5 Ways Hotels Rip You Off to Help Their Bottom Line

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  • Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024

Комментарии • 385

  • @jerryarnold936
    @jerryarnold936 7 лет назад +25

    Another thing is pick up the business card on the desk when you check into hotel, It helps the taxi know where your hotel is if they don't speak language and a lot of times the business card will work in the electricity slot....so grab a couple business cards at front desk.

  • @stanmcserr8576
    @stanmcserr8576 7 лет назад +23

    Las Vegas Hotels started charging for parking, both self and valet. That is truly a rip-off.

  • @pandaDotDragon
    @pandaDotDragon 7 лет назад +18

    If you really want to lose a lot of money just try the laundry service.
    In some places/destinations it can be more expensive than your clothes....

  • @chriszavos
    @chriszavos 7 лет назад +149

    Did you notice that the less expensive a hotel is, the more likely it is to get free wifi? I have stayed at very expensive 5-star hotels and they still don't provide you with free access to the internet.

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад +39

      I 100% agree with you! its like the nicer it is the more they nickel and dime you. I had a really nice place in Chicago and their internet was $20 a day... I was like, am I supposed to pay for your entire monthly internet bill with my weekend stay?

    • @chriszavos
      @chriszavos 7 лет назад +2

      Some of them have free internet areas at the main hotel lobby at the reception, but when you get into your luxurious room, you need to pay 20 euros a day, as you said. When it should have been the other way around.

    • @criskity
      @criskity 7 лет назад +6

      Wifi is almost always free at hostels!

    • @happyhandylife4101
      @happyhandylife4101 7 лет назад +5

      Totally! The nicest places have the most fees in my experience. I refuse to stay at Gaylord Palms anymore because between the "resort fee" and the "parking fee" it's nearly $50 more a day. Nice hotels charge those fees because they feel like they can in my opinion. On the flipside, I've never stayed at a Residence Inn that charged me a resort fee and they are always bending over backwards to be accomodating there. I'll choose that any day over "luxury" that I get nickled and dimed for!

    • @mckenna8663
      @mckenna8663 7 лет назад +9

      True - and the fancier the hotel/resort the MUCH less chance for complimentary breakfasts.
      Sure you get tired of the same old instant eggs, bagels, and waffles in the lobby - but HEY, it's SOMETHING.

  • @mariohendriks1
    @mariohendriks1 7 лет назад +10

    When you're visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine and want to buy a piece of salt as a souvenir, don't buy the reddish pink ones. They're from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan.

  • @TripHacksDC
    @TripHacksDC 7 лет назад +31

    Resort fees seem to be an unfortunate unintended consequence of the proliferation of "hotel comparison" websites that search 200 different websites (or whatever the number is) to find the best rate. Hotels have a huge incentive to lower the advertised rates to rank better on those sites. Think of it another way, if you paid $150 for a room you wouldn't think twice about it. If you paid $120 for a room with a $30 "resort fee" you'd be upset about it. It doesn't necessarily mean you're getting ripped off but is admittedly pretty annoying because it makes shopping for a hotel more difficult.

    • @besteconomicsfaculty
      @besteconomicsfaculty 7 лет назад +4

      Trip Hacks DC well said

    • @janburn007
      @janburn007 7 лет назад +2

      It probably just goes to show that if you know you will be wanting to use the hotel's other facilities such as pool or gymnasium etc - you should probably enquire of the hotel directly (by phone or email) as to whether they charge extra for using these facilities, or whether you will need to pay a standard additional charge (such as a resort fee) on top of the room fee, whether you use those facilities or not.
      This should help sort out the wheat from the chaff & will give you an opportunity to provide the hotel with feedback about this type of fee, particularly for those who are unlikely to use the extra facilities, but still have to pay the extra fee. I never miss an opportunity to provide hotels with feedback on anything at all that I am unhappy with during my stay. If enough people do that, it might just help them to lift their game - especially the more expensive hotels.

    • @lesliefranklin1870
      @lesliefranklin1870 5 лет назад

      It's pure and simple false advertising and should be illegal. I would not mind if I was able to check in without paying the resort fees and not use the services they are supposedly for.

  • @OpalRavenna
    @OpalRavenna 7 лет назад +9

    I travel to Europe with a lightweight, thin power strip that has three outlets and four USB ports. It comes in very handy when there are two people trying to charge gadgets.

  • @ketarita1911
    @ketarita1911 7 лет назад +21

    I cant stand resort fees...you should have the option to not use the "amenities" and waive the fee. This is why Airbnb and VRBO is the way to go for me.

  • @GravityFromAbove
    @GravityFromAbove 7 лет назад +7

    Mark here in Alaska my town has a tourist economy. I work with raft and wildlife tours. It's the cruise ships that tack on a hefty extra fee for any tour. The smart folks will go through an independent company like ours and save $80 for the exact same tour minus 40 other shipmates. Thanks for the tips!

