I'm a travel expert - here are the smart hotel hacks I swear by and use whenever I'm on holiday

A TRAVEL expert has revealed the smart hotel hacks she swears by whenever she's on holiday.

Samantha Brown has visited at least 62 countries during her career as a TV presenter.

Now she has shared her top tips to make sure every hotel stay goes smoothly.

First, Samantha recommends using your room's ironing board as a luggage rack, table and counter.

She told the Washington Post: "The great thing about the ironing board is it’s four feet more counter space.

"I often use it as a stand-up desk as well. I’ve also used it as a TV tray for my kids when they were watching a movie."

Second, Samantha also suggests soaking a sponge in dish soap before leaving it to dry out.

Then cut the sponge up into smaller chunks which you can use for washing-up on holiday.

You just need to wet the sponge to reactivate soap it has soaked up.

If you're bringing your kids along, Samantha says you can childproof your room with a roll of duct tape - or better still, gaffer tape.

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You can also use the tape to block out flashing lights around your room before bedtime.

It comes after a pilot revealed which suitcase brand he buys - and why it's the best.