Should You Pack Your Own Pillow?

To pack or not to pack … your own pillow? Arguments for and against this oft-ignored question are as follows.

Don’t pack your own pillow. It’s safe to say the general consensus among travelers is packing your own pillow for sleeping is just an unnecessary use of valuable luggage space. Travelers may argue hotels provide perfectly adequate pillows and they would rather save room for souvenirs and clothes rather than a pillow, regardless of how nicely it deflates and tucks into a bag. A travel pillow, however, is a different story, and can do wonders for travelers on long flights, but are usually stuffed into luggage for the remainder of the trip.

Pack your own pillow. Alternatively, there are certain cases that constitute a personal pillow, such as suffering from a physical ailment like a stiff neck. Some travelers may also find the cleanliness of hotel rooms questionable and would prefer to rest their head on something they know for a fact is clean.

Visiting remote destinations is another argument for packing your own pillow. When you’re not sure what your next night of sleep will be like or where, it’s comforting to know at least you’ll have a comfortable place to rest your head.

Some hotels caught on to this trend by asking guests who make a reservation if they have a pillow preference, and the hotel will prepare the room with their chosen pillow. If the hotel does not present this option outright, contact them directly to ask for the options.