The most astonishing hotel stays are possible today. You can enjoy services like complimentary breakfast, on-site fitness facilities, and a pool, in addition to sleeping in a big, comfortable bed and eating anything you want. The only drawback is that access to these upscale houses will cost you ever-rising fees.

Many people use websites like Airbnb or VRBO to try and discover less expensive accommodations while on vacation. What if we told you that hotels might be both inexpensive and plentiful? It would be best if you simply had these hotel hacks.

1. To bargain for a lower rate, contact the hotel directly.

This advice is handy if you stay at a smaller, independent hotel, such as a mom-and-pop inn or a bed-and-breakfast. You will undoubtedly pay a commission if you make a reservation through a website like Expedia or Kayak.

Many travelers have had success in the past by finding a better offer online and calling the hotel directly to see if they can match it. Many individuals mistakenly believe that the prices listed on hotel websites are the final ones. They're always open to discussion.

They might throw in extras like a free night, free Wi-Fi, or upgraded accommodation even if you don't receive a better deal.

2. When making reservations, use an app to take advantage of any price drops.

Service is a fantastic tool to use if you need to make an early hotel reservation. If you make a reservation through their website, it secures and immediately credits you the difference if the price is reduced later.

Another app that offers a comparable service is Pruvo. If the cost of your reservation decreases, it will let you know, but you must cancel the old reservation and make a new one on your own.

3. When checking in, give the front desk agent a $20 bill.

This advice was given by hotel front desk personnel.

Author and former hotel employee Jacob Tomsky says that slipping $20 money to the front desk clerk is an excellent method to get upgraded in his book Heads in Beds. As you offer them the bill, Tomsky advises adding something like, "Whatever you can do for me, I'd appreciate it." In this way, you appreciate their prompt and excellent service without establishing any expectations.

Using this approach, savvy tourists have previously benefited from free accommodation upgrades, more fabulous views, meal vouchers, and many other benefits. The secret is always to inquire gently and leave the upgrading decision to the receptionist.

4. Tying your charger to your wallet or car keys, you will never forget it.

Put anything important on your charger if you frequently forget your phone or computer charger, especially if it is plugged into a concealed outlet. So that you can't leave your room without touching your frequently ignored charger, wrap it around the cord.

5. Use condition or lotion instead of makeup remover

Both conditioner and lotion will do the trick if you're traveling with a hotel and forget to bring makeup remover. To remove your makeup, dab a bit of the cream onto a tissue and use it while keeping your eyes closed. Next, thoroughly clean everything with warm water. If you wore waterproof mascara, you might need to repeat this process a few times to remove everything, but it should work.

You can utilize coconut oil, olive oil, yogurt, or honey if there isn't any lotion or conditioner in the space. Follow the same procedure as described above.

6. Ask for free items before making a purchase.

If you forget your toothbrush, phone charger, or other small items, hold off on running to the store to get a replacement. Ask the front desk if any of those products are available to be given to you free of charge. Many hotels have baskets of small items, such as phone chargers, that they will loan you for the night. These are small items that are frequently forgotten.

Go outside the hotel to buy what you need if the front desk cannot provide it. Everything you purchase from the hotel's convenience store will be outrageously overpriced.

7. Fill your sink with ice and plug it with an ice bucket to keep drinks cold without a cooler.

Use this hack to convert your sink into a sizable ice bucket if your hotel room lacks a fridge and you need to cool some drinks fast. First, stop the drain by setting your ice bucket in the sink. Then, pour the ice into multiple containers into the sink and ice bucket. Before the ice melts, it should continue for several hours. Cleanup is effortless. Take out the ice bucket and let the water runoff.

8. Create a speaker out of an empty cup.

Many hotel insiders advise against using the cups the hotel offers or, at the very least, recommend washing them thoroughly before use. According to Heads in Beds, the cleaning staff of large hotels frequently save time by simply rinsing out mugs, wiping them off with a used towel, and polishing them with Pledge.

If you don't like this idea, use disposable cups instead and turn your glass mugs and cups into a DIY phone speaker. The cup will magnify any audio you are playing if you place the base of your phone inside. Any music you're listening to will sound louder even if you have to change the angle to get good sound.

9. Use the "Do Not Disturb" sign to your advantage

Put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door if you're concerned about leaving your valuables in your room alone while the cleaning crew comes and goes. Even if your bed won't be perfectly made, for some people, the peace of mind it provides justifies the sacrifice. Additionally, since they won't be able to tell when you're in the room and when you've left, it has the added advantage of discouraging other thieves, especially if you go on all the time.

Another piece of advice is to avoid using your "Do Not Disturb" sign's "Clean Room" side. It is an outright commercial for the moments when you are not present.

10. Use a spare card or piece of cardboard to keep the lights on.

Some hotels have guests use a key card to turn on the electricity in their rooms to conserve energy. It's a tremendous ecological endeavor, but if you have one key, you can't leave someone in the room alone or charge your electronics.

This issue can be resolved by requesting two keys at check-in, albeit the key placed in the slot need not be the exact one from your room. To keep the electricity on, you can use any random card (preferably not a credit card) or slip of cardboard.

11. Store a one - or two-day supply of moisturizer or cosmetics in a contact lens bag.

Use a contact lens case if you don't want to carry heavy cosmetics or facial moisturizers to your hotel for just a one- or two-night visit. One or two small bottles of liquid or cream can be stored in the two watertight chambers. Just be careful not to try to use them again for contact lenses.

12. Sign up for the hotel's loyalty program to receive benefits like free Wi-Fi.

Since Wi-Fi is now considered essential, many hotels provide a free, medium-speed connection. However, some lodgings, particularly those belonging to larger chains, refuse to cooperate or severely limit speeds, making it impossible to complete any job without upgrading.

Check whether your hotel has a loyalty program if it doesn't provide free Wi-Fi. Numerous large chain hotels offer convenient benefits like free Wi-Fi to members of their loyalty programs, which are open to anyone.

13. Purchase a Chromecast for streaming on the go.

If you don't want to be constrained to watching the hotel lobby channel while on vacation, invest in a Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick. All you have to do to access your Netflix account and any other saved media is plug it into the HDMI input on your TV.