Esther Sturrus, a frequent traveler for Dutch airline KLM, has shared six valuable travel life hacks on TikTok, drawing from her extensive experience on the road. One particularly quirky tip addresses the common concern of leaving items in hotel safes. Sturrus suggests putting one of your shoes in the safe to serve as a reminder. The idea is that you won’t forget to retrieve your belongings since you’ll need the other shoe before leaving. For those with multiple pairs of shoes, substituting with essential items like a jacket or coat can also work effectively.
Sturrus also offers sleep improvement tips for hotel stays. Utilizing clothes hangers from the hotel room closets, travelers can pin together the curtains for better blackout conditions, minimizing ambient light for a more restful sleep.

In another hack, Sturrus recommends using the hotel’s shower caps to cover shoes before placing them in the suitcase. This prevents dirty-bottomed shoes from soiling other belongings. Additionally, the shower cap can double as a cover for the remote control, a commonly touched item in hotel rooms that tends to harbor germs.

A practical and money-saving tip involves charging devices using the hotel television. By plugging devices into the TV’s USB port, travelers can charge smartphones, smartwatches, or Fitbits without the need for a world travel plug, potentially saving expenses on unnecessary adapters that may not be compatible in different countries. Sturrus’ travel hacks offer a blend of practicality and creativity to enhance the overall travel experience.