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад +1

      +The Anadromous Life great to hear. We are tdying to figure out a way to get up to alaska o hopefully will see you up that way one dat

    • @GravityFromAbove
      @GravityFromAbove 7 лет назад +7

      Mark here's my tip. Don't take a cruise here unless there are other pressing reasons that you should. If you want to do it right. Get on the AMH ferry in Bellingham Washington and take the long ride up. It's the most amazing form of transportation imaginable. The cabins are nice, if not cruise ship plush. The scenery mind blowing. And to have an outstanding conversation with anyone just ask 'Why are you going to Alaska?' Or fly to Juneau if you don't have the time and just come straight to Haines. (Between Juneau and Haines everything is here! Mountains, whales, bears, glaciers, moose, rivers, eagles, lakes, etc etc.) Book a hotel (Halsingland for atmosphere) take tours, there are about thirty between Haines and Skagway (but don't stay in Skagway (11,000 tourists a day in summer). Let me know when you come and I'll connect you with tours, animals, and most important local folks! (And food!)

    • @lesliefranklin1870
      @lesliefranklin1870 5 лет назад +1

      @@GravityFromAbove : Thanks for the ferry tip.
      One advantage about booking through the cruise ship is if the excursion returns late, the ship will wait for you. If you book independently, it won't wait. Stuff like vehicle breakdowns happen. However, as you say, there is a huge difference in price.

    • @GravityFromAbove
      @GravityFromAbove 5 лет назад +2

      @@lesliefranklin1870 In 15 years of working with the cruise ships I have never seen them leave without a passenger from a local tour. They always know if there is a delay and will wait. But the truth is the tours are always scheduled to get people back to their respective ships with time to spare. It's all quite professional. But my advice, go ferry go independent if possible. Get to know the Alaskans instead of simply skimming through as the big ships do. (But now I live in Tbilisi Georgia. But that's another story for another day...)

  • @savedbygrace2397
    @savedbygrace2397 7 лет назад +4

    I have been amazed at the price of room service. In big cities, the food is expensive to start with, then there are high taxes, a service fee, a delivery fee, and finally the tip. A simple $10 burger meal could easily cost $55.

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад

      +Saved by Grace I know. It's insane!

    • @mckenna8663
      @mckenna8663 7 лет назад +1

      Between high fees, long waits, and usually cold food (not to mention the dirty dishes sitting around your room) - I have never understood people ordering room service.
      (The worst are the people who throw their room service dishes and uneaten food out into the hallway. HEY, DUMMY!! No-one wants to see it, nor do any of us want anything that would draw pests into our common area. YOU ordered it - YOU keep it!!)

    • @savedbygrace2397
      @savedbygrace2397 7 лет назад

      jovicrazed, that's what I thought. In fact, I think that was the instructions.

  • @truneilson
    @truneilson 7 лет назад +19

    TV'S often have usb ports in the back now that you can use to charge.

    • @lesliefranklin1870
      @lesliefranklin1870 5 лет назад +1

      True, but without the room key in the slot there is no power for the TV either.

  • @steviegibson5847
    @steviegibson5847 7 лет назад +64

    you can ask for two key cards.....one for each person. Keep one in the slot and take one with you.

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад +32

      we do do that, but some hotels will only give us one. or we have had hotels where the cleaning staff come in and pull out the key card. It happened in Lisbon to a friend of mine who had serious food poisoning. They thought we were all gone for he day and they kept taking out his key card, they would reach in and pull it out and he would have to yell at them to stop it. It happened three times in one day to him.

    • @mckenna8663
      @mckenna8663 7 лет назад +8

      Wolters World... see THAT is what would worry me. You bring a "doggy bag" back and put it in your fridge not knowing that it in fact has been stored in a hot box for hours. (I never put two and two together regarding the card in the "lights switch".)

    • @TheWanderingWife
      @TheWanderingWife 7 лет назад +9

      Any card will work to keep the electricity on. It doesn't have to be the room key card. We carry expired gift cards and leave them in there. Once in a while the maid will remove it, but that is rare.

    • @shadowfan982
      @shadowfan982 7 лет назад +5

      or you can get a piece of paper just small enough to not be taken out by hand, but by tweezers!
      EDIT: and thick enough.

    • @memoryigo
      @memoryigo 4 года назад +2

      Just tell them that you lost the key and you need a new one And put the do not disturb sign on the door works for me so far

  • @user-bw6eg6vl9r
    @user-bw6eg6vl9r 7 лет назад +1

    All good tips. I'm seen more hotels requiring you to insert your keycard in order to get the power to work. I simply ask for an extra keycard because who wants to come back to a hot room. I've asked sometimes what the 'resort fee' entails. If they say it's for use of the pool and fitness room, then I might ask I don't plan to use those facilities and won't charge me. It's worth it to ask. Perfect tip on the power strip. They have super compact ones now.

