The Hotel Stay, Made Golden

On making anywhere feel like home

Packing in a carry-on doesn’t exactly leave room for your pillow, slippers, and all the creature comforts that keep you feeling like you.

Making a hotel feel like home is arguably an impossible task — even the most thoughtfully designed spaces can’t fully achieve it. But as the guest, as someone who knows exactly what makes you feel comfortable, all it takes is a step of intentionality and care to bring the experience to life.

There are countless tiny details you’ll notice during your hotel stay that make things a little more plush, a little more indulgent. Such as crystal ring holders, tiny luxurious products, handwritten notes, chocolates on the pillow, and being flooded with the smell of fresh linens. But to truly make yourself feel at home, it takes a moment of intention, a moment of getting settled in.

I’m not necessarily saying to unpack all your clothes into the dresser, but more so, what you pack in the first place. My golden rule has always been to pack in a carry-on and large tote or duffle, so I can skate through the airport as quickly and efficiently as possible. It takes true restraint and planning to squeeze a week or more into a tiny bag, especially when you prefer not to be an outfit repeater and are a shoe/accessory lover.

If on a long flight, 5 hours or more, I’ll pack pajamas, toiletries, Tower 28 SOS spray to kill airplane germs and save my skin from the classic flight acne, Deux eye masks for a little depuffing luxurious moment in the air, hand sanitizer of course, a silk eye mask, electrolytes, and usually more, all at an easy reach. Essentially, I overpack a handful of tiny things to make myself as comfortable as possible. It surprisingly all fits into a tiny toiletry bag squished into the top of my personal item tote.

To genuinely feel at home in a space that is not yours, you have to put yourself in the mindset of your coziest, most “at home” self. Think of what you do to comfort yourself after a long day. Are you putting on a pair of sweats and drinking tea? Are you taking a long, hot bath and having a glass of wine? Are you putting on your face mask and drowning out the rest of the world? The key here is to narrow down your little rituals and pick out which items accompany that.

For me, after a day of exploring, I like to get into loungewear, specifically not pajamas. I’m a pajamas-are-strictly-for-sleeping type of person. It’s a little luxury to pack loungewear in an already stuffed suitcase, but it’s incredibly crucial for my post-hustle-and-bustle relaxation.

I’m also this way about the bed; I don’t like to hang out in the bed, so I prefer a hotel with spaces to relax outside of the room to people watch, work, relax, and take a breather from the travel agenda.

Another thing I do to feel more at home is to squeeze my slippers in whenever possible. Absolutely anything I can do to maximize coziness from head to toe, you can count me in. Realistically, your feet take a beating on most trips unless it’s a pure relax-and-revive vacation, so this is my secret to instant comfort.

One of my favorite ways to decompress throughout the trip is to settle into my skincare routine. When I travel, my skin typically dries and occasionally treats me with a breakout, so I take my checklist pretty seriously. I pack specifically to rehydrate — first with moisturizer from my favorite brand, Embryolisse. The brand also carries an amazingly light oil to revive my skin’s hydration after a long flight; depending on the severity of my dryness, I’ll use it as makeup prep.

I check in, and immediately the suitcase gets cracked open, the toiletries get set up in the bathroom, and the airport clothes get retired. Depending on how long the stay, I unpack into the dresser, but no matter what, I always organize for an easy get-ready setup. Then I’ll go find the hotel gym and a coffee shop nearby, to get a feel for what my morning routine will look like.

All of these bits come in handy when settling into your stay. Having little routines and rituals to feel your best is the secret to traveling without burnout.

I will say I spend very little time in the hotel room, but setting yourself up for comfort from the very beginning is so incredibly crucial to your experience. The hotel itself gets you to a certain point, and it’s on you to take it to the finish line.

Find your Bachét.