Vacation is fun, but the logistics aren’t always ideal. We get that. Just because you’re right by the beach or eating the most delicious meals of your life doesn’t mean that everything is as you’d like it to be. Maybe your hotel room is slightly cramped. Or you have to take a cab to get to your destinations and are on a time crunch. Maybe you’re staying with relatives and are sleeping on an air mattress rather than your comfy bed at home.

But it’s still a setup that beats the everyday norm – whether just visiting or off sightseeing. Which is why it’s important to make the most out of your (slightly) roughing it situation.

Tips for Sleeping on an Air Mattress

In order to get your best night’s sleep possible, there are a few simple steps you can account for. First, ensure that it’s fully inflated – not so much so that it’s likely to pop, but so you won’t sink or sag in the middle, either. Do this a few hours before bedtime so you can check to see if the mattress deflates any – if it does deflate on its own, think how much air you’ll lose while sleeping on top of it.

Hopefully in such a case you’ll have time to patch or pick up a new model. Or at the very least, sleep with the pump in close proximity.

Hosting enough air can also keep you from sleeping too close to the ground, and make it easier to get up and off of your air mattress. (Versions with sagging middles can pull you in and make it difficult to remove yourself from the bed – and not because you’re so cozy, but because you physically can’t get up.)

Next, ensure you have all the right accessories. Quality sheets and plush pillows will make your sleeping quarters feel as bed-like as possible. Comfortable blankets or any support features, such as extra padding or leg alignment cushions will also keep you from hurting the next day.

And whenever possible, stick to your routine as closely as possible – go to bed around your normal schedule (or as normal as vacation activities can allow), and get up at your normal time. This will keep your body on an even sleeping timeline, and allow you to naturally drift into a deep state of rest.

How to Mattress Shop

If your air mattress isn’t already being provided, you’re in luck. You get to pick out your own bed! And it might seem like an added expense, but air mattresses are actually fairly affordable, and can be kept for years. Whether you take it with you when you travel, or you keep it at home for when guests come to visit.

For either case, you should choose one that’s slightly higher off the ground. This will allow you some added cushion, and the illusion of feeling like you’re in a “real” bed, rather than one that’s a few inches off the floor. Slightly pricier models will also last longer and be harder to puncture or weaken with everyday use.

And finally, choose one with a built-in pump. It will save you some serious grief, eliminating the need to pack the pump or even locate it once it’s no longer in use. It will also fill the mattress quicker, without the need to hold the pump while eliminating leaks.

Remember these easy steps to get a better night’s rest every time you sleep on an air mattress – it’s a restful way to enjoy your trip, no matter what the sleeping arrangements.