  • @jerryarnold936
    @jerryarnold936 7 лет назад +4

    When they do the card for elec thing, I plug everything I want to charge up, then leave the room and lock myself out...when I return after dinner I stop by desk and request another key.

  • @sisteriniron
    @sisteriniron 7 лет назад +6

    Yes, I hate resort fees so much! I'd much rather they increase the price to include everything so I know what I'm paying ahead of time instead of trying to factor in the resort fee afterwards.

  • @wairimugichuri5400
    @wairimugichuri5400 3 года назад

    This is so enlightening. Especially the first one. It’s refreshing that I’m not the only one who gets peeved off by walking into a fricken hot room when I’m paying for that AC too.
    Mark thanks so much for your realistic view and sharing honest experiences. Plus your passion is infectious. I can’t believe I only just discovered this channel a few weeks ago. Safe to say, tonight I’m on a Wolter’s World binge!
    I STAN!

  • @kevinhendryx665
    @kevinhendryx665 6 лет назад +4

    Sensible travel tips presented with insight and humor! Plus Jocelyn is cute as a button.

  • @kanehi
    @kanehi 6 лет назад +1

    Great tips. When I go to Las Vegas I usually go for decent hotels with the lowest resort fees. Luxor has one of the lowest resort fees on the strip. Those hotels with free breakfast are usually has a bit higher room rates which compensates for the "free" breakfast plus they're only open for breakfast at a set time and some are far away from the places you want to see.

    • @casse1458
      @casse1458 6 лет назад

      kanehi yes no such thing as free breakfast s🙂

    • @kanehi
      @kanehi 6 лет назад

      We rented a hotel on the outskirt of the Las Vegas for one night for $100 per night with free breakfast. The room rate at Luxor was $40 per night with $25 resort fee back then which totaled $65. For the difference the breakfast costed $35... not a free breakfast! I could've bought an all day buffet at the Luxor back then.

  • @TheWanderingWife
    @TheWanderingWife 7 лет назад +5

    Any credit-card-sized card will work to keep the electricity on. It doesn't have to be the room key card. We carry expired gift cards and leave them in there. Once in a while the maid will remove it, but that is rare. We leave it in because in a few places we have found that it turns off the AC, too (if you're lucky to have it) and then you come back to a room that feels like a sauna.

    • @jocelynwolters293
      @jocelynwolters293 7 лет назад +6

      The Wandering Wife, we've done that also but, recently we have found that the cards are chipped or have some kind of reader in them. I think they're beginning to catch on to our little hack. ☹

    • @TheWanderingWife
      @TheWanderingWife 7 лет назад +2

      Hmm, we haven't found that happening yet. We were just in Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria and we're still able to do it. I guess I'll run across it eventually. 😡

  • @PauloGaetathe_original
    @PauloGaetathe_original 7 лет назад +6

    Krakow is indeed a fantastic historical city in Poland. What I just could not believe there, is the way they market the tours to Auschwitz, it´s almost as it´s a tour to Disneyland! One of the most horrible things that has ever happened, I was really sad after visiting Auschwitz.

    • @RedroomStudios
      @RedroomStudios 6 лет назад

      I have never been there but just seeing it on videos it seemed that way to me. very unfortunate.

    • @perthfanny3017
      @perthfanny3017 5 лет назад

      That's crazy. I've been willing to go for years but I keep postponing because I am scared some people might act in an inappropriate and disrespectful way... 🙁

  • @PatrykJarmakowicz
    @PatrykJarmakowicz 7 лет назад +1

    If you’re in the south of Poland, try the north once. Gdańsk, Toruń, Olsztyn and the whole Lake District. It’s gorgeous :)

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад

      Gdansk was my favorite for so long. I used to take friends that would visit me in Lithuania to Gdansk because it is so awesome.

  • @donaldlewis567
    @donaldlewis567 7 лет назад +3

    I did complain to Delano in Las Vegas and they returned my resort fees / I told them I did not use the internet or gym which was true and they refunded it instantly - they were very nice.

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад +2

      Awesome! I have had a few shoulder shrugs of "sorry dude". good to know!

    • @mckenna8663
      @mckenna8663 7 лет назад +1

      Donald... wow. I've fought against the fees and never had them reversed.

    • @donaldlewis567
      @donaldlewis567 7 лет назад

      I could not believe how nice they were. I have complained before, but mostly to myself and vowed to not stay at a place with resort fees again. Now I will complain and see what they can do - I avoid the gym and pools like the plague and don't use wifi, so I hate paying these fees!!

