Don’t let bad travel sleep ruin your trip: three ways to get a good night’s sleep in your hotel room

There’s an ice machine clattering outside your door, vacation-happy kids racing up and down the hallway, and the pillows are too firm for your liking. All or one of these issues can leave travelers sleep deprived.

Sleeping in a bed other than your own can be difficult; sleeping in a hotel bed can be near impossible. Fortunately, you don’t have to accept sleepless nights while traveling. There are things you can do to make travel sleep easier and more comfortable. Here are three tips to help make falling asleep and staying asleep at a hotel as easy as at home:

1) Beds are for sleeping. This piece of advice should be heeded no matter where you’re sleeping, but it can be particularly difficult to follow in the small confines of a hotel room. Your body should associate the bed with sleeping; when the bed is used for eating, working or surfing the web, it can be hard to relax and fall asleep when you’re ready. Eat your meals at a nearby restaurant or the hotel restaurant, if possible. Utilize the desk in your room for working on your laptop, and even for eating if necessary. You’ll be less distracted when you move to the bed to sleep.

2) Shut out your surroundings. The noises and outside lighting at a hotel are likely quite different from your normal sleeping environment. Music is a great way to tune out noises and can aid in your ability to fall asleep. Slipping on your SleepPhones can help you drift to sleep to your favorite music or sleep sounds. To block out lights, consider packing an eye mask. Many hotels also have blackout shades to help you get sleep any time of the day.

3) Get comfortable. While the bed and pillow may not be the ideal firmness, do your best to make it right for you. If you generally experience neck or back pain, bring your own pillow, even a small one, to help you sleep more comfortably. Also remember that the hotel staff is there to help accommodate you, so don’t be afraid to ask for extra pillows or blankets. Some hotels even keep pillows of varying firmness on hand and all you need to do is ask.

Follow these easy steps to sleep better and make your travels more enjoyable.