Travel – Pillows.com Blog

September 20, 2018February 24, 2022

Lets talk Bed Bugs

No one wants nasty guests in their bed. Bed bugs are great hitchhikers. They hide on anything possible to travel from hotel to hotel to even your own home. There is nothing worse than having a vacation or trip ruined by these pesky little things. Follow these recommendations to prevent these un-welcomed guests crawling into bed with you.

Necessary tools:

Flash light and credit card or hotel key card. The flashlight will help you spot any signs of the bug. You can use the flashlight mode on your cell phone to help with this. Bed bugs like to come out in the dark, so shining the light on them will make it easier to spot. The card will be able to fit practically everywhere a bed bug can fit. Sliding the card along cracks and crevices will push the bugs out. Ew gross, I know!

What to look for:

Bed bugs are four to five millimeters in size. They are close to the size of a pearl. They have an oval- shaped body that allows them to hide in very small places. Their bodies are typically brown or red. As they come out at night, they can still be spotted during the day if you do some digging. They leave traces of their presence around. This could be stains of blood, white eggs which are about the size of a grain of sand, or dark almost black stains which happens when the bug excretes after a meal. These guys are good at hide and go seek so, really put effort into looking for their hideout.

Step one: Keep everything away from the bed

When you first get into your hotel room, the first thing you want to do is throw your luggage down and jump into bed. Bad idea! If there are bed bugs present in the room, throwing your bags on the floor or near the bed is an open invitation for bed bugs to hitch a ride back to your house! To prevent this, put your luggage on the rack far away from the bed or put your luggage in the bathroom. This is one area of the room that is cleaned thoroughly. If you want to take one more additional step, you can can carry along a large plastic bag to help keep your luggage sealed. This might seem over the top however, this can really help prevent bringing these little creatures home with you.

Step 2: Check the room

Bed bugs tend to live near their food, which is us. GAG! In a hotel, guests typically lay in bed even when they are not sleeping in a hotel room. Search within a 7 foot radius around the bed. They don’t just hide on the beds. The mattress and frame is the typical area for the bed bug to be but that does not limit them to just that area. Other furniture and carpet could also be places for them to hide. Bed bugs can fit into tight crevices which is why the frame and other furniture are great options for them. The flash light and card will come in handy while looking at all the crevices and corners throughout the room. On the mattress, you’ll need to check all corners and crevices and seams. They could be tucked in on any part of the mattress. Stripping the bed will help looking for these bugs. Checking the sheets is also a good idea. This is where you will be able to see any stains that the bug has left behind. Check the seams of the carpet around the bed, behind the sidetable and if there is a fabric chair or couch close by be sure to give that a good looking over as well.

Step 3: Any Presence of bugs

If you suspect any bed bugs after these steps, run! Go to the hotel front desk and request a different room in a different part of the hotel. Don’t feel bad about asking for a new room. It is not worth the risk of getting bitten by these gross creatures and bringing them home with you to share with family.

Photo credit: Future of Business and Tech

Do you have a bed bug story? Please share with us in the comments section. We would love to learn from people who have experienced these first hand.

September 11, 2018February 24, 2022

How to make your bed and pillows feel like a luxury hotel

Nothing is better than sliding into a cloud-like hotel bed and it is even better when it is your bed at home. One of the reasons we all love climbing into a hotel bed is by feeling all snuggly with the tightly fitted sheets. Making your bed with this step by step process will make this chore easy and will set a good tone for the rest of the day!

Step 1- Bottom Sheet

Make sure the bottom sheet is tucked tightly around the entire mattress. This is the base of the sheets!

Step 2- Top Sheet

Next, you will place your top sheet on the mattress. Lay this flat sheet 7-8 inches from the top of the mattress, so there is enough sheet to make and edges and to tuck in along the foot of the bed! Tuck in the sheet along the foot of the bed and leave out the corner sheets.

Step 3- Tackling on the Corners

The corners are probably the trickiest part of this entire process. But don’t be scared because once you do it once you will see how truly easy it is. To get the crisp, edges that hotel beds have is actually easier than it looks. Now let’s focus on the corners. Lift the sheet in half and tuck that “tail” part into the mattress, then take the other have and tuck that in to create a clean cut crease. Repeat this on the other side to matching corners!

Step 4- Comforter

Add your favorite comforter or duvet. Hotels usually use duvet covers over comforters to make the comforters nice and clean and have the comforter last longer. The duvet covers are typically 100% cotton to make it breathable.

Step 5- Fluffing your pillow

Next step is fluffing pillows! Hotel pillows are typically down and feather pillows, which require daily fluffing. To ensure your pillow stays full and lofty, squish the pillow in and out which pushes air into the down and feather clusters to make the pillow full! There is truly not a right or wrong trick to this however, daily fluffing is a big MUST do.

Step 6- Pillow protector

Next step is to put a pillow protector around your pillow. A pillow protector will help keep the pillow full and lofty! A secret tip to make this step a little easier is to fold the top two corners while using your arm in the middle of the pillow to flatten out the pillow. Slide the pillow into the pillow protector and release it once it is all the way in. Place the pillowcase over this using the same process. Fluff the pillow to have it sit nicely in the pillowcase. Next, by just grabbing the edge of the pillowcase, use a downward shaking motion to push the pillow to the bottom of the pillowcase. Next is a BIG housekeeping secret, do a fold and tuck with the extra pillowcase fabric to create a seal. Straighten out the edges to make a clean crease. This will method will tighten the pillowcase around the pillow and actually create a better feel and support of your pillows.