  • @douglassnyder9612
    @douglassnyder9612 6 лет назад

    Purchased a power strip with a European plug for recent Paris trip. Kept multiple phones, tablets, laptop, camera batteries nicely charged during the trip. Nice thing with newer electronics chargers is they adapt between voltages automatically so no kind of converters required.

  • @bettyjoy6361
    @bettyjoy6361 7 лет назад

    Hey! Here is another PRO TIP:
    When traveling in Aust and NZ:
    Don't stay at caravan parks!
    They appear cheaper options, but by the time you add on all the extras it can be more pricey than staying at an AirBnB or hotel.
    Some caravan parks will set a price then ad on:
    Towel hire
    Linen use
    Wifi
    Washer
    Drier
    Use of the bathroom facilities!!!
    Power/electricity
    Etc
    To me, if you book a place to stay it should definitely include the use of toilet and shower! And you would think they'd let you use the sheets or blankets as built into the price of the room! Wifi can be up to $20-30 for 2gig of very slow connection.
    I don't know!
    Do I sound like a tight ass? By the time you pay for all these things you could have stayed almost anywhere else cheaper!
    Thanks for your awesome content Mark and team!

  • @corbingarrett1206
    @corbingarrett1206 6 лет назад +1

    I managed a mid quality hotel here in the states for a couple years, while it's not necessarily a rip off or anything, when hotels only change your sheets when you ask (with the little sign you leave on the bed) it is just as much about saving the housekeepers time as it is about saving water.

  • @Places2GoTravel
    @Places2GoTravel 7 лет назад +1

    Mark, another great video - the electricity thing drives me crazy, suggest you ask for two key cards, most reception staff will oblige without question even if it's a single occupancy booking. We're off back to the Canaries in September, can't wait!

  • @halvarf
    @halvarf 7 лет назад

    Fortunately, hotel reviews on the internet have often helped me avoiding these problems lately. Most of these little "scams" rely on surprising the guests at a time when they can't do anything about it any more or when they don't want to spoil their holiday by fighting. On sites like tripadvisor or booking or HRS, reviewers often candidly report on these things, like hidden extra charges or permanently out-of-service facilities etc. I try to do that myself, too, if they annoy me.

  • @andariegos9466
    @andariegos9466 2 года назад

    We bring a wall charger that has usb slots on it too. But we also each bring a 10 ft. long charging cable in case the outlet is a little far or inconveniently behind furniture or something.

  • @mickeltee2079
    @mickeltee2079 7 лет назад

    Thanks for the tips. I don't order room service, don't use the mini bar items or purchase tours direct from the hotelier. Most of the time I book everything even before I arrive at the destination. I always look out for free wifi and swimming pool. And sometimes if necessary, free parking. I also look out for sofa bed and king sized beds if I'm travelling with family. Most times I purchase through travel sites.

  • @cyoungso
    @cyoungso 7 лет назад +8

    I caught holy hell in Italy for using my second card to keep the power on.

  • @dwnk4691
    @dwnk4691 7 лет назад

    Great post. The key cards were a pain. Not having the A/C running while we were out and about meant that none of our clothes dried in the meantime.
    The in-room coffee service in France and Portugal was great though....
    Regarding tours, we had a great experience with a Niagara Falls tour we booked through our hotel.

  • @39Thorns
    @39Thorns 7 лет назад

    Airbnb. Rent a bike, shop at the grocery store. In Krakow, stay in Krowodrza and ride a bike into the old town, or take the tram. The electric train will take you right to Weilicka to see the mine. Stay for 4 days. My favorite city in Europe.

  • @felipe31soares
    @felipe31soares 7 лет назад

    Hey, I left Kraków 1 hour ago. That's a incredible place to know! I wish I can go back there sometime.
    Thank you for the advice, Mark!

  • @JazzRocks57
    @JazzRocks57 6 лет назад

    The lack of plugs in hotel rooms is so true! I always take a power strip with me.

  • @piper998877
    @piper998877 7 лет назад

    Two other ways are toiletries. While some hotels will provide tooth paste and shaving kits, others will tell you that they sell the items in their pantry. The other is parking. I typically travel to places where hotel parking is free, and where I live is devoid of public transportation and ride-sharing options. I went to Chicago and stayed at downtown hotel where I had to pay $48 per night for parking. My rental car was only $90.

  • @heyannalisee
    @heyannalisee 7 лет назад +8

    In defense of hotels (: many hospitality companies have 'green' initiatives and have the key card electricity slots installed as part of that. Obviously if you use less electricity that's great for the hotels bottom line, but I that isn't always why they were installed in the first place.
    Also, I think resort fees and charging extra for wifi etc is mostly about branding and status. The same way the actual cost of a designer purse is only 15 dollars, but people are willing to pay thousands of dollars. Really fancy hotels and resorts want a certain type of traveler so they make extras chargeable.
    I've been working in hotels for a few years now and it was really interesting to see another perspective on my job lol. Great video as usual Mark!

