Add this to your list of Golden Rules of travel: You don’t get what you don’t ask for. Yes, There are Free Things You Can Get at Hotels.  However, hotels don’t necessarily offer all they have to give, so it’s up to travelers to know what’s available. Ask and you can receive everything from workout gear and kids’ toys to toiletries and flat irons. Even better, if you know what to expect in advance, you can trim your packing list and borrow upon arrival. Now that’s what I call a smarter travel. All you have to do is ask. The following are just three of the many hotel chains who provide an array of free things you can get at hotels.

Marriott

No longer will hotel guests in the know have to settle for bad television.  Marriott has just debuted a partnership with Netflix that allows guests to sign in (or sign up) to their Netflix accounts on the hotel’s Internet-connected guest room televisions. By the end of the year, Marriott will offer in-room streaming Netflix at 100 hotels, and plans to offer it at nearly every property by the end of 2016. Wondering if your Marriott is one of the first hotels to debut service?  All  you have to do is ask.

Hyatt

                                                                                                            Photo Hyatt

If you are a forgetful person who travels a lot, you should consider a close relationship with Hyatt. Its Hyatt Has It program offers an impressive list of complimentary items to borrow. In addition to the standards such as mouthwash, sewing kits, and combs; you can call for deodorants, hairspray, lint rollers, nail polish remover, sanitary products, and makeup remover. Hyatt also has you covered on laundry soap, baby shampoo, curling and flat irons, free weights, humidifiers, power adapters, steamers, tea kettles, yoga mats, and more. Really, there’s more.  All you have to do is ask.

W Hotels

                                                                                                           Photo: Starwood

If you are the type of person who can’t sleep if your pillow is just not right, or if you’re the type of traveler who has to try every pillow in your hotel room just to find the least uncomfortable option, then the Pillow Menu at W Hotels is your dream come true.  The Pillow Menu program is part of W Privileges, a set of comfort- and convenience-oriented offerings. Simply make your request to receive a body pillow, neck roll, firm foam PrimaLoft pillow, or 100 percent goose-down feather pillow. Again, all you have to do is ask.

So the next time you stay in a hotel,  make sure you just ask.

Steve

 PS. How to Most Effectively Use Your Hotel Concierge (for Food)