wrote spot 208 instead of 308, so there was an empty space there. I pulled up my photo and showed the driver where my car really was.

Amazing tips! Your dog is adorable! That face!! Thank you for all of your tips! I share them with anyone who will listen🤣

Love all the helpful tips! Why hard shell suitcases instead of soft? What has been your experience?

In addition to wiping down all touch surfaces in the hotel room with disinfectant wipes, we always put the TV remote control in an inexpensive (and disposable) plastic bag. The longer "bread bags" that you can get at Walmart, etc, fit longer remotes easily. Seal with a twist tie on the bottom...that will not interfere with the optical sensor at the top.

I recently started using laundry detergent sheets to wash my clothes. I plan to take a couple of these on my next trip. Also I like Dr Bronners soap for laundry, hand soap, body wash.

I enjoy watching your video and reading all the comments. When we travel by car, I always make sure I bring our sleeping bag. 1 sleeping bag if it’s summer and 2 sleeping bags for winter. Whenever we stay (my hubby &I) in a hotel or in an Air BNB, we use our sleeping bag/s (unzipped) to lay flat on the bed and place their pillows underneath just to make sure we won’t get any germs from the hotel’s linens. And for the blanket, we just wrap ourselves with the same sleeping bag as a blanket when we feel cold. We use our extra shirts as pillow cases if we want to use their pillows.

I’ve watched a few of these travel hints and tips type videos and yours is far and away the best. Thank you so much for the efforts you put into them! I will definitely use some of them on our next trip.👍😊

Hi Laurie...we went to visit our daughter in Vermont during a polar freeze...we were on the top floor with huge windows...the heavy drapes would not come together and the cold wind was emanating through....I used your hotel hanger with the clips hack....my husband thought I was brilliant ( thank you so much) and for a few years now I've been using your ironing board hack to organize my items!!!

Binder clips work well to close the curtains,chip bags & to cover your razor

I know it sounds absolutely insane, but, since 90% of my travel is done internationally, and to the opposite side of the world... I stay awake for a full 24 hours before my flight, set my timezone to the place I'm going to, and go to sleep on the plane at an appropriate time to where I am going to be. I have never suffered from jetlag while doing this; on going to the country NOR coming home! I'm going to Sri Lanka on July 25th, and I'm super stoked! (Also, I'm a native Houstonian, but, now I live in Austin 🤮, thought that was a fun coincidence!)

I like to use the ironing board as a computer table while I'm in the bed. Like another note. I like to use the extra sink in the restroom to fill with ice and use as a cooler. Speaking of coolers. If you travel either a cooler, fill it at night when nobody's thinking of it. I've found the ice machine empty too many yikes on the morning. Also the hotel kitchen usually has an ice machine. Just add if they can fill your cooler.

I travel with a uv flashlight to help ensure sheets are clean.

This is amazing! I've been living in hotels for 3 years now and I wish I watched your video earlier 😃So helpful!

Your tips are helpful and succinct. I’m rusty at traveling so I appreciate each video. I use packing cubes and keep items inside them in the dresser drawers to stay organized. 😊

Hubs and I are doing a car swap kinda thing on our trip. He's arriving after me, then I'm going home early. Fingers crossed he takes a picture of the parking spot! I'll bring my own key. Love the iroing board idea! Always pick up something new from you. Thanks, Laurie!

Staying unexpectedly at a pretty crappy hotel room, with no counter space whatsoever, just a freestanding sink with no counter. I am grateful for the tip to use the ironing board as a toiletries counter, I would never have thought of that one!

I do leave all my clothing in the packing cubes.

I bought compression cubes based on your advice. Just did a business trip with another woman and shared a suite.. I loved how well my cubes organized my drawer. So classy.