    • @robertjensen1048
      @robertjensen1048 7 лет назад +4

      Guess what? FUCK those "Green" initiatives. That's what.
      Me, I am on vacation to have FUN, and feel GOOD, and be COMFORTABLE. I am not on vacation to save some billion-dollar hotel a few buck on THEIR power bill. If I am giving a hotel $500/a day for a room that is smaller than my living room back home, then I expect AC that is 68F/19C 24 hours a day.

  • @stares1080
    @stares1080 7 лет назад

    Great insights. We take the multi-adaptors (ready packed). We too have also requested a second key card for a room (with occasional success) stating we are doing different things on certain days which was very useful for keeping electric going for essentials only. Thanks again, look forward to more vids :)

  • @FooseontheMove
    @FooseontheMove 6 лет назад +2

    What if you leave the key of the other person that is staying with you and use your key to get into the room?

  • @thegeekyouseek8229
    @thegeekyouseek8229 7 лет назад +2

    If you're in the hotel with your partner they give a second keycard. Leave it in the caddy to leave keep the power on

  • @Psychphuq
    @Psychphuq 7 лет назад

    A way to avoid room service fees altogether is to stay in an apartment / apartment hotel & use local shops... you can get RTE's & snacks for random hunger moments as well as breakfast for a week without breaking the bank. This then gives you extra cash to spend on lunch when you're out & about...

  • @cheserex
    @cheserex 6 лет назад +4

    You left out the "stewards of the environment" cards allowing you to skip having new towels, new sheets, etc.- they work on your guilt and their greed

    • @gojl5567
      @gojl5567 3 года назад

      This! I don't use my towels for two days at home, but now that I'm paying $150 per night, I'm going to start? I don't think so. I also might throw an unused towel on the floor for the heck of it.

  • @MyCatFooed
    @MyCatFooed 7 лет назад

    Great tips Mark!!

  • @minicha77em
    @minicha77em 7 лет назад +2

    Do not touch the content of the mini-fridge, that is not free.
    If there's a bottle of water on the table when you arrive, that is complementary but everything in the mini-fridge is highly priced.

    • @lesliefranklin1870
      @lesliefranklin1870 5 лет назад

      That bottle of water on the table is *not* always complimentary. You need to check.

  • @isaacvarsanov1122
    @isaacvarsanov1122 7 лет назад

    Thanks for the travel tips . Love your channel . Good health to you and your family .😃😃

  • @Robert89349
    @Robert89349 7 лет назад +1

    1) why don't you just ask for one more card to leave in the room in order to charge your devices? I am a hotel receptionist and people do this all the time.
    2) when you spend some time at the front desk asking for tour information, details, suggestions and then get the employee book it for you then yes, of course you have to pay for this service. otherwise spend sometime searching online for yourselves and get your advice from trip advisor reviews.

  • @lotusflo12
    @lotusflo12 7 лет назад +5

    Hi. I want to do some solo traveling but I heard hotels still charge you a fee because the room price is base on "double occupancy". I really don't like the idea of sharing room with a total stranger. Any tip on avoiding the markup on hotels for solo traveling? There's so many great deals around now but all base on 2 traveler. Thanks!

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад +8

      ask for a single room. hotels do not put you in a room with people you don't know. A double room just has two beds, they do not put two people in there You can ask for a single room and it should be less than a double. It won't be half the price but it should be less. but some hotels do not have a "single" option soyou pay what the room goes for whether there is one person or four people.

    • @lotusflo12
      @lotusflo12 7 лет назад +2

      Wolters World Thank you so much for responding and advice.

    • @mckenna8663
      @mckenna8663 7 лет назад +2

      BTW, lotusflo12, something that I just recently heard about is that SOME cruise ships have STUDIO CABINS for 1. With the cost of cruising (vs. my love of it) having to NOT have to pay a "penalty" when I am not traveling with a partner is WORTH the smaller quarters. - - - Who CARES about the size of the room when the ocean is still the same size on deck; no matter if you are in the smallest cabin or the presidential suite.

