If, like us, you’re lusting after summer, with its long evenings, languid pace and loose morals, then you’re probably already hovering over the flight comparison websites and hotel booking forms.
But rather than jumping into bed with the first hotel you find, judgment hazy with the prospect of sunshine, it’s better to do a little research first, and come prepared for every eventuality. So, with the help of LateRooms.com here are 10 IDEAL tips for a plain sailing trip.
BRING A TUMBLE DRYER SHEET
Even when you pack clothes fresh from the laundry, they can still end up smelling musty and with an unmistakable top note of suitcase when you arrive on the other side. Pop a couple of tumble dryer sheets in your bag to keep them crisp, clean and smelling fresh, so you’re ready to get out on the town as soon as you arrive.
BRING A SPEAKER
Not many hotels provide state-of-the-art speakers. So when the music channel’s a let-down, it can put a dampener on the in-room vibe. Cue our speaker hack. Just pop your phone into one of the glasses or mugs provided in your room and, boom! Your very own self-made sound system. Or, pack a portable, Bluetooth powered boom box for a proper listening exeprience.
CLOSE THE CURTAINS
There’s nothing worse than a certain curtain gap that just cannot be overcome. Tossing and turning with a streetlight glaring in isn’t your idea of a good night’s sleep, so why put up with it? Grab a clip hanger from the wardrobe, fasten either side of the curtains to each clip and prepare for a peaceful night’s sleep.
HAVE TISSUES AT THE READY
When packing, fold your clothes in tissue paper to avoid any wrinkles. It might seem like a pain at the time and bring back bad memories of battling a mountain of Christmas presents, but you’ll be thankful when you discover you don’t have to waste your valuable holiday time ironing.
CREATE A MAKESHIFT STEAM ROOM
If you’ve ignored the tissue paper tip and have found yourself in an in-crease-ingly (sorry) frustrating wrinkle situation, don’t fret: there’s still a way out. Turn the shower up to full heat and wait for the bathroom to become completely steamed up. Then turn it off and hang your clothes from the shower and towel rails and keep the door closed. Pop back in half an hour and voilà! Your clothes will be as prim and proper as when you packed. Also, remember to pack a clean conscience; you’ll be wasting a lot of water.
RE-CHARGE VIA THE TV
If you’ve forgotten your charger, make the TV double up and use the port on the back to power up your USB gizmos and devices. Just plug in, turn the TV on, and charge away. Easy.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK
If you hate being near the lift, or prefer the top floor then don’t shy away from telling the Receptionist about your hotel room preferences. The worst they can do is say no, right? And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to give the desk a ring if you’ve forgotten some of your must-have toiletries. You’ll be surprised how often a hotel will have spares available.
ALL HAIL THE HUMBLE CONDITIONER
Scuffed shoes? 5 O’clock shadow? Mascara won’t budge? Then all hail the most versatile of hotel freebies. If you’re operating under the delusion that conditioner’s just for your hair, then allow us to shed some light. You can also use this wonder stuff as a shoe polish, shaving cream, make up remover, hand cream… The list goes on.
CREATE A BLACKOUT
If the light from the hotel corridor is driving you to distraction, roll up a towel and push it under the door. Not only will it help to blackout your room, but it’ll also help to block out any noisy hotel guests returning late at night.
BE PREPARED
If you’re a regular traveller for work, double up on essentials so that you can have your case packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice and cut down on time spent unpacking and re-packing (and unpacking, and re-packing, and re-unpacking…).
AND ONE FOR GOOD LUCK..
Nab the miniature toiletry bottles to use for your next adventure. It’ll save you scrambling around, looking for containers to stash your liquids under 100ml in.