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Make your hotel room feel like home without spending a ton

The season of travel is once again Turn your ice bucket into a cooler But do you want to stick your part-
upon us. Packing–and then schlepping– ner’s and kids’ toothbrushes inside
Whether your next trip will be everything we need while on a trip is the same glass? Probably not. So,
prompted by the ritual of breaking difficult. Something has got to be left here’s how to create a holder for
bread at Aunt Martha’s on Thanks- behind. Sure, in a perfect world, each person: Take a disposable cup,
giving Day, or simply wanting to es- we’d arrive at our hotel room with a turn it upside down, poke a tiny hole
cape the cold and snow that is part ready-made cooler. In reality, in the cup’s bottom, and place your
and parcel with winter in Michigan, though? Nah. Here’s where the ice toothbrush inside the hole.
many of us will soon have our sights bucket comes in handy. In a pinch, it Estimated savings: $5
set on going somewhere. most germ-ridden place in a hotel can chill a bottled water (or two) and
And that means sleeping away room is the main light switch. I’m no the kids’ juice boxes when filled A packing aid your
from home. expert, but I’d venture to say the tel- halfway with ice. suitcase will appreciate
Personally, I’m a fan of hotel evision remote can’t be far behind. Estimated savings: $30 We’ve all been there: It’s the end
stays. There’s just something about Simply place a clear plastic bag–even of our trip, we’re dog tired, and the
ordering room service and having a one from the produce section at the Voila! And now you have smart- last thing we want to do is pack, so
meal delivered in a stainless-steel grocery store will do–over your re- phone speakers! we haphazardly throw our belong-
cloche, having fresh linens at the mote, secure it with a twist-tie, and I tried this one. And it straight-up ings into our suitcase–even our dirty
ready (without having to wash them cut off the remnants, if you prefer. blew my mind. Grab an empty mug, shoes. Well, enter those trusty dis-
yourself), and going down to the Estimated savings: Priceless place your phone inside it, and pre- posable shower caps again. Simply
front desk and having virtually any pare to hear an amplified sound. place your shoes inside them (soles
inquiry addressed by a cheerful Create additional table space Now, is it akin to a $100 speaker? facing down) before placing them in-
concierge (those folks are the origi- The one thing that nearly all hotel No. But there’s a definite improve- side your suitcase.
nal Siri, I tell you). rooms lack is sufficient table/coun- ment…for free! Estimated savings: $30 (Al-
But like anything else, there is a tertop space. Find a stretch of wall Estimated savings: $20-$60 though I argue that a clean inner
downside to hotel living—no matter space large enough to accommodate suitcase is indeed priceless).
how temporary: The feasts under your unfolded ironing board…and From cup to toothbrush holder Courtney Conover is wife, mom,
those stainless-steel cloches cost an boom! Now your ironing board is a Sure, many hotels provide a glass yoga instructor, and Chicken Soup
arm and a leg; a gazillion people makeshift kitchen island/family to serve as a toothbrush holder, for the Soul contributor who has
have stayed in the room prior to us, room coffee table. which is great for your toothbrush. called Wayne home since 1995.
and it’s nearly impossible for even Estimated savings:
the most dutiful housekeeper to Approximately $25-$75
squash all the germs; and sleeping in
a foreign bed can feel, well, foreign. Leftover food
storage solution
Therefore, the following tips may Here’s a brilliant use for those
be somewhat of a game changer. Or, disposable shower caps in the bath-
at the very least they can save us a room. These caps’ elasticized edges
few coins while making our stay sure do come in handy when we’re in
more pleasant. need of Tupperware: Just cover your
food container with the cap before
Reinvent your remote control placing the food in the mini-fridge.
According to USA Today, the Estimated savings: $10

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16 · November 2022 · The Wayne Dispatch