4 Hotel Hacks to Make Your Next Business Trip More Pleasant

Another week, another city – such is the life of the frequent business traveler. You can navigate the airport in record time but still find yourself dreading a stay in yet another generic hotel room.

Between the dull decor and the harsh lighting, you always find yourself feeling a twinge of homesickness upon check-in. But with the following tried-and-true hotel hacks, you can make your hotel stays much more pleasant:

Make Your Hotel Room Feel Like Home

All it takes is a few minor details to make your hotel room feel like home. Though packing light on a business trip should always be a priority, if you travel a lot for work, your personal comfort should not be overlooked.

Start by bringing your favorite personal care items. You know, the ones that you really look forward to using every day – the ones that have become part of your personal essence. These might include your Artistry makeup from Amway or a special fragrance that you’ve worn for years. If you have a favorite scented candle, bring along a travel-sized votive. Capri Blue and Jo Malone are two brands that offer small travel versions of their most-popular scents. Other easy-to-pack items that add a touch of home to a hotel are a silk pillowcase, an eye mask and a travel-sized white noise machine or earplugs.

Pack Toiletries Strategically

You already know to avoid checking your bag to make sure it reaches your destination. But the only downside to not checking your luggage is that it limits your options when packing toiletries and other liquids. Since the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits liquids to 3.4 ounce bottles (or smaller), make sure your liquid foundation, skincare products and hair styling aids are the right size or are decanted into smaller bottles.

All carry-on liquids need to fit into a single, quart-sized plastic bag, so leave any items that you know the hotel will provide, like shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion, at home. If you’re still tight on space, think outside the box when it comes to hotel-provided toiletries. For instance, conditioner is a great substitute for shaving cream and body lotion makes for a great eye makeup remover when applied with a cotton round. 

Take Your Vitamins

Is there anything worse than getting sick while you’re away from home? Take preventative measures by being extra stringent about taking your daily vitamins while traveling. Bring them along in a weekly pill organizer to make sure you remember to take them. Some vitamin essentials include a women’s multivitamin, a high dose of buffered vitamin C, zinc and a good probiotic. Have some cough drops, cold medicine, allergy medicine and your preferred headache remedy in your toiletry kit as well to save yourself a trip to the drugstore if you happen to get sick.

To minimize your exposure to germs, pack some Clorox wipes in your carry-on tote. Use them to wipe down your tray table, arm rests and seat belt buckle on the plane, as well as the door knobs, light switches, telephone and alarm clock when you get to your hotel room.

Bring Snacks

Sure, you know to bring your own snack on the plane to avoid airport junk food, but it is just as important to pack snacks in your luggage so you have something wholesome to eat in your hotel room. Bringing your own snacks adds the familiarity of home and is also a practical alternative to raiding the overpriced minibar. Snacks can also prevent feeling “hangry” as you search online for a nearby restaurant upon arrival. Bring along healthy favorites that pack easily like protein bars, raw nuts and dried fruit.