Ask a Club member: How to make any hotel room feel more luxurious

Interviews: Tamara Hinson

I always take a silk pillowcase. It doesn’t really take up any room in my case, but it always adds that little bit of luxury to a stay. It also has the practical benefit of making sure that my hair is easier to manage and looks great for any work meetings early the next day!
Jo Mackay, founder and director of Bookings For You

When booking a hotel room during busy periods, I always add a note requesting the same room I’ve stayed in before. There’s something deeply comforting about returning to a familiar space – it creates a true ‘home away from home’. I know the floor, the view, where everything lives and how the room works, from where I unpack to what’s in the fridge. In Berlin, the location of Omio’s headquarters, returning to the same room after a long stretch of travel genuinely elevates the experience. It allows me to settle instantly and feel grounded in a fast-paced city.
Veronica DiQuattro, president of B2C & Supply Europe at Omio travel booking platform

One of the simplest ways I ‘upgrade’ my hotel stay is by ringing ahead and asking the team to tailor the minibar. If I’m doing a low-alcohol stint or a short reset, I’ll request non-alcoholic spirits, functional drinks, herbal teas or fresh coconut water instead of wine and sugary snacks.
Emily Keogh, founder of Palm public relations agency 

I bring a hot water bottle with me! Gentle heat helps muscles relax, which can ease the back, neck and shoulder stiffness that sometimes comes from flights, long drives, walking all day or too much time hunched over a laptop in a hotel chair. It also boosts blood flow to the areas in question, which can reduce aches and that tight, travel-weary feeling in your body. Warmth has a calming effect on the nervous system, too, and heat against the torso can help the body shift into rest mode.
Melanie May, travel writer and podcaster 

Neom does this portable air diffuser – you put essential oil in it and just switch it on. It’s really small and comes with a travel pouch. I use the lavender-scented oil. I’ll put it on in my hotel room before I go to bed, and it just gets me feeling a little more Zen!
Cigdem Tanrioglu, style content editor, Bauer Media

I always pack my most comfortable slippers when I travel. Hotel room single-use slippers are uncomfortable, ill-fitting and bad for the environment. Plus, the minute my own slippers are on I feel right at home in new surroundings. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Travelodge or The Ritz, I put on my fluffy pink slippers and exhale. In terms of the perfect brand, save space by packing something you can roll up small. Cashmere ones from N Peal if you want to be fancy, or fluffy and fleecy from Marks and Spencer!
Yvette Caster, travel writer 

A little extra hack I swear by is putting a laundry detergent sheet in my suitcase. I use ones from The Lab Co but there are loads of others on the market. It means my clothes smell lovely and fresh but also means when I get back home I can just throw everything into the machine knowing that the laundry detergent is already in there ready to go!
Jo Mackay, founder and director, Bookings For You

Hotel rooms can often feel cluttered the moment you’ve dumped your things, so I like to create a proper ‘entrance’ by moving shoes, bags and coats away from the door and keeping one tidy ‘drop zone’ (usually a chair, shelf or corner) so the rest of the room stays serene.
SJ, British Airways Club member

A couple of large bottles of chilled sparkling water, a firm pillow and the hotel’s signature club sandwich. Simple things, done well, make all the difference when it comes to hotels.
Kirk Westaway, chef, JAAN by Kirk Westaway at Swissôtel The Stamford

Got a great travel tip? We want to hear it! Email theclub@cedarcom.co.uk to share your wisdom (the more unexpected the better).

Please note that while we aim to showcase as many submissions as possible we may not be able to feature every tip we receive.