September 16, 2025, 3:02 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
The room category you book plays a significant role in determining how luxurious your hotel stay will be. However, regardless of this, you can make your stay even more pleasant in many accommodations. You just need to ask politely at the reception—sometimes great extras are available. Free of charge! TRAVELBOOK has gathered valuable insider tips.
Overview
Extras Often Available for Free Upon Request at Hotels
How do you behave on a city trip? Do you just check in quickly, leave your luggage in the room, and then explore the city on your own? It’s certainly nice to let the atmosphere guide you and spontaneously visit restaurants that appeal to you. However, it can also be worthwhile to ask at the reception for a recommendation…
Free Drinks in Bars and Restaurants
Many hotels have partnerships with restaurants where guests are offered a complimentary welcome drink. TRAVELBOOK learned this from Adi Schwarz, sales manager of the large German gastro group TTR GmbH, which operates the Hirschhof (a hybrid concept of a gastro mile, event spaces, and event platform) in Karlsruhe. Collaborations with bars and nightclubs are also common. Asking can be worthwhile! Often, entry to popular clubs—especially in cities with high tourist traffic—costs a significant amount of money. For hotel guests, however, it is often free.
But even in many hotels themselves, there are some perks that can enhance your stay. The best part: You don’t have to pay for these extras. Especially if you ask politely, you might get one or two things for free.
A Better Room
It can happen that the assigned hotel room has defects. In this case—provided the hotel is not fully booked—you can usually get another room without any issues. Sometimes this room is even better than the originally booked category. Besides complaints, there are numerous other reasons why you might receive a better room upon request. This could be in a quieter or more beautiful wing of the hotel.
“Regardless of requests, we generally upgrade if availability allows,” explains Jonas Schnabel, managing director of the Hotel Florentina in Frankfurt am Main. Smaller rooms are often left empty rather than the more comfortable, larger ones. During higher occupancy, special occasions can lead to an upgrade—such as a guest’s birthday or anniversary. Regular guests might enjoy this benefit without any special reason. It’s important to clearly communicate that it’s an upgrade, says Schnabel: “So guests don’t expect the same next time and end up disappointed.”
Cosmetic and Comfort Items
Rumors often circulate about allegedly relaxed hand luggage rules that supposedly allow larger quantities of liquids. For now, the known rule remains: Liquid cosmetic items can only be transported in containers with a maximum of 100 milliliters, packed in a transparent, resealable bag. For many travelers with hand luggage, vacation preparation involves either buying (relatively expensive) travel sizes or painstakingly transferring products into smaller bottles. If you don’t want to bother with this and don’t want to spend money on cosmetic items on-site, you can get many things at the hotel—usually for free. This does require being open to new products. Those prone to allergies or with very sensitive skin should stick to their usual care products.
But hotels offer far more than just shampoo and shower gel. A friendly request at the reception often yields additional care and everyday items: from toothbrushes and razors to sleep masks and nail sets. Those who prefer extra comfort can also ask for additional pillows, blankets, or slippers. “Combs or bathrobes are often available too,” explains gastro expert Adi Schwarz. Travelers with children also benefit. Many hotels provide baby cribs, milk warmers, outlet childproofing, or even toys upon request. This way, you can keep your luggage light without sacrificing comfort.
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Early Check-in or Late Check-out
You flew out early to maximize your time at the destination—but check-in isn’t until 3 p.m.? This can slow down the start of your vacation. But it doesn’t have to. Simply ask politely and informally if you can check into your room earlier. If it was empty the day before, it doesn’t need cleaning and is likely ready for occupancy.
On departure day, it’s also worth asking at the reception: Often, you can check out a bit later than officially scheduled. This way, you gain valuable time, perhaps for one last dip in the pool or to freshen up before heading to the train station or airport. Many hotels are accommodating here, provided the room isn’t immediately reserved for new guests and needs to be cleaned early.
Tickets for Transport and Cultural Institutions
On city trips, public transportation is usually the best choice for getting around. It allows you to cover longer distances comfortably and without traffic jams, and it’s much cheaper than a taxi. And: Sometimes it’s even completely free.
As gastro expert Adi Schwarz explains, some hotels offer their guests tickets for buses and trains directly at the reception. This offer is mainly found in cities with high tourist traffic. An example is the Basel Card: Every guest staying at a hotel in Basel automatically receives this. It serves as a public transport ticket for a limited time and offers discounts or even free entry to some museums. A similar model exists in Frankfurt am Main. However, the Frankfurt Card is not generally free. “If you ask politely, you might get it for free,” says Schwarz.
Beyond Basel and Frankfurt, such benefits exist. Hotels often collaborate with cities, museums, or tourism organizations, allowing guests to receive discounted or free access to cultural institutions alongside public transport tickets. It’s always worth asking at the reception. Often, smaller and larger extras await that make the stay even more pleasant.