Hotel Stays

The biggest piece of negative feedback I have from this trip concerns booking hotels: book them one day at a time—never for two days or a full week—otherwise, you will almost certainly regret it.

Although some hotels do offer partial refunds for early check-out, you shouldn’t count on it; the majority of hotels do not issue refunds once a reservation has been confirmed.

Regardless of whether the hotel is expensive or cheap, book just one day initially to test it out.

If the hotel allows access to the guest floors without a keycard, take the opportunity to peek at rooms currently being cleaned or those that appear unoccupied. Check the general environment, inspect the amenities, and observe the finer details and service standards before committing to a stay.

If you are satisfied after the first day, you can simply extend your reservation for another day—and repeat this process as you go.

If you are not satisfied with the hotel, you can switch to a different one immediately, incurring a loss of only one day’s accommodation fee.

Based on my own experience: an app listing claimed a hotel offered 1000 Mbps Wi-Fi, but in reality, the speed was less than 100 Mbps. I had planned to spend three days exploring the local area, so I booked the hotel for two nights upfront. However, by the afternoon of the very first day, I couldn’t stand staying there any longer and felt compelled to leave—despite the hotel itself being otherwise decent.

That is why you should always book your hotel stays one day at a time.

Of course, if the hotel is nearly full, it might be advisable to book for a few extra days in advance to avoid the inflated prices—and the risk of having nowhere to stay—that often occur during holidays.

Portable Wi-Fi

If your side income depends heavily on a reliable internet connection, bringing a portable Wi-Fi device is absolutely essential; you cannot simply assume that every new place you visit will have a stable network connection.

Secondly, you should carry a mini-router. This serves various purposes: acting as a Wi-Fi repeater to boost signal strength, expanding the number of available network ports, masking your device’s MAC address for privacy, or allowing all your other network-enabled devices to automatically connect to the router’s Wi-Fi without needing to be reconfigured individually.

Portable Electric Kettle

I’ve heard horror stories about hotel electric kettles—apparently, they are often incredibly unsanitary, sometimes even being used to boil things like socks!

I highly recommend bringing your own mini-electric kettle or heating cup. This allows you to boil your own hot water whenever you need it—whether it’s summer or winter—which is especially important when you’re feeling under the weather.

Additionally, most hotel rooms do not come with a refrigerator; so, if you crave a cold drink, your only option otherwise is to order delivery.

Security Camera

As mentioned earlier regarding the router, one of its primary functions is to facilitate the use of a portable security camera.

Simply plugging it in allows the camera to connect to the network and begin monitoring immediately. This helps prevent issues such as strangers inexplicably opening your door, the theft of personal belongings, or other unforeseen incidents.

When you are traveling away from home, a security camera provides peace of mind by allowing you to monitor for human presence, keep an eye on your valuables, and detect potential hazards like fires.

Buying Water

Hotels typically provide a few complimentary bottles of water upon check-in; however, out of concern regarding potential tampering, it is best to purchase your own water promptly.

As soon as you check in, buy mineral water, electrolyte drinks, cola, and disposable cups—purchase enough to last for the entire duration of your stay.

When traveling, you can get by without food if necessary, but you must ensure you have an ample supply of water. There are simply too many situations where your body requires it: you need water when you cough, when you take medication, and whenever you feel thirsty.