People always ask how I can manage to live in a hotel for months on end.
I can give you the,
"I traveled for 9 months last year, I just got use to it"
answer, but I would be telling a white lie.
You never really get use to it, you just learn to make it work.
The best piece of advice I can give is:
Let loose. Don't let the hotel, the idea of no kitchen, and everyone else's opinions get in your head. Make it your own space.
During my first tour, I moved every few days and shared a room. Making it my own space was difficult. Now, I stay in a hotel for weeks at a time and have the opportunity to personalize my room a little. Below are a few things that make living in a hotel easier for me.
1. Hotel pillows are hit or miss. They are normally too firm, just like their beds, so I bring my pillow from home. Trust me, if I could bring my bed, I would!
2. It never fails that early morning sunlight seeps into hotel rooms causing you to wake up before your alarm. If you already wake up numerous times throughout the night, and believe that every second of sleep counts, try a sleep mask!
During my first tour, I moved every few days and shared a room. Making it my own space was difficult. Now, I stay in a hotel for weeks at a time and have the opportunity to personalize my room a little. Below are a few things that make living in a hotel easier for me.
1. Hotel pillows are hit or miss. They are normally too firm, just like their beds, so I bring my pillow from home. Trust me, if I could bring my bed, I would!
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3. Are you addicted to your DVR back home? Then you will want a digital a/v adapter for your tablet or laptop. You may think this is not necessary, but when your trips last months and you work from your hotel room, you will be happy you invested in one!
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4. If you are like me and like to cuddle up with your pillow, your road boyfriend, Hulu, and a nice glass of wine after a long days work, then you will need a corkscrew with bottle opener. These are compact in size and fit perfectly in your luggage pockets. Store one in your suitcase between trips to ensure you have one once you arrive to your destination!
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5. My two favorite hotel essentials are things you will always find in my home. They both mean a lot to me, and a simple glance at them can turn my day around. If you know me, then you have probably guessed this by now, flowers and pictures of Family and Friends. I believe that flowers feed the soul and can liven up a room, even one as dull as a hotel room. Pictures remind you of your support system back home and that no matter how hard it gets, they are always there for you.
*A fun, cheap, space saver way to store your flowers on the road is to use your empty wine bottle!
My next two items are not those of personalizing your room, but essentials one needs to make the stay easier.
6. Powerstrip. Most hotel rooms lack power outlets. If you are like me, you have a laptop, two cell phones, a tablet, an e-reader, and so on. One or two outlets just won't cut it! You pick up a power strip on the cheap at the local grocery store!
7. Laundry bag. If you are at a hotel for more than a week, chances are you will need to do laundry. Those little plastic bags that are provide in the closet will break with more than 3 pieces of clothing. Again, you can pick up a laundry bag at the local grocery store for a few dollars, and it will save a LOT of hassle!
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What are some of your hotel livin' essentials?
