Once I’ve landed and arrived safely at my hotel and have checked in, I try to create a comfortable atmosphere in my hotel room. I bring a little cloth lamb stuffed with lavender, which I put on the pillow for the side of the bed where I’ll sleep. I usually sleep on the bed furthest from the front door if there are two double beds or I try to determine which bed is the most feng shui.

I sometimes bring candles or incense but often have a panicky fear that I will set off a smoke alarm. Sometimes I will lightly mist the room with my favorite perfume (White Musk from the Body Shop), something to make it smell more like me instead of Eau de Hotel. In the bathroom, I always pull out my toiletries and set them up on the counter and in the tub or shower. Back in the main room, I’ll connect my computer if I have it with me. I’ll put my books and magazines out on the nightstand. If there are two double beds, I’ll use one bed as my “closet” and lay out all of my clothes on it. I hate putting things into drawers or hanging them (something I also hate to do at home) but if you are a neatnik, now is the time to unpack the clothes and put them away.

&nbps; I then peruse the movie offerings and make note of which movie I want to see and at what time I should order it. Then I order room service unless I have meal plans.

No matter where I am, I tend to order the shrimp cocktail and almost every single hotel has it, and it is always very expensive. But it is part of my ritual. I also tend not to order entrees but instead get soup and a small salad. If it is afternoon, I’ll drink iced tea, if it is nighttime, I might have a glass of Chardonnay. And I always order a big pitcher of water, no ice, so I can stay hydrated which is very important for me since I’m usually travelling to give a lecture and am doing a lot of talking in general which tends be dehydrating. If you are in a foreign country and you are unsure of the water, definitely buy bottled water. I often look for an open grocery store or drugstore near the hotel and purchase a few liter bottles of water for my stay. Then I review my itinerary, make phone calls, and embark on the business of the day or crawl into bed for a (hopefully) good night’s sleep. Whatever you do when you travel, if you tend to do it each time you are away, and you derive comfort from just doing it, that’s a travel ritual.

Enjoy your rituals!