Surprising reason you can't sleep in hotel rooms - and what to do about it
Heading away on holiday can bring a big sigh of relief. Finally, you can turn off your alarm and have a long lie-in.
But many travellers are getting things wrong when it comes to sleeping at a hotel on holiday.
Because a luxurious hotel bed doesn't necessarily make for a relaxing snoozefest. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.
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Many travellers are getting things wrong when it comes to sleeping on holiday. Getty Images/iStockphoto
If you're not used to the bed or the room, you may struggle to doze off, even if you're exhausted.
"One of the biggest challenges when sleeping in a hotel room is that your brain recognises the environment as unfamiliar, which can keep you slightly alert," sleep expert Shea Morrison from The Goodnight Co tells 9Travel.
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There are simple things you can do to help yourself drift off, and sorry, that means stopping yourself from scrolling.
"Try creating small cues that signal bedtime, like dimming the lights, putting your phone away earlier, and using calming scents or breathing exercises," Shea says.
"Supporting healthy breathing is also important, particularly for people who snore or are sensitive to a partner's snoring."
Dimming the lights for a while can help you get to sleep. Getty Images/iStockphoto
As for getting kids to sleep, any parent will know the excitement of the holiday can keep even the most tried children awake.
There are things you can try to help them, though.
"Children respond really well to familiarity, so bringing small cues from home can help a lot," Shea says.
"Things like a favourite pillowcase, bedtime story or calming routine can signal to their brain that it's time to sleep even in a new environment."
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Try and keep bedtime consistent. Getty Images/iStockphoto
If possible, keeping bedtime consistent can help, though it's not always possible if you've travelled a long way and have jet lag to consider.
As for the dreaded challenge of sleeping on a plane in economy, Shea suggested a breathing exercise which can help you get ready to nod off.
"Try box breathing - a simple technique where you inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds and hold again for four seconds - to calm the nervous system before trying to sleep," she says.
The usual tips like not drinking too much booze and staying hydrated are also musts.
Use an eye mask to block out the light and a neck pillow to support your head.
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is launching a three night sweet dreams package. Supplied
READ MORE: Housekeeper shares simple act guests can do that makes their job easier
Shea has teamed up with which is launching a to tackle one of the most common - and least talked about - holiday disruptors: snoring.
Research found 85 per cent of Australians say they or their partner snore on holiday, with 58 per cent saying it has negatively impacted their trip.
It comes after hotel housekeepers shared some of the easy things hotel guests can do to make their jobs a lot easier.
The number one comment on the thread recommended that before checking out, you leave your used towels in the bathroom sink - not on the floor.
That way, housekeepers don't have to bend over to pick anything up.
"Repetitive movement injuries are common, and repeated bending can be one of the triggers," the top comment read.
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