Gear Review: Ear Plugs

How to sleep like a baby no matter where you are

One of the trickiest parts of traveling is getting a good night’s sleep in an unfamiliar hotel room. I mean, let’s face it, even the most fabulous hotel on earth has weird sounds that jolt you from your soporific slumber like a jackhammer to the skull. That lovely place in Montmarte, the one with the wrought iron balcony where you drank wine and watched Parisians glide by? Yup, those quaint French doors let in all of the traffic noise that you didn’t hear until you couldn’t.go.to.sleep. Or that remote casita in the rainforest in Costa Rica? It seemed so peaceful until those monkeys threw a party on your roof at 4am.

However, there is an exceedingly simple, lightweight and cheap solution to this problem. Earplugs. Disposable earplugs are available at any pharmacy or and many a hostel. They keep out most of the ambient noises that disturb your sleep, but will still allow for a (loud) alarm to roust you. So next time you find yourself trying to catch some shuteye away from home, jam these little foam buggers into your ears and slip away into a lovely, deep sleep.

You’re welcome.