    • @MindlessWanderings
      @MindlessWanderings 7 лет назад +1

      These days that's mainly only a hostel thing to make you pay for single occupancy because hostels are all about shared rooms.
      In hotels you pay for a room and the cost is based on type (single, double, etc.) so you do get a mark up in a sense because not many hotels have small single rooms these days unless they're quite old or cater to businessmen.
      Generally privacy costs money so the cheapest is a dorm room in a hostel (huge dorms are extremely cheap while smaller 4 bed rooms are just very cheap), a private room in a hostel costs a little more and you usually share a communal bathroom, then you move on to hotels where you might find a tiny room with shared bathrooms, then single complete rooms, doubles, and onwards.
      As an example of cost in a major Euro city a large hostel dorm may cost $10, small dorm $20, private room $40, single hotel $75, double $100, etc. (obviously it all depends on quality, location, demand, and the actual city)
      Tours/cruises (and similar) still do a lot based on twin share/double occupancy. If you do a 2 week bus tour by yourself it will cost more to have a private room because they (the company) books rooms based on them being shared but it's not the hotel doing it. If the tour has 20 people and 1 person wants a private room they have to book 11 rooms instead of 10 and because they work in double rooms it doesn't mean they're booking 9 doubles and 2 singles, they book 11 doubles so it does actually cost them more so its a very valid surcharge.

  • @preahko
    @preahko 7 лет назад

    Every hotel I stay in gives (or at least offers) two room cards when I check in. When you go out, leave one of the room cards in the slot to keep the electricity on.

  • @tanyas6643
    @tanyas6643 6 лет назад

    For hotels that have those keycards for electricity... I often ask for a second one. (Sometimes they only do that, if you are traveling with a “roommate “, though.) Having said that... I don’t always use them, unless I have something that needs charging while I’m out of the room. And of course, I turn anything off that isn’t needed, at that time. Regarding plugs.... I’ve been carrying a mini power strip, for many years. It’s always in my carry-on. I don’t even unpack that from the bag. (I also travel with a rechargeable mini speaker, which is great for listening to my music, RUclips videos or podcasts. Just plug it into your phone’s headphone jack.)

  • @fineassamyfresh2387
    @fineassamyfresh2387 7 лет назад

    Thank you for mentioning the key card for the electricity! I wish I had known this years ago in Ireland. They had a plate on the wall to tap your card and I didn't know and was only there overnight so I could go to the airport and didn't bother to ask. I just dealt with the 1 light that worked. I found out after I left. D'oh!

  • @alexanderbryant7666
    @alexanderbryant7666 3 года назад

    I also started paying for, or always getting the wifi hotspot option on my data plan, which now just comes with most plans. Then, I can skip the wifi charge if I'm going to a string of hotels where the reviews say they have a wifi fee, and since the hotspot is now just included with my phone plan, it's no extra cost! I try to always have that as a backup on my international sims too

  • @John_Fx
    @John_Fx 5 лет назад

    With services like grubhub and YelpEats I haven't paid for room service in years. I often look at the prices briefly, curse, then order online.

  • @Matticitt
    @Matticitt 7 лет назад +3

    What I hate about hotel internet is often they say the internet is free. Yes - free wifi. So you pay for your room, get the password, login and then... it's like a time machine, you're back in 1995, because it's like 56kb/s. Hey, but you can upgrade your free unusable shit to our premium 2mb/s shit for $20 a night which is more than I'm paying for 2 months in my house.

    • @casse1458
      @casse1458 6 лет назад

      Mateusz Wojtkiewicz lol

  • @ursulandourusso3236
    @ursulandourusso3236 5 лет назад

    This is so true.. thank you for sharing

  • @tank3957
    @tank3957 2 года назад +1

    Why do you need an alarm clock if you have a phone?

  • @2012edunne
    @2012edunne 7 лет назад

    Hi Mark, love the tips ..I have used an old SIM Card holder also in the hotel room, I remember staying at a hostel in Stockholm, having a UK Power strip with EU plug, all the others in the room wanted to use mine ....

  • @kinosilenzio
    @kinosilenzio 7 лет назад

    I don't have too many issues as I don't use room service or the mini bar. In the days when I used to review hotels though, they used to want me to pay for the mini bar so I made them clear out the fridge! This was most common in Asia. My only gripe at the moment is not being able to join the points scheme as my hotel is the only one in Accor not signed up to the scheme, cute huh! So the future is Air BnB, gonna try that out very soon and see how it goes, it's quite an expensive room but still works out half the price of what I'm paying for the hotel!

  • @anthonykaiser974
    @anthonykaiser974 4 года назад

    Usually a plug somewhere in the room that's not on the switch. Many hotels still don't have open, accessible plugs near the bed because they were installed before cell phones. Some have added light fixtures with built-in plugs for that, but it's hit or miss in Germany. Most US (non-German in general) brand hotels are better about this. They're also better about having wash cloths.

  • @Al3xTrucho20
    @Al3xTrucho20 7 лет назад

    When I went to Barcelona I did notice the card thing. As an American I found it odd. There was one day that it was hot out and came back to our room and it was warm and took awhile for the room to cool down. On the upside the room had plenty of power outlets.

