calmsoundI just returned from Chicago where I spoke at the Travel & Adventure Show. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, which like most airport hotels is noisy. Not only do you hear planes buzzing but you also hear guests parading through the hallways at all hours of the night. When I heard a kid screaming through the wall next door I thought for sure I wasn’t going to get any sleep.

Then, on one of the nightstand tables, I noticed a sound machine that had a variety of options: white noise, rain, thunder, brook, and summer night. I usually just use earplugs when I’m in a noisy hotel but I thought I’d give the machine a shot during my afternoon nap—and OMG! I had one of my best sleeps in a long time and it made me realize sound machines are way better for sleep than ear plugs. Not only do you sleep more soundly, but they’re also safer (in there’s ever an emergency/fire alarm or an intruder, you’ll still hear it/them).

The best part about these sound machines is that you don’t need to buy one. Instead, you can download one of the many free apps onto your phone or log on to CalmSound.com, which provides sounds of the ocean, thunderstorm, rainforest, rain, country garden, and a relaxing mix all for free.

H/T to Leo Laporte.

1 Comment On "How to Sleep Better When You Travel"
  1. Jody|

    Thanks for the tip on the app, but the tiny speaker on my smartphone (any smartphone) won’t do justice to the sound of a rainstorm. It will sound very tinny and annoying. Can you (or Leo) recommend a small travel speaker suitable for this purpose? Thanks!

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