Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a good night’s sleep in a hotel is crucial to your mood the next day. And being on the road means you won’t be staying in your own bed, and staying in a hotel means you’re not the only person in the building.
Sounds from the downstairs bar, kids running in the hallway, or your neighbor blasting the TV are all real nightmare scenarios when staying the night in a hotel. We know exactly how it feels, which is why we’ve made a list of good night sleep hotel tips to help you drift off into the land of nod.
1 - Ask to stay in a room away from elevators
There’s no greater annoyance when trying to get a good night’s sleep in a hotel than hearing the elevator bell ringing every five minutes. Add in all the foot traffic, wheeled suitcases and people loudly returning from a night out a little worse for wear and you’re in for a bad night’s sleep.
Asking for a room away from the elevators is a perfectly reasonable request that any hotel should be happy to accommodate. However, ask as early as possible, ideally when you’re booking the room in advance. All good hotel booking sites provide a special request form at the point of booking, so use this to make the request.
2 - Avoid eating a heavy meal or unfamiliar food before bed
Traveling can make sticking to a meal routine difficult, so it can be tempting to eat a heavy meal before bed to make up for any meals you’ve skipped. It can also make sticking to a regular diet or meal plan a challenge, particularly if you’re a long way from home.
However, a big meal shortly before bed is never a good idea, so choose something light from the menu that’s familiar and not too filling. You can always look forward to the breakfast buffet the next day to get your calorie fix.
3 - Block out as much light as possible
Check when booking or ask at the front desk when you check in to see if your room has blackout curtains. If it doesn’t, request a room that has them. Another light issue is often the hallway lights shining into the room through the space between the door and the floor. If you have this problem, use a spare towel to block the light.
Electronics in the room can be another pet peeve for many when trying to get a good night’s sleep. If that’s the case with you, unplug the alarm clock, TV and any other items that have LED lights, or another easy fix is to use some blu-tack (so it’s always a good idea to carry some with you).
4 - Check if the room has natural ventilation or air conditioning
A well-ventilated room is another essential element of a good night’s sleep. While most rooms in American hotels have outside facing windows, this isn’t always the norm in other countries. Therefore it’s worth checking when booking, as a room with no natural outside ventilation can make sleeping very difficult. Air conditioning can make up for this, but this can still feel stuffy for some sleepers not accustomed to AC.
5 - Choose a room with the same sized bed as your own
When treating yourself to a holiday it’s tempting to pick the room with the biggest bed your budget can afford. But you want to create a home away from home, and that means creating familiarity with your surroundings. Choosing a room with the same sized bed many times is the better choice as a bed more similar to your own helps you to feel more familiar in an unusual place.
6 - Pack your own pillow
Much the same as booking a room with a bed that’s the same size as yours, another great tip is to pack your pillow. There’s nothing more comforting than the feel of your own pillow and the smell of your own laundry scent.
Packing your own pillow can be a bit of a nightmare, as a lot of travelers aren’t prepared to sacrifice a big chunk of space in their suitcase for this. But there’s a solution to this problem! Here at Pillowpak, we’ve designed the world’s first pillow travel bag. Want to learn more? You can check out the Pillowpak’s features here to see how it can help you get a better night's sleep in a hotel.
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