Staying at the hotel offers many advantages: daily cleaning, room service, quick access to restaurants and bars, concierge and much more. Although alternatives like Airbnb or Vrbo have become popular, the classic hotel remains a safe and reliable option.
Simple trick to get free water during your stay from Hotel Foto Made Blue
However, there are also small inconveniences. After a long day of travel, many guests arrive in their room and realize they are thirsty. Typically, the solution of choice is to go down to the lobby to buy bottled water, often at a premium, from the hotel store or reception.
Although tap water can be an alternative, not everyone finds it safe or sufficiently cold. In cities where drinking water is not safe – especially when traveling internationally – buying bottled water seems like the only option.
However, experience shows that there are simple and effective solutions to avoid unnecessary costs on vacation. In many hotels, access to filtered water or cold water dispensers is already available, but most travelers do not take advantage of these facilities.
Knowing a few simple tricks can completely transform your accommodation experience, saving you time and money. One of the most effective such tricks is surprisingly simple and, at the same time, very little known.
Free hotel water: the gym trick
In a travel hack article published on Substack by Brent and Michael Are Going Places, the authors reveal a nifty little secret about hotel water. They noticed that you usually only get one bottle of water in your room when staying — but that’s not enough to keep you well hydrated. Plus, if you’re in a foreign country where tap water can cause stomach discomfort, you’ll probably prefer filtered water even for brushing your teeth.
Brent and Michael say, quoted by Parades: “The solution? The hotel’s gym or fitness center almost always has drinking water — either in a large dispenser or in bottles, sometimes even refrigerated. Either way, that water is for guests, even if they’re not actually going to exercise.”
Simple trick to get free water during your hotel stay Photo CQ GrandCentral FitnessCenter Mark Weinb
Many travelers confirm that this trick works perfectly in practice. The key is to walk into the gym with confidence and take what you need. You paid for the hotel room, so you have the right to use the amenities provided — and that includes the water in the gym. So instead of spending money on bottles at the reception, make a quick visit to the hotel’s fitness room and save a few euros.
How to find free water when staying at a hotel
While the gym trick works in most cases, there are other simple ways to hydrate without the cost. If the hotel you’re staying at has a coffee shop (ideally a Starbucks) or something similar, you can simply ask the staff to fill your reusable water bottle. In such places – cafes, bars or restaurants – the water is usually filtered, therefore safe for consumption.
If you want to take it a step further, travel with a bottle with an integrated filter – they’re easily found at stores like Walmart, Target, or on Amazon, and give you the freedom to refill your water almost anywhere without worry.
Another trick is to take advantage of the hotel’s free breakfast (if it’s included). Not only do you get a free meal – and you can take a fruit to go – but you also have access to free water. Most breakfast buffets have carafes or water dispensers, perfect for refilling your reusable bottle before you leave.
In the long run, these small gestures can help you save considerably, because constantly purchasing water bottles while traveling quickly adds up and becomes a significant expense.
Practical travel advice: Be prepared! Take a reusable bottle with you and take advantage of safe, free water sources in hotels and nearby.
