apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

A shoe organizer?!?

I-pod speakers, books, candles, flowers, vodka, chocolate...

OK- I'm flirting with becoming ATDC's crackpot "what about bedbugs" poster. I'll make the sacrifice and heartily advise against bringing one's own pillows and other bedding to hotels. It is also best to keep your possessions under wraps to the extent that that's possible. I speak from unhappy experience. It pays to be careful.

I used to always unpack everything, but now I too avoid using drawers because of bedbugs. I would never bring my own pillow either.

After travels - it is safest to throw everything into the dryer for 10 minutes on high. The heat kills bedbugs.

Nothing unusual about this - this is typical when you stay in a resort for an extended vacation or take a cruise.

You're there for a week or longer, so it makes sense to unpack and settle in rather than live out of suitcases - within a couple hours of the luggage arriving and before sailaway, I always stow the luggage and make the place my own with the laptop on the desk, the toiletries in the bathroom, clothing hung in the closet and/or folded in the drawers, laundry sent out for pressing, a couple books and clock next to the bed, valuables/jewelry in the safe, perhaps a framed photograph or two and my favorite liquor/nibblies in the bar...

...of course aboard a ship, candles are not allowed - That's a major fire/safety hazard.

I'm in complete agreement with SYB_in_DC.
I too learnt this the hard way.

i would undoubtedly end up forgetting stuff if I unpacked it all.

Ill usually just lay my packed suitcase down in the closet out of sight, hang anything that needs hanging, put my bathroom bag in the bathroom, and set up my phone, laptop etc on the desk. If i have brought any books etc ill keep them out on the desk too so they are handy.

Maybe if it was a road trip I would consider pillows etc, but with what airlines are charging these days for excess baggage i usually try to just get away with as little as I can.


Bringing some scents etc really is not a bad idea tho. hotels always smell strange to me

I could understand unpacking, but a shoe organizer and a stack of books? Who has that much extra room in their luggage?

Anyone else reminded of George Carlin's bit about stuff?

I too always bring my own bedding to hotels, but have never thought about bringing bed bugs back home with me. Hmmmm, quite the conundrum.

I sometimes spend months in a hotel room so I get homey fast. First, clean everything with wipes. Then set up the dog's bowls and get him somewhere comfty to land. Light some candles, set up my ipod speakers, unpack, hang clothes, set up my bathroom, wash those glasses. Hook up my computer, set up a charging station, check in with work. Go shopping and get some snacks and wine. Come back, order room service, chill out with my dog so he gets acclimated.

Now I am going to freak out again about bedbugs. I need to start checking for them first.

linen spray and a small scented candle

Before I traveled everywhere with my own home, I would enter a motel room and strip the bedding, replacing it with my own. I'd also wipe down the phone, the remote, and the light switches. I'd also never go barefoot. I wouldn't use the drawers; I'd leave my suitcase open on either the second bed or the dresser but I would hang up anything that might wrinkle.

I wasn't shy about lighting a couple of lavender scented candles to make the room smell like 'home.'

I just noticed the bit about bringing one's own bedding:

IMO, That's just weird - Besides, hotels and ships change the bedding every couple days and have different sized beds than what I have so why would anyone bring their own???

I must agree with some of the other comments -- a shoe organizer??? How many pairs of shoes did you bring for a week-long vacation? At the beach???

Most stores offer foldable/small shoe organizers that are very easy to pack. I bring it with me because most hotel closets are very tiny. When sharing a hotel room with another person, sometimes closet space can be minimal (we both bring 3-4 pairs of shoes- gym shoes, sandals, dress shoes, casual shoes). I simply hang it on the back of the closet door (if it swings open) and it makes for so much more room.

As far as the stack of books that I bring, it's not like I'm bringing 10 books. In a weeks time with nothing more to do than lounge by the pool and/or beach, I can go through 4 or so books. 4 books don't take up that much room.

I guess I've been lucky enough to never have an experience with bed bugs, so bringing my own comforter has never been an issue. It's great to snuggle up with during the car ride to the hotel, so it's never an issue lugging it around.

Everyone has different hotel customs, and I was just sharing mine :)

wow, that's definetely taking traveling to the next level! For me, that would only work if I drove somewhere. The way traveling by plane is nowadays is difficult to bring very much any more. I always wish I could take my pillow with me becaue even if the mattress and sheets aren't all that great the pillow makes the biggest difference. It also depends on how long the stay is; if I'm just staying in a hotel room for one or two nights, it never seems worth it to completely unpack my suitcase, but if it's a longer stay I suppose that would make a huge difference.
The main thing for me is keeping things organized so that even if I'm living out of my suitcase I know where everything is. I'm actually going on a trip next month and I'm going to have to give how I pack some serious thought now!

i don't bring bedding anymore, i used to bring sheets and pillow cases and a pillow, even a duvet sometimes. now to make it all comfy i just bring a kingsize allersac. makes me feel at home, gives me a little added bedbug protection and it's easy to pack and wash. i travel light no matter how long i'm staying, so noise generator alarm clock, ipod and clorox wipes is all i bring other than clothes

Few, if any, motels/hotels clean the bedspread and blankets after each guests, just the sheets! Can we say EW!!!

I would bring a 'sleep sack' (sheet sewn into a bag shape) that I could spread over the bottom (fitted sheet) and over which I would put my own comforter or sleeping bag. If I was flying, I'd bring my flannel sleep sack in lieu of a comforter or sleeping back (less bulky and just as warm).

I work at a motel/RV park and when I do housekeeping, I keep in mind my neuroses, making sure I give all the hot spots like the lamp switches a wipe and properly cleaning the glasses and coffee cups. The guests won't know I'm so meticulous, but it makes me feel better. :)

I love living out of a bag which is why I don't unpack. Homely is for home!

The amount of stuff I bring depends on how long I'm staying and how willing I am to schlep it all.

I was in an exchange program as an undergrad. I traveled to and from there alone and brought a large suitcase, laptop and bookbag. This was all for about 10 months, mind you. After dragging all of this through/into multiple airports, trains and cars (including one particularly harrowing bit wandering through the London metro), I swore never to bring more than the absolute essentials with me again, no matter how long the trip is.

The less I pack, the more enjoyable my travel- be it business or pleasure.

I really would like to know who needs a shoe organizer on vacation...especially when it's only for a week. How many pairs of shoes did you freaking need?

Yeah, I vote with the people who don't bring a lot with them on vacation. If I do not have any clothes with me that need to be hung up, most often I'll leave the clothes in my suitcase. I usually bring along a laundry bag, so that I can keep dirty clothes separate during my stay (and, if it's a longer stay, so I can take them to the laundromat easily).

I do like to put my books and magazines on the bedside table just like at home! And I do carry too many books on vacation, I think.

My main rituals are checking that the in-room alarm clock is off and that the wi-fi is working and that I understand how I'll get online, if it's offered.

Pretty much all my travel is vacation-related; if I had to travel for work I'd probably get more into setting up my room to be comfortable and relaxing.