Sleeping in a hotel: bringing a neck pillow when travelling?
The question of every traveler, especially if he suffers from neck pain, is, which neck pillow will I find on my hotel trip ? It seems like a real nightmare, very often hotel pillows do not satisfy your needs, too soft, too hard, too big, too small, too high, too low, never like your own, which has the ability to cradle faithfully the body every night in his “soft arms”. But why is the hotel pillow always a sworn enemy of the customer's sleep? What are the consequences of an inadequate night's sleep while traveling?
An interesting article published on PUBMED highlights the results of using a pillow other than your own, obtained with various tests performed on patients suffering from neck pain, using different shapes and different pillow materials. Proof of the fact that a pillow other than the one usually used may not be optimal for the health of your neck.
The causes of poor rest
There are many causes of the discomfort you feel when you sleep with a pillow other than your own:
- Lack of habit: the body is used to the shape and material of the pillow, used regularly, which adapts perfectly to the head and neck. Your pillow has certainly been carefully chosen among many and after countless tests. A different pillow can create imbalances and muscle tension. The trip, whether for holiday or work, is usually too short to allow the body to get used to a new support.
- Difficulty fitting: The firmness or softness of the hotel pillow may not be right for you, causing neck or back pain and making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. We must also say that not all hotels have a service for choosing a pillow other than the standard one provided.
- Materials and Sizes: Hotel pillows are often made from cheap materials and don't offer the same level of comfort and support as your own personal pillow. Also, the size may not be right for your body type.
Negative effects of disturbed sleep
A disturbed sleep in a hotel has the same effects as a disturbed sleep at home, little changes other than the fact that a more or less considerable sum has been paid in the hotel. Therefore, find yourself on holiday with:
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Headache and muscle pain
- Irritability and stress
and a high bill is not the best for the mood of the traveler who was expecting a few days of absolute relaxation.
What can be done to avoid the risk of a holiday being ruined due to a pillow? Fortunately, some solutions exist, some even very simple:
- Bring your own pillow: if you can't imagine one or more nights without your trusty pillow, taking it with you when traveling is the right solution. It may seem like a lot of space, but it will ensure a restful sleep and will help provide the same comfort as at home. For the series one less dress in the suitcase but one more pillow.
- Choose a hotel with customizable pillows: some hotels offer the possibility to choose between different types of pillows, based on your needs. When booking, inquire about the possibility of having a pillow suited to your preferences.
- Use a travel pillow: many recommend purchasing a travel pillow, usually compact and light and useful but only and exclusively for sleeping in a sitting position, therefore suitable for a plane or train journey. They are certainly not a great alternative if you don't want to bring your own pillow with you.
- Adapt the hotel pillow: if you have no alternatives, the only solution is to try to adapt the hotel pillow to your needs. Fold it, roll it or add a second pillow to get the right height and texture.
- Relaxation techniques: Before going to sleep, practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation to reduce stress and promote sleep.
Sleeping in a hotel with a pillow other than your own can be a problem, but it doesn't necessarily have to ruin your trip, be it for pleasure or for work. With a little forethought and some precautions, you can still face decent nights and enjoy a restful sleep, waking up rested and ready to face the day.
Your well-being is very important, even when traveling. Always ask the hotel staff for a pillow best suited to your needs, in case of impossibility it is better not to risk it, bringing your own personal pillow with you is the most obvious and effective solution. So ready to go, have a good trip and above all have a good rest.