I love to travel. However, when I think about trying to get a good night’s rest while while away from home I cringe. Hundreds of travelers would love to feel well-rested throughout their trip, but most find themselves longing for the comforts of home. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your sleep while traveling.
- No elevators, please!
This tip comes from experience. The elevator is a high traffic area. If your room is too close to the elevator you run the risk of hearing people climb onto and off of the elevator. This may not seem like an issue during the day, but in the evening it can be annoying. There are conversations while people wait for the elevator and people clunking their luggage onto and off the elevator. My fix to avoid being stuck near the elevator: When making your reservation, ask for a room away from the elevator. It really is that simple. Every time I have placed this in the “Request” section of my reservation I’ve been booked into a room away from the potentially noisy elevator.
- Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains are a life-saver in hotel rooms. All modern hotels should have them. They help to block out all light from entering your room and keeping you awake. Blackout curtains can be utilized during the day as well if you’re crossing time zones. Also, they can help to keep your room temperature cool which can benefit you while you’re sleeping.
- Personal Fan
I once saw an older gentleman bring an 18-inch stand fan into the hotel. He was obviously driving and not flying. But this guy is an experienced traveler and he knows that some hotel rooms simply don’t get cold enough to feel comfortable while sleeping. This may seem like an odd object to throw in your luggage, but hear me out. If you sleep with a fan blowing on you at home, like myself, then you’re probably going to miss having that cooling sensation flowing over you. If you have room in your luggage, then you should definitely consider including a small desk fan.
- Earplugs
Sometimes you have a noisy neighbor. You call the front desk and nothing seems to change. Maybe you even booked a hotel room near a busy street. Having a set of earplugs with you is very helpful to cancel out the noise. They are inexpensive and come in varying sizes and colors. Also, earplugs can come in handy while flying.
- Eye mask
An eye mask may seem a little diva-ish. However, if you’re sharing a room with someone an eye mask is nice to have. You may be ready to call it a night and your roommate may want to stay up a little longer and watch television or Face-time with a loved one from home. Eye masks, like earplugs, can aide in allowing you to get the restful sleep that you need.
- Medicated Sleep Aide
I am a little reluctant to include this on the list of helpful tips. Using medications to help with sleep is controversial to some. I’ve used melatonin in the past to help me fall asleep and stay asleep. This is only a temporary fix. If sleep is something you can’t do without while you’re away from home, a sleep aide may help you. If you’re going to use a sleep aide make sure you do your research and follow the instructions provided on the package. I would encourage you not to take any type of pharmaceutical sleep aide while traveling alone.
Hopefully, these tips work for you and you get better sleep while you’re away from the comforts of home.
Keshia
