15 May How To Make Your Hotel Stay Stress-Free
A vacation is supposed to be relaxing with a stress-free hotel stay, but all too often, you get bogged down by all the details before you go. Finding the perfect hotel can take some doing, with searching endless travel sites, reading reviews and coordinating dates. Then you have to get there, either by driving for hours on busy roads or being squished in the middle seat of an airplane (although, funny enough, this is Chanel’s flight seat of choice #FearOfFlying). Once you finally reach your destination, it is then time to kick back and enjoy.
Make sure you have a stress-free hotel stay so you can make the most of your trip and leave with happy memories. Even though having a funny story about getting locked out of your room or forgetting your swimsuit is entertaining much later, in the moment, it’s not too much of a laughing matter. Here are some ways to make your temporary home-away-from-home a haven to relax in.
Choose Wisely
Picking your hotel involves much more than looking at a pretty picture online and clicking “book here.” It’s vital to ensure it’s in a safe location, which will do much for your peace of mind. See where it is on a map, especially if you’ll be visiting a busy city where you’ll be doing a lot of walking, such as the Big Apple. You’ll want to steer clear of pickpockets and loiterers.
Check crime maps for your destination to ensure you pick a hotel in a good area. Also, read lots of reviews to get an idea of what your experience will be like. There’s nothing quite like hearing about firsthand experiences to paint an accurate picture of a place.
Choose a hotel that has someone on the front desk 24 hours a day. By doing so, you can be assured of assistance whenever you need it.
Go All-Inclusive
One of the best ways to ensure a stress-free hotel experience is to eliminate most of your decisions. After all, who wants to think too much while on vacation? That’s what makes booking an all-inclusive trip so appealing. Being able to eat and drink all you want without worrying about the bill can be quite liberating.
Many destinations also offer other perks, such as shows, kids’ clubs, airport transfers, and pool and beach access. This means you never have to decide what to do each day, as you’ll have several options right on-site. Gratuities and taxes are typically included as well, so you could hypothetically leave your wallet at home and not worry about overspending.
Lock It Up
Keeping yourself and your possessions safe is a no-brainer when traveling, so book a hotel that offers in-room safes to store your valuables in when you’re out for the day. This includes jewellery, your passport, extra cash, and anything else you want to keep clear of prying eyes. Be sure to choose a unique code if it’s a combination lock. That way, when you’re out and about, you’re assured your possessions will be there when you return.
Most hotels today include keyless entry, either through a keycard or keypad. That means you no longer have to worry about fumbling with the lock when you’re loaded down with shopping bags. However, keep an eye out for any signs of malfunctioning keyless locks. Blinking LED lights, beeping, loose pieces or signs of wear and tear should all be brought up to hotel management immediately to avoid getting locked out. Keep your keycard in your wallet at all times to avoid leaving it behind.
Make Yourself At Home
Being far from home can sometimes be unsettling (unless you’re doing it indefinitely, then enjoy the ride!) Make your hotel room cozier by unpacking and organizing all your belongings in drawers and closets instead of living out of your suitcase. Organize all your beauty supplies on the bathroom sink so you know where everything is, and place your vacation read by your bedside table so you can relax and enjoy it before bed.
Go the extra mile and stock your refrigerator with water and perhaps a bottle of wine or two. Crack it open and enjoy a glass in the bathtub or out on your hotel balcony. You’re on vacation, so live it up.
Work It Out
Exercise is one of the best stress-busters there is. Thankfully, you can easily fit a workout routine into your day, even when traveling. Pack some resistance bands in your luggage – they are lightweight and don’t take up much space – to enable you to fit in some resistance training as soon as you wake up or before you go to bed.
Most hotels also offer on-site gyms with treadmills, ellipticals or weight machines. This is helpful if you’re trying to lose weight and the thought of being so far from your home gym stresses you out. However, fitness doesn’t rely on a gym – get the most out of your vacation by exploring your destination on foot or going paddleboarding.
Soothe Yourself
Booking a hotel with an on-site spa is one of the easiest ways to ensure you have a stress-free hotel stay. Most of them have an extensive menu of pampering offerings, including massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, and even aromatherapy sessions. Melt your worries away in a sauna, which is a great way to relax. The steam boosts your heart rate, opens your blood vessels and increases blood flow to the skin, giving you a healthy glow.
Taking time for self-care can sometimes be challenging in everyday life. When you’re on vacation, it’s almost expected. So, make the most of it and book that experimental treatment you’ve been so curious about (or take a hike to have a mud bath in nature).
Secure Your Home
Being on vacation won’t be as relaxing if you’re worried about your home. Set your mind at ease by either stopping your mail to keep things from piling up, or having a neighbor take it in for you. An armed security system is ideal, but short of that, a doorbell camera is a great way to check in on things. They work as security cameras and capture footage day and night, storing videos in the cloud, so you can see who stopped by.
You can also contact your local police department to check your house for you while you’re away. They will conduct random property checks to ensure everything is as it should be.
Keep Stress At Bay During Your Hotel Stay
You work hard and have more than earned time to kick back and relax on vacation. Ensure your hotel stay is stress-free so you return to everyday life refreshed and ready to jump back into things. You’ll come home with nothing but good memories and be prepared to do it all again on your next trip.
Author bio: Jack Shaw is a freelance lifestyle writer and dedicated traveler. His writing focuses on exploring the food, culture and beautiful views of wherever life decides to throw him. Stories of his travel can be seen in Modded, Trekaroo, The Travel Magazine and more. Jack has a love of all things outdoors, and spends much of his free time taking on local hiking trails and state parks.
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