5 Things I Do When Staying in a Hotel

I LOVE to travel, and I think we have established this on my blog now! I have experienced so many different kinds of hotels, motels and Air Bnbs that I have developed a routine I do as soon as I get there. Some of them may seem like, "oh yeah that makes sense," and some others may seem completely out there! I'll start with the most obvious:

1.) Search for Bed Bugs

I have developed a habit over the years to just bite the bullet, rip the bed apart and search for bed bugs. With a few experiences from close friends around me, I have learned what happens when your hotel mattress is infested with bed bugs and it is bad.. You basically have to wash your clothes in scalding hot water (if the hotel doesn't do it for you), replace your suitcase and a whole set of other nonsense. I'd rather not go through any of that, so I literally take everything off the hotel bed and search for bugs. I’ve linked an article the EPA has on searching for bed bugs here in case you don’t know what they look like and how to look for them.

2.) Count The Outlets in the Room

When I travel for business, I have a ton of electronics I need to charge, as well as my own electronics. I have been you a variety of stays, and the number of outlets in the room varies. Sometimes there are 6 outlets in the room and I have no problem charging all of my devices. Other times, there has been one outlet in the entire room, on the opposite end from where the bed is placed. Every trip I go on I am sure to bring an extension cord for cases like this. I have definitely been made fun of for hauling around an 8-foot extension cord.. Until I am the one able to charge everything from the comfort of my bed and my roommate has to sit across the room to check their phone.

3.) Unpack Everything

And I literally mean everything. Especially if I’m traveling for business, I want to be completely organized and know where everything is when I wake up in the morning. So all of my toiletries are placed on the counter, my clothes hung up in the closet and my extension cord plugged in and devices charging. Sometimes if I arrive earlier than expected, I’mm hang my clothes in order of which day I am wearing them, including shoes set below with socks already in them. I prefer to be obnoxiously organized while traveling.

4.) Test The Shower

I am extremely picky when it comes to hotel showers, as I have experienced many that were dirty, the water never warmed up and barely trickled out of the shower head. Not fun. After I unpack everything and start to settle down for the night, I usually rinse off before I go to bed, mostly to decide if I need to wake up early to allow time for the water to heat up. I am constantly up and down on my knees and carrying heavy boxes when I travel, so it is extremely important to me that where I am staying has adequate showers with both heat and water pressure.

5.) DIY Cafe Mocha

This last one is so silly, and I get teased for it because I’m so close to being a coffee snob, but I don’t drink plain coffee. I don’t like it. I never have, but also, coffee when traveling is, and can be, insanely expensive. I usually only allow myself to have a morning coffee if I have a 5 AM flight. So to make up for not spending money and drinking hotel Folgers coffee, I mix coffee with a packet of hot cocoa and two half n’ half creamers. Tada! Something that tastes similar to a cafe mocha!

And there you have it!

I’ve developed this routine of mine for over 10 years now and not once have I broken from it. Not even at one o’clock in the morning after flying for six hours.I’d love to know if you have any routines that you follow when you travel! Leave a comment down below!

This is all for now!

Tootles,

~ Izzy