A seasoned traveler has perfected a strategy for achieving a restful night’s sleep in hotel rooms through a clever method. Alexandra Dubakova, an experienced traveler affiliated with FreeTour and having explored over 30 countries, is constantly on the move.
Despite the glamorous image often associated with jet-setting, those sent to remote locations in less-known European towns face various challenges, with sleeping in unfamiliar hotel rooms being a notable struggle. Differences in bedding, unfamiliar noises like elevator mechanisms, and inconsistent room temperatures can disrupt the sleep of those sensitive to such disturbances. Fortunately, Alexandra has a solution to aid uninterrupted sleep.
Dealing with time zone changes, battling jet lag, and the annoyance of light seeping through hotel curtains can be a nightmare. Alexandra shared her trick with Mirror, stating, “I always grab the hangers from the hotel room closet and use them to pinch the curtains shut. It creates a blackout room, ensuring I get proper rest regardless of the time zone.”
Sherry Martin Peters, an experienced flight attendant, echoes similar advice. She mentioned carrying black electrical tape to block out tiny light sources that can seem bothersome when one is sleep-deprived. Towels are used to block hallway light creeping under the door, as even a small amount of brightness can confuse a jet-lagged mind into thinking it’s daytime.
The struggle of having a poor night’s sleep while staying in hotels is common among guests. A study published in Tourism and Hospitality Research in 2020 revealed that only one in three travelers were satisfied with their sleep quality while on the road.
Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep expert hired by Hilton and affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, recently shared her insights on achieving a good night’s sleep during travel with National Geographic.
Dr. Robbins emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar setting to aid relaxation. She suggests using scents with positive associations to help calm the mind. Research conducted by the University of Pittsburgh in 2024 showed that familiar scents can help break negative thought cycles and alleviate depression.
Addressing a restless mind is crucial for better sleep. Dr. Robbins recommends jotting down worries on paper to declutter the mind. Additionally, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine even while traveling can signal to the brain that it’s time to sleep, facilitating a smoother transition to slumber.
By optimizing your browsing experience and analyzing site usage, we, along with our partners, use data collected from cookies and other identifiers to provide personalized advertising. You can adjust your data sharing preferences by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the page. Please be aware that these preferences are specific to each browser. Your use of our website and services indicates your consent to our use of cookies and adherence to our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
