How to Make Any Hotel Stay Way More Fun

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Of the many reasons to get excited about an upcoming trip, a hotel is rarely one. That’s a mistake, in my opinion. In between sightseeing, or after a long day of business meetings, hotels provide a different kind of amusement—albeit, a subtler, more imaginative kind. Below, 10 ideas to liven up any hotel stay. Try them out, and never be bored in a hotel again.

1. Start a giggle fit in the elevator. In a crowded elevator, try lightening the mood by laughing at nothing in particular. Your fellow guests will soon catch on (as they say, laughter is infectious), and you’ll step off feeling more relaxed. (Hint: alcohol can be a useful tool for this; see No. 7).

2. Do cartwheels in the hallways. Use those long, empty hallways to practice forward flips and cartwheels. This works especially well in those big casino resorts, which tend to have bright, colorful carpeting and labyrinthine floor plans.

3. Throw a spontaneous in-room cocktail party. Who cares if you don’t have a sprawling suite with couches and a balcony? Invite a few friends over, raid the minibar, and see where the evening takes you.

4. Act out a famous hotel scene. Movies are rife with memorable scenes set in hotels. Try a bathtub Prince singalong, a la Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Or, if you’re feeling mischievous, take a page out of Kevin McCallister’s book, and see if you can get the General Manager to tell him he loves you.

5. Tell the hotel it’s your birthday. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll take your word for it, and send up fresh flowers and a bottle of champagne right away.

6. Take a spa day. Fluffy robes. A working bathroom. A soothing iTunes playlist. Even if your hotel doesn’t have an actual spa, you’ve got what you need right in your room. While away the hours steaming in the shower with some Enya in the background, or recline with a few cucumber slices over your eyes on the bed.

7. Sample the hotel bar. This one almost goes without saying. From airport motels to luxury lodges, every hotel comes with a bar. The trick is not ending up in the same hotel bar as Dennis Rodman.

8. Ask for a tour. Already browsed the website, and think you have a firm grasp on the hotel’s various amenities and features? Get someone to show you around anyway. You never know, it might end with an exclusive peek at the Presidential Suite!

9. Get a good night’s sleep. You can party back home with your friends. While you have it, take advantage of the fluffy pillows and clean sheets, blackout shades, and rare peace and quiet. Who knows, you might even find a friendly hotel staffer who’s willing to tuck you in.

10. ...Or not. Larry David’s ethos—that hotel beds are for more than just sleeping—highlights another, more classic perk of staying in hotels. Just don’t forget to flip the “Do Not Disturb” sign.