How to Insure a Good Night's Sleep in a Hotel. Don't Be Left Awake in the Dark.
Whether you are a business person traveling alone, a couple on a romantic getaway, or an entire family on vacation, getting a good night's sleep will make your waking hours more productive and infinitely more enjoyable. It is not always as easy as one might think. You may hear noises that you are unaccustomed to, or strange as it may seem, the lack of familiar noises can also disrupt sleep. Here are our top 3 recommendations for a great sleep in any hotel.
1. Control Your Environment with White Noise.
There are many ways to block out sound while sleeping. One of the most common ways is to use ear plugs. These have been the standard with people staying in hotels for a very long time. They are available in any drug store and their compact size makes them easy to carry. However, the use of white noise is on the rise and is, most definitely, the superior method. In the past, when I have traveled by car, I always brought along my personal bedroom fan. I have been sleeping in apartments for years and a fan can drown out the coming, going and carrying on of even the most annoying neighbor. But, lately, I have been traveling more by plane.
The first electric fans designed specifically for the bedroom appeared on the scene in 1910.
What to do? Ear plugs are just not good enough for this light sleeper. Well, IHG has made it their business to ensure that we get a good night's sleep by creating a White Noise App. As they put it, "When you help put 350,000 people to bed each night, you learn a few things about sleep". To get access, you first need to become an IHG rewards member and then download the IHG App to your smartphone.
Not an IHG Member? Sign up today. It is easy and free. Our front desk personnel are ready to help.
You can also sign up online by visiting the IHG Rewards Club page.
Once you open up the app on your phone hit "Travel Tools". Scroll down until you see the "Choose My Sounds" button. Here is where it gets really interesting. Not only does IHG offer a choice between white noise, ocean, rain, forest, fan and singing bowl, you can also layer the sounds. My personal favorites are, rain on top of forest sounds and rain on top of ocean sounds. If you are a light sleeper like me, I recommend using ear buds to block out the outside world completely. The only sound that is going to break through my peace and tranquility is a fire alarm! One last suggestion. Make sure to practice using the white noise app at home before your trip. That way it will not be an unfamiliar thing to do.
Sweet dreams all...
2. Make Your Hotel Room Feel as Much Like Home as Possible.
If you can make your hotel room feel like home, you will get a better night's sleep. A great way to do this is to bring familiar bedding with you. Even something as small as a pillowcase from home can do the trick. If you are traveling by car, bring the entire pillow and your comforter, as well. Another great trick is to order room service. Something about ceramic plates just feels
Room Service is an excellent way to make your room feel like home.
like home. Give this a try, pack your own brand of coffee, it works! At the Holiday Inn Biltmore East we have Keurig coffee makers in every room making it easy for you to bring your favorite flavor. Finally, keep your favorite drink on hand. That way you will not lose your shirt trying to find comfort in the mini bar. That goes for snacks as well. Did you know that a small 200 calorie snack right before bedtime will help you sleep? Avoid the protein though, unless it is milk.
3. Wind Down
There’s a lot of evidence that blue light, emitted by smartphones, tablets, laptops, and many other electronic devices, is impacting on the quantity and quality of the sleep we are getting. Darkness is a natural cue to our bodies that it’s time for sleep, but we’re circumventing it by staring at bright screens for hours after the sun has gone down. Start to power your computer down
Make sure to power down devices that emit blue light well before it is time to sleep.
about 90 minutes before bed, and do something relaxing. Consider taking a nice, warm shower and cooling off your room to 65 degrees which is the best temperature for good night's sleep. If you do not want to turn off your smartphone, at least set it to "do not disturb" until the morning.
About the Holiday Inn Biltmore East
Every moment at the Holiday Inn Biltmore East is about our guests. We have gone to great lengths to exceed your expectations and bring you an extraordinary Holiday Inn experience. Our modern and sophisticated design is tempered with an abundance of native stone giving us a mountain lodge feel that lends itself to relaxation and comfort. We are the place to stay in Asheville, NC.
When you stay with us, you will enjoy the comfort and amenities of a newly renovated, state of the art hotel, complete with a heated outdoor pool. We are located just minutes from Downtown Asheville, the Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Relax and refresh in our serene mountain setting and experience the natural beauty our mountains have to offer.
