10 Items To Make Your Hotel Room Feel Like Home

Vacations and getaways should be fun and relaxing, and staying in a new place is always an adventure, but the hotel rooms we call home for the night don’t always feel very homey. A room with practical items and little touches of convenience goes a long way to feeling like home and providing the fully relaxing environment you are looking for in a hotel stay.

Here are 10 items we recommend to bring sense of security, comfort and organization to your home away from home:

1. Portable Door Lock

Safety is my number one priority, especially when traveling alone. I don’t travel anywhere without this little gadget, which is one of the easiest ways to greatly decrease the likelihood of an unauthorized person entering your hotel room when you are inside.

2. White Noise Machine

Quality sleep is a must for any relaxing trip, and the thin walls of many hotels can make this goal an impossibility. A white noise machine helps to block out noise and create a sleep-friendly environment.

3. Essential Oil Diffuser

I don’t know about you, but I find it impossible to fully relax if my hotel room smells musty or unclean, even if that’s not the case. Since candles are prohibited by most hotels (with a hefty fee if you are caught using them), I pack an aromatherapy oil diffuser/humidifier to freshen my hotel room for a relaxing stay. Lavender oil is great for evening to invite a restful sleep.

4. Cozy Blanket

Although Robbie and I both love a cold hotel room, I don’t care for a room that looks cold – you know the kind I mean, bare and corporate and colorless. I like to bring a fuzzy blanket with me to snuggle in bed and add a dash of coziness to the room. This one is also great for camping, plane trips and car rides!

5. Laundry Bag

Laundry is one of the most un-relaxing things to consider while traveling, and you definitely don’t want to have to worry about your dirty clothes getting mixed up with your clean ones. Pack a travel laundry bag to keep your soiled laundry separate from the rest of your clothing so all you have to do is throw it all in the wash when you get home.

6. Disinfecting Wipes

Even before Covid, hotel rooms have always been breeding grounds for germs, simply from the amount of people in and out of them on a regular basis. A quick wipe-down of any high-touch surfaces (doorknobs, flush handles, remote control, light switches) as soon as you check in will go a long way toward protecting yourself and your family from colds, flu or any other bug.

7. Portable WiFi Router

Some hotels have limited internet range or only allow one device per room to be active unless you pay an extra fee. This travel router acts as one device where you can connect multiple devices as well as secure a hotspot for streaming or working.

8. Universal Power Adapter

If you travel outside the United States, you may be surprised to learn that most countries have different power outlets, which means that our plugs won’t fit their outlets and their outlets may have a different electrical current than our devices can handle. Make sure to bring a universal power adapter so you can charge your phone or use your curling iron safely.

9. Sleep Mask

Even with blackout curtains, many hotel rooms in urban areas where city lights blaze brightly all night can allow light leaks if those curtains don’t close all the way. Packing a comfortable sleep mask will give your body the darkness it needs for restful sleep. It will also help you get a little more shut-eye if you choose to sleep late in the morning.

10. Travel Power Strip

Many newer or remodeled hotels have upgraded the number of electrical plugs they offer in each room, but if you find yourself in a hotel that is behind the times, it’s a good idea bring a small travel surge protector/power strip with you to prevent having to roam the room searching for a convenient available plug.

Are there any items you would add to the packing list for a relaxing hotel stay? What would you suggest? Let me know in the comments!

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