Being the avid travel fans that we are, we’d always opt for accommodation that is, if not luxurious, thoughtfully designed.

But sometimes, that boutique houseboat or glamorous Moroccan riad isn’t always available. If you’re being shipped off on a work trip and your line manager doesn’t quite have the same taste in hotels as you, you might find yourself needing to draw on your resourcefulness – and a backlog of travel hacks – to get your room up to scratch.

For those times, this Twitter thread is a life saver.

It all started with a tweet from social media user @rklau, who posted an image showing a trouser clothes hanger clipped to a pair of curtains to keep the light out.

Next to the picture he wrote: “I don’t remember who posted this on Twitter a few years ago, but whoever you are: you have improved every night I’ve spent in a hotel since.”

Although we’re already pretty au fait with some great plane and airport travel hacks – for example, bagging yourself a first-class upgrade for free or how to get the best service from the flight attendants – this handy hotel tip is one to remember.

But better than just that: this tweet has become the gift that keeps on giving. After going viral (it has over 71k retweets so far), hordes of social media users have been sharing their own tips for staying at hotels that haven’t quite got it right, or hacks on how to make any stay away work better for you. 

Bag yourself a new phone charger – for free

Twitter user @vinylrabbit has a sneaky way to get an extra phone charger, writing: “My hotel hack is if you ever need an extra phone charger ask the front desk if they found one. They have a box full.”

What to do if you’ve lost the plug for your phone charger

“And if they don’t have enough outlets, use the USB port of the hotel room tv,” says @MichaelHeide.

Ensure everything is squeaky clean with minimal effort

“Carry a travel size bottle of Lysol (they sell them in stores everywhere). But check with your airlines to make sure you can bring them in your luggage. Spray everything when you get in the room. Also, Lysol wipes can be used for handles and remotes,” says @kimzimmerman1.

When you’ve got a long night of work ahead of you…

Social media user @across advises: “My favorite hotel hack: Your ironing board is an adjustable height desk. Since the chairs are never the right height, use the ironing board for long hotel work.”

Get the strongest wifi connection

“I always bring a 10’ LAN cable and plug my laptop directly into the wireless router,” writes @IndignantBacon.

Don’t touch that remote!

Social media user @melmor86 knows how to keep the germs away, writing: “Best hotel hack: instead of touching the disgusting tv remote, wrap it in the shower cap!”

Images: Getty