Okay so—you know that feeling when you're absolutely WIPED after traveling all day, you finally get to your hotel room, flop on the bed... and then just... stare at the ceiling for hours? Yeah, I've been there. Like, a LOT.
The whole "can't sleep in hotels" thing is seriously the worst. There's always something—weird shadows, random noises, that feeling that you're just not in your own bed. I've struggled with this forever, and honestly? So have most of my friends who travel.
Over the years, we've kind of collected these little hacks that actually make a difference. Not fancy stuff—just real, practical things that work. Let me share what's worked for us!
Related Posts: 15 Unconventional Sleep Solutions That Actually Work
1. Dealing with All That Annoying Light
Light is probably the biggest sleep-ruiner in hotels, right? Those curtains NEVER close all the way!
- My personal favorite fix: I always—ALWAYS—throw a couple binder clips in my bag. They weigh basically nothing and are perfect for clamping those curtains shut. Total game changer!
- If you forgot to pack clips: My friend taught me this trick—just grab the pants hangers from the closet! They have those little clips built in that work perfectly for holding curtains together. (Just watch out in some fancy hotels where the hangers are locked to the rod... learned that one the hard way, lol.)
- All those little blinking lights: Don't you hate how hotel rooms have like seventeen tiny glowing lights? TV standby light, smoke detector, microwave... ugh. My sister always packs electrical tape to cover them up. Me? I just use whatever's around—Post-its work great too!
- That annoying hallway light: You know that strip of light that comes under the door? Just roll up a towel and stuff it in the gap. Done.
- My backup plan: Honestly though, a good eye mask solves SO many problems. I have this super soft padded one that blocks everything out—best $12 I ever spent.
2. Making It Quiet Enough to Actually Sleep
Hotel noise is THE WORST. People slamming doors at 2am, why???
- White noise is basically magic: I'm obsessed with my little portable white noise machine, but your phone works too! Even just flipping the A/C fan to "on" instead of "auto" creates this nice consistent background hum.
- Earplugs are non-negotiable: Seriously, good foam earplugs can be life-changing. My friend who travels for work uses these industrial-strength ones, but I prefer the softer ones made for sleep.
- Be strategic with your room request: This one's so simple but works so well—just ask the front desk for a room away from the elevator or ice machine! Or request a higher floor. Sometimes just asking nicely makes all the difference.
3. Getting the Temperature Just Right
Is it just me or are hotel rooms always either freezing or sweltering?
- The fan trick again: Setting the A/C fan to "on" not only helps with noise but keeps the temperature way more consistent.
- When it's just not right: Okay, I'm not saying you should google how to override hotel thermostat limits... but I'm not NOT saying it either. 😉 (But seriously, sometimes just asking the front desk works too!)
- That super dry air: Hotel air can be SO dry! My weirdly clever friend taught me to fill the ice bucket with water and drape a towel with one end hanging into it, then put it near the heat vent. DIY humidifier! Just, um, don't forget about it—unless you want a flooded carpet situation. (By the way, if you struggle with night sweats or hot flashes even at home, check out my article on [Best Sleepwear for Hot Flashes & Night Sweats] - it's been a game-changer for so many readers!)"
- Temperature hacks: If you're like me and your feet turn into ice blocks, pack those fuzzy socks! Or if you run hot like my friend Jake, crank that AC down the SECOND you walk in because those rooms take forever to cool down.
4. Making It Feel a Little Bit Like Home
There's something about hotels that just feels... off, you know? Making the space feel more "you" can seriously help.
- Bring your own pillowcase: This is my absolute must-do. Having my own pillowcase from home makes SUCH a difference. The familiar smell and feel? Total comfort.
- Stick to your normal bedtime stuff: Do whatever you normally do before bed, even in a hotel. I always unplug that alarm clock (after checking it's not set—don't get me started on THAT mishap), prep my bag for the next day, and it kind of tells my brain "hey, sleep time now."
- Bathroom light situation: Having a tiny nightlight in the bathroom is SO much better than turning on those blinding lights if you need to pee at 3am. I use my phone flashlight, but my aunt actually packs this cute little plug-in nightlight.
- Charging made easy: Bringing a small extension cord or multi-plug means you can have your phone charging right next to you instead of across the room. Seems small but honestly makes a huge difference.
Why These Little Hacks Matter
The thing is, you don't need to pack a ton of fancy stuff to sleep better in hotels. It's these small adjustments that make the biggest difference. Playing around with blocking light, controlling noise, getting the temperature right—it all adds up!
I'd love to know—do you struggle with hotel sleep too? Which of these tricks are you going to try next time? Or do you have some genius hack I haven't mentioned? I'm always looking to add to my travel sleep arsenal!
Hotel Sleep Questions I Get All The Time
Q: Is it worth bringing my own pillow?
A: If you're driving? ABSOLUTELY. If flying, probably not unless you have serious neck issues. A pillowcase is the perfect compromise—takes up basically no space but gives you that "home" feeling.
Q: What about sleep medications?
A: I'm definitely not qualified to give medical advice! But personally, I try all these non-medication strategies first. If I know I'll be dealing with serious jet lag, I might talk to my doctor before the trip.
Q: Best budget-friendly white noise option?
A: Honestly? Your phone! There are tons of free white noise apps out there. Just make sure to keep your phone plugged in all night if you're using it for this.
Q: What's your #1 must-have hotel sleep item?
A: Probably a tie between binder clips for the curtains and my eye mask. If I had to pick just ONE thing to never travel without? The eye mask wins because it solves so many problems at once!
