Let's be honest—sometimes traveling is a real pain to get through, and even the hotel experience can be more on the "blah" side.
But Julia Baird confided to her TikTok community how her mom cracked the code to getting free snacks and drinks at the hotel, making the whole ordeal a little bit sweeter.
In her first video, Baird teased:
"If you or your mom isn't calling the hotel every time you travel, you are doing something wrong."
You can watch the video here:
Immediately intrigued, many TikTokers came forward, wondering what exactly Baird and her mother are saying to the hotel staff to score the free items.
In a second video, Baird interviewed her mom, asking:
"Okay Mom, the internet wants to know what you say to get free hotel snacks."
Baird's mother's secret was actually refreshingly simple.
"Well, first, I give them a phone call, I try to build a rapport with the person who answered the phone, I tell them a little bit about myself and who I would like to send a little gift to."
"Then I just see if there is anything that they can do to help make the stay a little bit more special for the person."
Baird was sure there had to be more to it.
"You don't ask for anything specific? You just ask if they can do something?"
Baird's mother confirmed:
"I just ask if they can do something. I'll just say there's an anniversary, or a birthday, or Valentine's Day, and I'm not there, and I kind of miss my loved one, and I ask if they could send something special."
"Just ask. Just go for it. You don't get it if you don't ask."
As an example, Baird then showing that they had received a free bottle of Prosecco wine and a cute box of chocolates after Baird's mother called and said they were going out to celebrate her daughter's engagement, and she wanted to know if the hotel could do anything to make the evening in the hotel a little more special.
You can watch the video here:
One TikToker was especially excited to give the conversation a try.
@thejuliabaird/TikTok
Others who worked in hospitality confirmed a little kindness goes a long way.
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Some shared their own experiences with doing the same thing as Baird's mom.
@thejuliabaird/TikTok
@thejuliabaird/TikTok
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@thejuliabaird/TikTok
@thejuliabaird/TikTok
This is a great example of "ask and you shall receive" or "the answer will always be no if you don't ask in the first place."
Even though it's rough living the human experience sometimes, most of us get a little thrill from doing something kind for someone else, so surely the people who have spoken to Baird's mother likely had a little smile on their face when Baird checked into her hotel room.
Whether traveling for fun, for work, or traveling through the holidays alone, sometimes a bottle of wine and some candy is exactly what it takes to lift someone's spirits.
