5 things a hotel will give you for free
Packing for a trip, be it business or pleasure, is rarely anyone's idea of a good time. Add to it the frustration of knowing you're going to have to fiddle with filling those usually awful travel containers with shampoo, conditioner and other personal products and ... just, ugh.
Instead of that, why not let your destination hotel take care of it for you? Plenty of hotels — most, in fact — provide a lot of products for free, and it's not just the soap and shampoo you always find in your room. Some hotels even go beyond the essentials, offering some pretty sweet perks to guests. But if you aren't staying at one of those hotels, rest assured you can still get some freebies.
Here are five items you should let the hotel provide during your stay (and, when possible, take home with you when you leave) to make traveling easier and saving money a breeze.
1. Toothbrush & Toothpaste
These items usually aren't in the room waiting for you when you arrive, but most hotels have toothpaste and toothbrushes on hand and will bring them to your room for free. And when you leave, you can take the typically small tubes on the plane with you to ensure you have a fresh, gleaming smile when you arrive home.
2. Extra Pillows & Blankets
It's not a good idea to take these home with you. That would be stealing. But asking for some extra blankets and pillows to make your stay more comfortable is perfectly fine, and most hotels have a range of pillow options available, so even if you'd just like a different firmness (or need extras for a pillow fight), go ahead and ask.
3. Shampoo & Conditioner
A lot of hotels these days provide good quality shampoos and conditioners in their rooms. These little bottles come in super handy at home for guest baths as well as for future travel, so stick them in your luggage every day so you keep getting fresh ones from housekeeping all throughout your stay.
4. Soap & Moisturizer
Same goes for the soap and moisturizer. Get fresh ones for each day you stay at the hotel.
5. Wi-Fi
You definitely can't take this home with yo u, but you should certainly ask for complimentary Wi-Fi if it doesn't already come with the room.
If it isn't offered to all guests, you might want to see if your plastic entitles you to some free web-surfing. A few hotel rewards credit cards entitle their accountholders to free Wi-Fi in their rooms and even beyond. (But, if you're thinking of applying for one, you may want to check your credit because a good score helps you qualify for cards with the best perks. You can view your two free credit scores, updated each month, on Credit.com.)
You can check out the full list of things a hotel will give you for free on Credit.com.
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This article originally appeared on Credit.com.
