As a seasoned traveler, you may have a few hotel tricks under your sleeve. Do you, however, know every single one? Knowing how to make your hotel stay more comfortable without breaking the bank makes for a far more enjoyable trip. I share some of the most useful hotel hacks I've learned through traveling in this piece.

Book Late and Save

The most precarious option is to book a hotel stay at the last minute when the price is sometimes drastically reduced to fill the space. Several times, I have strolled into a hotel or hostel on the night of my arrival to ask if they had any rooms available for the following two days and gotten a far better deal at half the price.

Even better, you may check the hotel's website often to see if any discounts have been added. It's one of my tricks for saving money on hotels, especially for two-week trips.

This strategy is only viable if there are several available hotels in the vicinity and you have a backup hotel in mind if your first choice is full. In addition, booking directly through a hotel's website rather than through a third-party site typically results in a lower room rate.

Get a Travel Credit Card/Hotel Loyalty Program

Did you know frequent fliers have the opportunity to rack up a lot of points? If you're interested in acquiring hotel deal hacks, joining a travel points credit card or the hotel's loyalty program is your best bet. You can cover the cost of your hotel using the miles or points you've accumulated through your travels.

Extras like complimentary breakfast, late checkout, and a welcome gift are all possibilities. Find out whether your preferred lodging establishment has a loyalty club or a credit card with perks like these.

Help! Hotels Are Packed!

You've been making preparations for your trip for months, only to find out that no hotels are available in the region. Maybe you could be forced to travel to a place at a time when all available lodging is booked up. If you want to book a room at a full hotel, one trick is to phone and ask to talk to the manager.

Often, openings are set aside for walk-ins. It's more common for these discounts to be offered in less-popular hotels than at major resorts. A great hotel room in a sold-out venue may still be available, provided you have a loyalty program or elite status card that permits you to walk in 48 hours before your arrival.

Mark a Joyous Event

Let the hotel know if you are celebrating a wedding anniversary, honeymoon, or a loved one's birthday, and they will go out of their way to make the occasion special. Don't be shocked if, upon entering your room, you find a gift, cake, and decorations tailored to the occasion you're celebrating. With any luck, you can obtain a free upgrade!

Two All-Day Charging Key Cards

Have a phone and a laptop that need charging? Rather than carrying a dead battery around all day, why not charge it overnight in your room? Simple hotel room hacks include asking for two key cards and leaving one in the slot at the wall outlet. As soon as you return, your electronics will be recharged. This is also a fantastic method of maintaining a comfortable indoor climate through ventilation.

Shower Cap in Bag

You may utilize the shower cap in the bathroom sink for more than showering. You can use shower caps to cover your shoes if you don't want to track mud or filth into your room. This handy hack is a perfect alternative to the bathroom slippers that some hotels may not supply. There should be enough shower caps, but you can ask room service for more if there aren't.

Follow Privacy Signs

To keep you and your things safe when traveling, here are some tried-and-true tips for maximizing the security of your hotel room. As in #5, you might need to charge your gadgets, but you don't feel great about putting them out of sight while you do so.

To what effect? The hotel provides "Do Not Disturb" signs, which may be posted outside the door. If you do this, the hotel employees will know to stay away from your room until the next day. Hotel staff may access unoccupied rooms for cleaning or safety checks, so it's important to notify management if you are gone for more than a day.