There are a myriad of so-called ‘expert travellers’ online who claim to possess the secret formula to a good night’s sleep in a hotel room.
But one has claimed that the most important item for a good night’s sleep can be found in the room already.
Alexandra Dubakova, a travel expert with FreeTour, said: ‘Changing time zones, dealing with jet lag and the annoying strip of light between hotel curtains is a nightmare.
‘I always grab the hangers from the hotel room closet and use them to pinch the curtains shut.
‘It creates a blackout room and I get proper rest irrespective of the time zone,’ she told The Mirror.
However, this will not work if the hotel has ring lock anti-theft hangers.
Sherry Martin Peters, a flight attendant, offered an alternative to blocking out light.
She told the Mirror: ‘Some flight attendants travel with rolls of black electrical tape, not to fix anything, but to smother light sources that feel microscopic until you’re sleep-deprived.
A travel expert has claimed that a clothes hanger is the most important item for sleep in your hotel room
‘The green dot of a TV on standby. The piercing blue glow of a USB charger.
‘One by one, the light sources disappear until the room looks lifeless.
‘Towels get stuffed under the crack of the door to block out hallway light, because even a sliver of brightness can convince a jet-lagged brain it’s still daytime somewhere, which it usually is.’
It comes as a study found almost one in five people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep.
This can be due to nighttime noise and lights, which can trick your body into delaying sleep.
Dr Rebecca Robbins, a sleep expert for Hilton, told National Geographic that ‘finding the familiar in the unfamiliar’ is key.
‘The truth is that when we are in an unfamiliar environment, we fundamentally have a harder time unwinding,’ she said.
She recommends tricking your brain into calming down by spraying smells with a positive or homely association, as well as jotting down any racing thoughts before bed.
Alexandra Dubakova, a travel expert with FreeTour, said: ‘I always grab the hangers from the hotel room closet and use them to pinch the curtains shut’
Meanwhile, British Airways pilot Al Smith works recently revealed he abides by a strict sleep routine to help him feel ready and rested for work.
He said long-haul flights are a ‘different game’ and revealed how he tries not to lose a night’s sleep despite travelling so much.
‘I plan ahead: sleep before departure, nap after landing and squeeze in a siesta when I can. The key?’ he said in British Airways High Life magazine.
‘Prioritising rest and making time for it, no matter what time zone I’m in.’
