Hotels have been left empty over the past few months and are looking forward to welcoming back guests. While hotels will be doing a lot to ensure that their properties are safe and hygienic for guests, there are a few things you can do to make sure your hotel room is as safe as possible.

1. Put your luggage in the closet: The key to reducing the risk of cross-contamination is to keep things as separate as possible. Store your luggage in a closed closet rather than leaving it out in the room can help keep it away from you. But, before you put it away, make sure to wipe down the plastic handles and zips with a disinfectant wipe.

2. Wipe down multi-touch surfaces: The cleaning staff at the hotel will be adequately trained in thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your room and there will likely be increased cleaning schedules as hotel reopen. Therefore there is no real need to wipe down multi-touch surfaces in your hotel room, but for peace of mind, it can be useful to do it ourselves. Spend some time wiping down door handles, light switches, the TV remote, bedside table and the taps in the bathroom.

3. Open the window (if you can) to get some fresh air circulating in the room.

Mask Hygiene while on the road

Face masks are not only becoming the norm in the airport; they are becoming more and more common anywhere people come into contact. A face mask will become the new necessary everyday item, especially while traveling, we will have to consider how to keep them efficient and hygienic. There are two types of masks you can use, a disposable mask that has a one time use or a reusable one that should be washed once a day in hot water and detergent. It is advisable to use a disposable mask while traveling as it is unlikely you will have easy access to laundry facilities while on the road. If you do opt for reusable masks the WHO recommends that you store your mask in a sealed plastic bag after use so make sure you pack some bags in your luggage. When disposing of a disposable mask, the WHO recommends that you throw it out in a close bin. Make sure to check what type of bin has been provided in your hotel room and request a closed bin or disposable solution for your masks if necessary.

How to make your hotel room feel like a home so you can relax

Once you have completed all the necessary hygiene tasks to make your hotel room feel as safe and comfortable as possible, it is now time to work on making yourself feel as comfortable as possible. Being away from home in unfamiliar surroundings can negatively affect our mood and our sleep. We asked Sara Quiriconi, frequent traveler and travel wellness expert to share her top tips for making your hotel room feel like a home. Check out her video guide here.

Top Tips For Making Your Hotel Room Feel Like A Home

1. Bring a travel-sized container of all your toiletries so that you can do the same routine you do at home on the road. This not only provides a level of comfort and routine to your hotel experience; it will also help relieve any stress you have about using hotel products. If you bring your own toiletries, you know who has come into contact with them.

2. Create a 5-minute pre-sleep ritual. For example, you could do a short meditation, a few stretches, or reading for 15 minutes (avoid screens as much as possible). The goal is to subconsciously signal to your body and mind that it is time to sleep while drawing the focus away from your surroundings. These simple, repeatable actions are grounding and can help to relieve stress and calm racing thoughts for better sleep. The key is to build the routine at home and then take it on the road.

3. Pack tools to help block out your surroundings and get a good night’s sleep. Noisy neighbors and too much light is the perfect recipe for a miserable night’s sleep. Pack earplugs and an eye mask to ensure nothing disturbs you and it feels as close to falling asleep at home as possible.

4. Treat your hotel room like your home. Make your bed, throw away your trash and hang up your clothes. Even though there is a service that will clean your room for you, by keeping a clean and tidy space just like you would at home, you will feel more comfortable.

5. Pack your favourite snacks. The most un-homely thing about a hotel room is that it is essentially just a bedroom and you have to leave if you want to eat. During a vacation, this is no problem; you want to be out and about all day and just return to your room to sleep. However, when on a business trip, your hotel room becomes your sanctuary and the only place you can relax. By packing your favourite snacks and having them on hand, you can make your hotel room feel more like home.

The Sanctifly app features lots of great travel tips such as these to help you stay healthy while on the road. Download the app today and browse hundreds of travel wellness tips, articles and airport guides to help upgrade your airport experience and start healthy on your next trip.

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