Step 7- Finishing Touches

Straighten out the pillows and make sure everything is wrinkle free! And that’s it! A hotel-quality bed in the comfort of your own home!

Bedding Expert Tips

What you need on your bed you ask?

4 pillows. 2 soft and 2 firm

Soft sheets

Comforter with a duvet cover

1 light weight blanket at the foot of the bed. THAT’S IT!

Our 5 top-selling hotel pillows are:

Pacific Coast Down Surround Pillow featured in Many Marriott Hotels– https://www.pillows.com/pacodosupife.html
Down Dreams Classic Firm Pillow featured in Many Hilton Properties– https://www.pillows.com/hilton-down-dreams.html
Down Dreams Classic Soft Pillow featured in Many Hilton Properties– https://www.pillows.com/down-dreams-pillow-hilton.html
Down Etc. 75% White Goose Feather/ 25% White Goose Down Pillow- Featured at St. Julien Hotel & Spa– https://www.pillows.com/st-julien-pillow-downetc.html
Pacific Coast Double Down Surround Pillow- Formerly Featured in Many Ritz-Carlton Hotels- https://www.pillows.com/pacododosupi2.html

Hotel Duvets and Comforters

Pacific Coast Down Comforters- retail version of the comforter used in many Marriott Properties – https://www.pillows.com/madoduc.html
Asheville Comforter- Similar to the Comforter Found in Many Hilton Hotels– https://www.pillows.com/asheville-comforter-hilton.html
Pillowtex ® Classic Weight Down Alternative Comforters / Duvets– https://www.pillows.com/piclwedoatco.html
Pillowtex ® Hotel Cotton Duvet Cover -Blend Wrinkle Resistant– https://www.pillows.com/pillowtexhotelduvetcotton.html

*** Sheets used in above photos are from Pillows.com website – Cariloha Bamboo- Classic White Sheet Set- Queen- https://www.pillows.com/cbcssq.html

June 2, 2014June 5, 2014

Most Interesting Hotels Found Worldwide

Going on vacation and escaping reality if even for a little while is always a welcome relief. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, deciding what hotel to stay at is one of the main concerns for most travelers. You want a hotel that is right in the middle of it all but somehow still maintains a certain amount of tranquility right? Most of us book hotels based on comfort but for those who are looking for a more eclectic experience, why not pick one that is in it’s on way, a destination in itself? Below are the 10 weirdest hotel rooms, from hotels made out of ice and Inn’s shaped like Beagles, this list is as strange as it sounds.

1) ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden.

This hotel is the world’s largest made out of snow and ice. Each year the hotel is allowed to melt and then is again reconstructed every November. From the bar to your bed, everything is made out of ice or snow.

2) Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Indiana

Located in the heartland of the good ole’ USA, this tiny Inn is actually constructed in the shape of a giant beagle. Think Clifford the Big Red Dog but in hotel form. The dog’s head houses a bedroom and a toilet that is disguised as a fire hydrant.

3) Yotel, Heathrow Airport, London

One of the smallest hotels in the world, Yotel is the perfect balance of convenience and comfort. This particular hotel is actually located in London’s airport near terminal 4. Each compartment features a flat screen tv, wireless internet and hour room service. While the rooms are small, for those long lay overs or quick trips that don’t justify the full expense of a regular hotel, Yotel offers amazing convenience at just 25 pounds a night.

4) Hang Nga Guesthouse, Dalat, Vietnam

Known as “The Crazy House” this hotel is constructed as weirdly as it’s rooms. The hotel looks more like a giant treehouse more than a structure that is supposed to in fact provide guests with a good night’s rest. Each room has an animal theme such as The Bear or Kangaroo room.

5) Magic Mountain Hotel, Huilo-Huilo, Chile

The rooms of Huilo-Huilo are actually built into an artificial mountain. Looking out a window you can actually see the hotels waterfall that blows like a volcano, running along the structure. Inside the rooms are wood and offer a simplicity that is almost ironic considering how unique this hotel is.

6) Karostas Cietums, Liepaja, Latavia

This former prison has actually been made into a hotel where guests can experience what life was like for the inmates who were former military persons. This hotel is said to be a hot spot for paranormal activity. The guests who stay here aren’t given much in the way of comfort but for those who are looking to combine both history and adventure, this hotel is perfect.

7) Jumbo Stay Hostel, Stockholm, Sweeden

Located at the Stockholm airport, guests can actually spend the night on a real jumbo jet. Based on how many people are in your party, rooms can accommodate up to three people. As far as showers and bathrooms, for the most part the majority are communal but there a few lucky rooms that do have private bathrooms. While the rooms aren’t grand by any means this hotel does have a bar and café on board.

8) Hotel Kakslauttanen, Arctic Circle, Finland

Constructed in the form of a glass igloo, this hotel is great for those wanting the authentic arctic experience. The igloo’s maintain a normal room temperature and the glass ceiling is perfect for those interested in literally sleeping beneath the Northern Lights.

9) Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

This hotel takes “island life” to a new extreme. In the Ithaa Suite, guests actually have the chance to wake up 16 feet below the Indiam Ocean. Picture a tube but instead of a solid ceiling there is actually glass where you can view schools of fish swimming and see the sun reflecting off the water.

10) Sandcastle Hotel, Weymouth, UK

Made entirely from about 1100 tons of sand and for about $15 a night, guests can fall asleep under the stars. It takes about seven days and a team of four sculptors to complete this hotel that washes away when a big storm hits. If luxury is what you are looking for this is not the hotel for you as guests sleep on sand beds. Oh! There is also no indoor plumbing.

Blog Author – Diana D. Bedding Expert