8 Inventive Hotel Hacks for the Savvy Traveler

We can't deter chain hotels from serving sad scrambled eggs at continental breakfast or cap the amount of running kids around the fifth-floor hot tub, but we can alleviate some of the anguish. We know your king suite's not perfect. But a few weeks ago one Twitter user, Rick Klau, shared a genius hotel trick that spawned a brilliant thread of travelers sharing their best hotel tricks. Check out these eight inventive hotel hacks that won't stop trending on Twitter. You, savvy traveler, deserve only the best rest.

Keep the Curtains Closed With a Hanger

It's the tweet that launched a thousand hacks. Love the great view of the parking lot and Chili's next door? You won't for long. That tiny crack about a newspaper's width will make you wish you could gauge your eyes out at 3 a.m. when the cheap orange street lights are aglow beneath the same Chili's sign. @johnfein's solution is shutting the curtains with a hotel pen clip. Others chimed in sharing that binder clips, hair clips, safety pins, and clothespins do the trick too, if you can remember to bring them along. However, the two clips on the hanger in your closet will work too.

Use the TV to Charge Your Phone

A spousal argument over charging your phone is never a good way to start a relaxing stay at the Comfort Inn. If there's only one outlet near your partner's bed and one conveniently placed behind the mini fridge in the hall, don't fight. @MichaelHeide's hack is brilliant. Your television will do just fine. A USB port is right on the back. Just make sure you pack enough outlets to keep both of you happy.

Keep the Power on While You're Out

Don't get us wrong. We love a hotel that strives to conserve power in order to be more eco-friendly, but when you're trying to charge your electronics while you're out, a feature that will only turn the lights on with a key card is a total nightmare. @JayHarris_Sec discovered that any card will do.

Get Water From the Hotel Gym

Don't be fooled. The mini water bottles neatly displayed on your nightstand are sometimes priced up to $13 each. Some countries don't have potable drinking water, so if you don't want to chance the tap water out of your sink then score free water at the hotel gym. Thanks @naywilliams.

Create Your Own Toothbrush Holder

Of course, you could just put your toothbrush in the cup, but if you travel with a heavy brush it could knock the cup over, letting the bristles brush against the counter. Avoid the germs and create your own toothbrush holder, like @EvaFoxU

Use the Dry Cleaning Bag for Dirty Clothes

If you're part of the large population who doesn't use the hotel dry cleaning, you can still put the dry cleaning bag to good use. Separate your dirty clothes with ease by using @ohmercy_me's hack. Just make sure your hotel doesn't charge for it later.

Use a Wet Towel as a Humidifier

Feeling a little dry in your hotel room in Phoenix or Denver? We get it. Most hotel rooms don't offer a humidifier, so @steamin decided to drape a soaked towel over the ironing board and place it in front of the air vent or heater. It's brilliant and it really works.  

Cover the Remote in a Shower Cap

Nobody really wanted to know this, but the hotel remote is probably the most disgusting thing you can touch in your hotel room. Since it's never cleaned, it's best avoided at all costs. @mshilary says the plastic bag from your ice bucket makes the perfect cover.