Corner rooms in hotels are often bigger than others, and usually cost the same: Travel blogger shares hotel secrets you should know

Stayed in hotels? Yes. Booked rooms that gave you the best views? Yes. But did you know most hotel stays follow a predictable rhythm? Hear this out. You check in, take the room you’re given, and assume that every guest paying the same rate receives roughly the same experience. An interesting thing is few travellers stop to think about how room placement, timing, or even the way they book could subtly shape what they get.
But this is where seasoned travellers score more, as they are aware of the fact that hotels operate on small, practical nuances. Room layouts vary. Occupancy levels also shift daily. Certain items in your room are cleaned differently from others. And sometimes, a simple request at the right moment can make a noticeable difference.
That’s the perspective shared by Alma Asinobi, the travel vlogger who attempted to break the record for the fastest journey across all seven continents. Having stayed at more than 100 hotels, she recently outlined several lesser-known hotel insights, observations she listed from repeated personal experience.
Corner rooms in hotels are often bigger than others, and usually cost the same. It’s one of those small but useful details that many guests overlook, but frequent travellers quietly use to their advantage.

In many hotel buildings, corner rooms naturally have slightly larger layouts because of architectural design. Being positioned at the end of corridors, they often have two exterior-facing walls instead of one. That extra structural angle can translate into more usable floor space and, in many cases, additional windows.
More windows typically mean more natural light, something travellers often appreciate after long flights or busy itineraries. The key point? These rooms are often priced the same as other standard rooms in the same category.
Asinobi suggests simply asking for a corner room at check-in. There’s no guarantee, but if availability allows, front desk staff may accommodate the request at no additional charge.

Another tip she shared relates to late checkout requests. Many travellers ask for late checkout days before arrival, but she recommends waiting until the morning of departure. This is because, at this point, the hotel staff will have a better idea of the occupancy rate for that day. If the hotel is not fully occupied, the chances of getting a late checkout are higher. It is a small difference in timing, but it can make all the difference.

One of the more practical tips that she has is related to hotel bedding. While the bed sheets are changed after every guest, the blankets and throw pillows are not always cleaned after every guest.
Her solution is straightforward: remove decorative bedding upon arrival if you prefer not to use it.
For many travellers, it’s an easy habit that adds peace of mind without requiring additional requests from housekeeping.

Hotel upgrades are often perceived as perks reserved for loyalty members or premium guests. However, Asinobi points out that polite requests can sometimes result in complimentary upgrades, particularly if the hotel is not operating at full capacity.
The chances are better when there is flexibility regarding unsold inventory among the staff. Although it is not a certainty, it is possible to get a better room category occasionally without any additional charge by making a polite request.

She also points out that customers who book directly with hotels have more opportunities to negotiate small favors than when booking through a third party.

One of the most practical pieces of advice concerns the final bill. Before checking out, review your folio carefully. Extra charges, whether minibar items, service fees, or duplicate entries, can occasionally appear. These charges can be disputed, but only if noticed before departure.
As she explains, you can call the front desk to question discrepancies, but you need to catch them first. Taking a few extra minutes to scan the bill can prevent unnecessary payments and post-trip disputes.