  • @dogbreath34
    @dogbreath34 7 лет назад

    I usually stay in the better hostels available in Europe, and usually I get the wifi free and often access to the internet using a common computer too. The down side is that the keyboard is always different and it is a trial having to figure out where the @ sign is located, as well as the z and so forth. Showers often have those annoying buttons you have to continually push to maintain water flow. In Rome I ran into the key card electricity thing, which means you have to be in the room to charge anything. Bathrooms are down the hall and are are either unisex or female only. Men are not as freaked by the presence of women in their rooms as some women are with the prospect of strange men in their room.

  • @evangeliamintzai6302
    @evangeliamintzai6302 5 лет назад

    You can plug a USBcable in the TV if it is a smart TV .

  • @footballislife1595
    @footballislife1595 4 года назад

    Resort fees are annoying I already paid for my when I went to New York two years ago and they try making me pay twice why it was already included and paid for I am going to San Francisco this year I bloody hope I don't have the same the problem the only thing I use is the computer to print off my boarding pass

  • @brielambley3466
    @brielambley3466 7 лет назад

    Im going on an overseas trip soon and i was able to find a converter plug with 4 usb ports on ebay for $4 with free postage. Also purchased a power bank for the international flight.

  • @travelvideos
    @travelvideos 5 лет назад

    I take extension cord with several plugs then I can plug everything, plus I can use laptop on bed as plugs in hotels are pretty far from bed. Plus it has a light so I can check if socket is live before sitting down and also it has power surge switch. Also, I don't need to buy many socket convertors.

  • @gergelylazar6647
    @gergelylazar6647 7 лет назад

    I also have that slot in my hotel room in Shenzhen. I think it's a good way they spend less on utilities. Yes, one hundred degrees outside, but still. Money.

  • @stephenclements6158
    @stephenclements6158 5 лет назад

    True story on the room service: bottle of standard-grade chardonnay at the hotel bar - $18; room service to bring me the exact same bottle - $90; re-delivery fee when i didn't answer the door in time - $45.

  • @lalilulelo
    @lalilulelo 7 лет назад

    What sucks the most is that some hotels include all fees in the room fee.

  • @jjaus
    @jjaus 7 лет назад

    I almost never stay in hotels. Always self catering. However, when I do I always have room service. It's a luxury and I can come back to the room after a long day, shower and not have to get dressed and go out. Bliss.

  • @barbarastepien-foad4519
    @barbarastepien-foad4519 6 лет назад

    Never heard of resort fees?? I always bring extra plugs etc room service only when it's the first night and you are sooo tired. ....or you're sick. We never book tours through the hotels nor on cruise liners, there's plenty of taxis waiting on shore and you tell them where you want to go.

  • @chrisgenson2278
    @chrisgenson2278 7 лет назад

    Two thoughts for you. First, how about a video on good ways to pay for travel? Second, I see that you are going to Asia next summer. I would recommend going in the fall, as summer can get quite hot! I got to visit Japan last November. The weather was cool. Light jackets most of the time.

  • @jimsox881
    @jimsox881 6 лет назад

    Most dollar stores have 6 foot extension cords cheap. Always take one with

  • @4holidaymaniacs
    @4holidaymaniacs 7 лет назад

    Hi, your videos are amazing!! It is spot on..Why not just take 2 key cards from the hotel and leave one in there? Most hotels I've been to, give 2 cards at check in even without asking. This lack of plug at hotels is such a serious issue. Why can't just they instal plugs near bed side and make life easier for everyone..So many news hotels still don't care to do. The only brand I found is IHG especially Crowne Plaza and inter-continental which take special care and istall plugs near bed side..

  • @adetayomartins7017
    @adetayomartins7017 7 лет назад

    Hello Wolter, can you please recommend Tour operators in Cancun

  • @lilliejen
    @lilliejen 7 лет назад

    Your videos are the best!!!!

  • @waremblem3405
    @waremblem3405 6 лет назад

    Amazing how they got The Human Windmill to travel all over Europe (he swore he was never going to leave the Netherlands).

  • @Parmesana
    @Parmesana 7 лет назад

    When staying in Cancun, my friend would work out daily, and in the work out room was a bowl of fruit for anyone ..He would get a couple pieces of fruit and eat them later..

  • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
    @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 6 лет назад

    In Rome I had one outlet where you plug something in and it falls out😂. It was just me and my mom. Luckily the rest of the outlets were fine. There were also too many beds.

  • @brentsummers7377
    @brentsummers7377 5 лет назад

    Good tips! And check your credit card statements. I got charged by an airport hotel for a breakfast I didn't have. After a couple of emails they reversed the charge so I won't name them but really how apart from being a try on could that happen.

  • @jordankelly9329
    @jordankelly9329 7 лет назад +1

    I take an extension lead with me and plug that into the adapter the into the wall socket only need one adapter.

