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In your hotel room, you want to have hotel travel things to calm and center yourself by sitting on a chair or on the floor. And that’s why doing a ‘lil research about the hotel is a good idea (…and that’s what I do and share my finds!).
I like the hotel carpeted floor personally as there is more space. Nicer hotels make me feel less self-conscious… I don’t wonder about how often the floor has been vacuumed or cleaned, and if tired furniture is replaced more often. It’s hard to relax when you’re worrying about cleanliness. Nice hotels are usually less noisy also because they don’t have guests throwing parties and they have staff that have been trained to whisper in the hallways.
Here are 9 Hotel Travel Things to Calm and Center Yourself:
- Most hotels these days only provide two body towels per room to conserve on water, so bring your own yoga mat or towel. If you bring a towel you can always put it to multiple purpose/use as a wrap for delicate gifts you buy or bring 😉
- Bring yoga or comfortable pants, and workout top or inspiring Tshirt. I find that when I’m stretching out, if I have a pedicure I can relax better, when I look at my toes.
- I also recommend having a gadget along with you to set reminders as to when to set aside quiet moments to refresh and center yourself. Use it to set a timer as to how long you will be “centering.” Your smartphone works well for this. Also, the newer Apple watch has a breathing app to remind you to stop and breathe and appreciate the moment. It’s also useful if you get really relaxed and disoriented, to be able to ‘ping’ your phone if you can’t locate it. Use the “do not disturb” door hanger when you’re in “silent mode.” It will calm you to know you won’t be disturbed.
- A journal and pen are also good. It’s nice to write the old-fashioned way. You end up editing yourself less as you just write authentically. When you have a keyboard, you can delete easily. It’s also nice to see your own handwriting, as it’s personal to you along with the thoughts you’re adding to paper.
- Personal photo or photos. My photos I carry on my phone, but a printed photo will do the same. It’s nice to see familiar faces and places when you start to have travel “sense overload.” It allows you to appreciate the new place you’re exploring, by being calm that all is well “back home”. Photos can have that calming effect. Make them available in your hotel room.
- Music. That can also set the mood for enjoyment and relaxation. When I’m in the States, I listen to Pandora or streaming internet music. When overseas, I have to go with my downloaded music. Many hotels still have Ipod hookups on their clock alarms. I know it seems like ancient technology, but I still bring my old iPods with me. They work.
- A calming scent or lotion. Lavender is really good for calming. You can buy a small bottle of essential oil and pack it with you in your carry-on bag. Douse a little on your wrists. I also like peppermint as it is really good for headaches. I also use it for opening my nasal passages. It’s really good if you have sinus congestion. You never know when you can be entering a foreign place and experience allergies. Also, when you’re in the shower, try to take a hot steamy shower and add a few peppermint drops while standing. The peppermint fumes will steam up and you will get all the great benefits of opening your sinuses. I also bring Hall’s mentholyptus cough drops for that very reason. …What else?
- Peppermint tea bags are also good to have. If you have any stomachaches, you can ask the hotel for some hot water or just rinse out and use the hotel room coffee machine to brew hot water and add your peppermint tea. Some hotels even have water kettles to heat the water. I’m not the only one who uses them. And besides headaches, peppermint works wonders on stomach ailments. And it’s all natural and caffeine-free so you don’t have to worry about it keeping you up all night. Just don’t drink too much so you don’t unnecessarily have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Peppermint is aromatherapy.
- Apple cider vinegar (with the “mother”) in a small vial with an eyedropper is good to have. It can also clear up any congestion. It’s the new “apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Keep in mind, it’s very bad for your teeth so the eyedropper allows you to put a little behind your throat and just swallow. You can get this at any vitamin store in the States or check with the pharmacia overseas.
Every little bit helps… you want to have hotel travel things to calm and center every day on travel. You may even find that the new clear-minded mood you are in, really helps you to soak in the travel adventure you’re on. On another note, I find that Airbnb short-term rentals can be a little tricky for relaxing as they’re all so different from place to place.
They also have a lot of owners “personal touches” that can be distracting. You can make the space work for you, but I’m biased towards hotels where there’s service and consistency, and you know what you’re getting.
Want some Expedia travel ideas? These are some under ￡99 per night deals. And a thermal spa in Bath could be just whaaat you need.
