Stacey Hamilton has stayed in hundreds of hotels and says a simple visual reminder has saved her from costly mistakes when checking out
Your shoes can be a huge help(Image: Getty)
If you’re a seasoned jet-setter, you’ll be all too familiar with the minor irritations that come with hotel stays. From inconveniently placed plug sockets to baffling air conditioning controls and light switches that seem to operate something in another postcode.
Stacey Hamilton, a travel guru from Private Tours England, who has clocked up hundreds of hotel stays both in the UK and abroad, has revealed her go-to trick for hassle-free hotel living. From securing valuables to smarter packing and ensuring a good night’s sleep, she claims these simple hotel hacks have saved her time, money and a fair few early morning scrambles.
One particular technique she swears by might sound a bit odd, but it’s come to her rescue on numerous occasions.
Stacey admitted: “For years, I avoided using hotel safes because I was convinced I’d forget what I’d put in there. It sounds silly, but when you’re rushing to catch a train or heading out early with guests, it’s very easy to walk out and leave valuables behind.”
To combat this, she now always stashes one of her shoes in the safe along with her passport and jewellery, reports the Express.
She explained: “I physically cannot leave the room without realising something is missing,” she says. “It’s usually a heel for me because I need them for work, but the principle works with anything you wouldn’t dream of leaving behind.”
“If you travel with trainers, pop one trainer in there. If it’s winter, your coat works just as well. The idea is to create a visual reminder you can’t overlook.”
Before checking out of the hotel, after retrieving her shoe and other valuables from the safe, Stacey always makes sure to take one item with her. She never departs a hotel without pocketing one of the complimentary shower caps.
She explained: “They’re perfect for covering shoes when you’re packing to come home.”
If your shoes have become dirty from extensive walking or hiking, it’s not ideal to pack them directly against your clothes in your suitcase. That’s where the shower cap comes in handy.
She said: “Instead of wrapping shoes in plastic bags or hoping for the best, I slip a shower cap over the sole. It keeps everything else clean, and it packs neatly.”
Stacey also revealed another clever use for the shower cap.
She shared: “I also use shower caps on TV remotes. Let’s be honest, those things are filthy. It’s a simple barrier that makes me feel a lot better, especially if I’m staying somewhere for a few nights.”.