  • @snepNL
    @snepNL 7 лет назад +2

    thanks wolter

  • @ianbuchan1793
    @ianbuchan1793 5 лет назад

    Watch out for some hotel chains who try to charge you double for your room and claim the payment has not gone through if you have already paid in advance as long as you have your receipt stand your ground and refuse to be ripped off Aeropolis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur tried it on me last May they claimed my payment had not been received as I had paid cash at a travel agent and had a receipt which stated quite clearly I did not need to pay anything aside from the tourist charge of 10 ringgits I had to wait near the hotel check in for almost 1 hr for Them to sort it out they even had the gall to ask me to phone my bank to pay for the room of course I refused then all of a sudden everything was ok They said the payment for my room had only just been received. Which to me was nonsense as I had paid cash a month before . So beware of this especially if your hotel is in the middle of nowhere as Aeropolis is .

  • @timothygaede277
    @timothygaede277 7 лет назад

    But a camera battery stores about an entire cent's worth of electricity. How are hotels going to survive if electrical outlets are easy to find?

  • @2012edunne
    @2012edunne 7 лет назад

    Another one is Credit/Debit card fees such in Denmark.

  • @shanethrelfall416
    @shanethrelfall416 3 года назад

    Never had the plug issue before, I guess I’ve been lucky

  • @MagnificentGermanywithDarion
    @MagnificentGermanywithDarion 4 года назад

    Got to love the "resort fees" !!!!! lol

  • @robertjensen1048
    @robertjensen1048 7 лет назад

    5:30 How to STICK IT to the hotel on room service: Call up Dominos or some other place to delivers. Have them bring a bunch of pizzas to your room. It's cost you a FRACTION of the price of the hotel room service food.

  • @arielparada9624
    @arielparada9624 7 лет назад +1

    thanks man

  • @mscurlsncurvesabroad
    @mscurlsncurvesabroad 7 лет назад

    This is why I have fallen in love with Airbnb...

  • @thetravelinsagittarian1316
    @thetravelinsagittarian1316 6 лет назад

    Great info! 👍

  • @dazzahoward7104
    @dazzahoward7104 7 лет назад

    Great advice!

  • @mickeltee2079
    @mickeltee2079 7 лет назад

    If anyone can answer this I'd appreciate it thanks - wouldn't the additional 'fees' be included or informed on the travel site, Agoda etc?

  • @UWFPensacola
    @UWFPensacola 7 лет назад

    I always ask for 2 card keys. I leave one plugged into that master switch/card switch and other one goes into my wallet when I go out.
    I have also used my DC metro/subway card to keep the electricity going when I'm out 😁

  • @runarandersen878
    @runarandersen878 7 лет назад

    Just remember to not use an important card (like a credit card) when using it to get electricity, because they are easy to forget when leaving the hotel. I know because I did just that. Luckily it was just an unimportant bonus card that I got a new one for free in the mail.

  • @hoof2001
    @hoof2001 7 лет назад

    Have u tried telling reception u mislaid your room key? That gets the power kept on with the extra card

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад

      +hoof2001 oh I have used that trick :) one place said I had to pay for lost key so I said I would go look harder for it :)

  • @kylasbibi
    @kylasbibi 7 лет назад

    Hey Mark. I have a question to ask you about Kraków but it does not relate to this topic. Can I send the question via your website?

  • @pauldavies5655
    @pauldavies5655 6 лет назад +1

    TIP NUMBER SIX ---- go outside and bring your own HOOKER back , because the bloody concierge will add 50% on top . if you order from behind reception !!.

  • @Ronakvevo
    @Ronakvevo 7 лет назад

    The TV has a usb port so that can hlep with the plug situation and I order takeaway from outside for dinner and sneak it in my bag.

  • @doyletronic
    @doyletronic 6 лет назад

    I enjoy these video's and have watched quite a few. I think you could make an interesting one about different regions of the U.S. Every time you say "plug" it sounds funny to me. We say "outlets". Does that sounds funny to you?Southern California.

  • @Quotenwagnerianer
    @Quotenwagnerianer 7 лет назад

    If there is a service fee for room service you just have to get out of your american mode and NOT tip the person who brought it to you. You already payed extra for the service.

  • @SandyB4975
    @SandyB4975 7 лет назад

    Hi wolthter I love your travel tips. I have a question about Italy, we will be there in October, where should I not and should by souvenirs? Are the markets the best? In Venice I want to buy the Murano glass but I'm not going to get it in a small souvenir shop? "I don't want to get ripped off' thanks 🙏

    • @SandyB4975
      @SandyB4975 7 лет назад

      The Squeee do you have a tittle of the of the video? Thanks for you reply.

  • @tigerfanfrv
    @tigerfanfrv 7 лет назад

    I trip to the UK and Ireland, no clocks in the rooms

    • @woltersworld
      @woltersworld  7 лет назад

      +Stephanie B I've stayed in more and more hotels without the clocks lately oddly enough