How to Make Your Hotel Stay More Comfortable

Staying at a hotel can be great. You have everything you need at your fingertips without really having to do a thing. Although hotels can be quite comfortable they're just not home. Most hotels these days offer every amenity under the sun and many are free of charge, but it is often surprising the things you miss when you're not home. If you want to make your hotel stay more comfortable so you can better enjoy the time you spend there, you may find these tips helpful.

Pillows and Blankets
When it comes to extended stays at a hotel you may begin to miss home. Bringing a few of your favorite things from home may help make you more comfortable. Many people find it difficult to fall asleep in a hotel. Even if you have the most expensive bed money can buy, Egyptian cotton linens, and blackout curtains you may find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. When it comes to sleep you may find it very helpful to have your own pillow that you're used to sleeping with. Before hitting the road and checking into a hotel, grab your pillow from your bed at home and bring it along. You may find that you sleep much easier with your own pillow.

Although hotels pretty much provide you with everything you need for a comfortable stay, they often forget the basics. For example there is never a throw blanket on the end of the bed or the back of the couch. Many people like to curl up with a small blanket when watching TV, reading a book, or otherwise relaxing and there is never one in the room. If this sounds like something you might like to have while staying at a hotel, bring one from home.

Towels and Laundry
Even though most hotels will give you as many towels as you ask for, they are never big enough. Besides the fact that most hotel towels are not even bath sized, often they are rough feeling and not the most comfortable after a hot bath or shower. Also, if you have sensitive skin drying off with an unfamiliar towel, that's been washed in soap you're not used to could irritate your skin. To make your bath or shower more comfortable you may want to bring one or two towels from home.

Another need that hotels always forget is a laundry hamper. Sure, they give you a plastic bag for the laundry but the bags tend to be so small you can barely get your socks and underwear into them. A pop up hamper is great way to store your dirty clothes and keep your room clean. Another basic need that seems obvious but is often overlooked is towel hooks and a place to hang your jacket. Sure, there are a few hangers in the closet but generally you don't get more than ten of them. Two towel hooks on the back of the bathroom door is not quite adequate either, especially if you are rooming with your significant other or a coworker. You may find it helpful to bring a set of over the door hooks for extra things you may want to hang up.

Entertainment and Business
Most hotels offer some kind of pay per view entertainment or games, but it can get quite costly as the charges ring up for each use. To make your stay more comfortable bring a radio or CD player for music, a game system (Playstation, XBox, etc.) if you like to play video games or have children, and your own personal computer. Other than a radio alarm clock there is generally no source of music in hotel rooms and if you are a music lover you may find it helpful to just bring your own radio. Although you can usually buy games to play on the TV it is much cheaper to just bring your own and more often than not you can just hook up your system on the front of the TV.

Many hotels also offer a business center where you can print documents and use the Internet, but often you can also connect wirelessly right in your room. If you bring your own computer you will also have all the documents and programs you need to get work done. Even though you can't usually print documents from your room, you can email them to yourself and go to the business center to print them out.

Other Basics
Most hotel rooms have a coffee maker, but the hotel usually provides the worst cups. Either the coffee cups are disposable or tiny and not of much use. Bring your own coffee mug and you will be much happier. Also, there is never a place to put the little things we all have in our pockets like loose change and car keys. If you bring a small plastic dish you can empty out your pockets into it without making a mess all over the table top or desk. By remembering to bring these few items you may find that your hotel stay is more comfortable, even if it's not home.