Sometimes, the worst part of traveling are the long stays in unfamiliar, uncomfortable or unconventional hotel rooms. Here's a handy five-step, five-sense guide to making your hotel room feel like home.

1. MAKE YOUR HOTEL
HOME
b y B j o r n K o c h
f e e l l i k e

2. There is a reason that we as human
beings enjoy the comforts of home–the
sights, sounds, smells and everything
else between relax us.
We’ve got special pillows, comforters
and a particular arrangement to our
furniture that makes our room and our
home unique, special and, of course,
homey.
By using all five senses, you can make
your hotel room feel like home.

3. SIGHT:
A PHOTO/WALL TAPESTRY
S e n s e # 1 :

4. SIGHT
If you’ll be away from home for a
week or more, consider bringing
along a small as a photo of your
loved ones
If this doesn’t apply to you, consider
bringing a small decoration from
your room to the hotel, something
like a wall tapestry can make your
hotel room feel like home.

5. SOUND:
MUSIC
S e n s e # 2 :

6. SOUND
Bring your iPod dock or bluetooth
speakers, neither of which take up
considerable room in luggage. At the
end of the day when it comes time to
unwind, just plug your music in and
play. Listen to the same tracks you’re
accustomed to listening to around the
house–including playing the same
music you regularly do during the
evening to help lull you to sleep.

7. SMELL:
CANDLE/AIR FRESHENER
S e n s e # 3 :

8. SMELL
They say that sound is one of the
senses that is most closely linked to
memory. The smell of your house
could immediately elicit memories of,
well, your house. If there are candles
you typically keep lit around the
house or air fresheners you use, bring
them! Simply having a lit candle in
your hotel room could make you feel
more at home than just about
anything else.

9. TOUCH:
PILLOW/PILLOW CASE
S e n s e # 4 :

10. TOUCH
If you’ve got the space for your
favorite pillow, by all means bring it.
When it’s switched up, our sleep
schedule can suffer.
If you don’t have room for the pillow,
try bringing just the pillow case. After
repeated washings, hotel pillow cases
aren’t always the softest things
around, so your silk one from home
might be a good substitute.

11. TASTE:
COFFEE/BEER/WINE/SNACKS
S e n s e # 5 :

12. TASTE
We all have a favorite beer or favorite
wine. Some of us balk at the idea of
drinking a different brand of coffee
than the one we’re used to every
morning. The simple solution to these
problems: bring your own.