Travel Tips: Transform Your Hotel Room Into a Home

By Michelle Harper Davies

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, relaxation or adventure, hotel choice is an important element of any trip. It doesn't matter how long you plan to stay at your destination – a few days or a few weeks – for the duration of your stay, your hotel room is your new temporary home. The first night in an unfamiliar place can be rather discomfiting. Different smells and sounds, strange beds and pillows, can lead to an unsettled night of tossing and turning, instead of the relaxed, peaceful night's sleep you had hoped for.

Here are some tips to help you feel at home in your hotel room and to ensure you get the tranquil sleep you deserve on your travels.

The organization of your belongings is a key element to making your hotel room your home. Unpack your suitcase as soon as you can. Hang your clothes in the wardrobe, fold items neatly in to drawers and place your toiletries in the bathroom, around the shower or sink, as you prefer. Once you have completed this, hide your bulky suitcases under the bed or in the closet so you don't rip over them for the rest of the trip.

Our sense of smell has a massive effect on our level of comfort on our memory. To eliminate the musty smell that can permeate hotel rooms, pack a small bottle of your favorite linen spray or air-freshener. Spritz the bedding and space with this familiar scent and inhale the aroma; this will make you feel more comfortable and at home immediately.

The next piece of advice may sound surprisingly simple, but can certainly make your hotel room appear more home-like. Fold the top layers of bedding back on the beds. Hotel folds and pleats can sometimes look severe and unwelcoming and you don't want to feel that you can't sit or lie down on your bed whenever you fancy. Folding back the top sheets not only airs the bed, but it immediately makes it look more inviting.

There are a few items that you can bring on your trip that won't take up too much precious suitcase space or weight allowance, but will transform your hotel room into a home. Many hotels now offer in-room coffee makers or tea kettles. It can be difficult to find your favorite beverage abroad, so pack coffee, teabags and cocoa sachets in to your suitcase for that early morning cup or a chocolate nightcap. Don't forget to declare them at customs though!

If you are traveling alone or are planning an extended trip, it is a good idea to bring mementos of home along with you. This might just be a few snapshots of loved ones to place on your nightstand, or even a digital photo frame to display an array of photographs. In this modern technological age, most hotels supply free internet access to their guests. While away from home, it would be nice to receive emails to keep you up to date on the goings on back home. By bringing your personal laptop, this can be done from the comfort of your own hotel room. Seeing messages from your nearest and dearest will make you feel like they are in the room with you.

Using a combination of these hints and tips, to suit your personal needs, will ensure that your stay at your destination hotel is as comfortable and as relaxing as it can possibly be. Your hotel room really will be your home away from home.

03/06/08  By Michelle Harper Davies