Hotels and motels

[Patrick A]

I have not had problem while we have been traveling. When we stay in hotels or motels,I have had to have an extension cord,I have never had to move the bed. I have had to move a chair next to the bed to set my Bi-Pap Equipment on in a couple of motels we have stayed in. The only times we stay in motels or hotels, is when we are not using the RV. We go to a convention every year, so we stay in motels and hotels on our trip to the convention.

I have always left my machine out in the hotel rooms we stay in. The only thing that I have noticied is that they have made the bed and moved the mask and laid it on top of the machine. One time I packed the machine back in it's bag, and I left it sitting on the head end of the bed. They made the bed and laid the machine right back where I left it.
Usualy we put the "Do Not Disturb"sign out. But since 9/11 they usually check the room if the "Do Not Disturb" sign is up for 24hrs. or longer anyway.
So why even put the sign out unless you are busy

[bearded_two]

There aren't many CPAPs that would fit into a hotel safe; a PB 420 series would probably fit.

I haven't ever stayed in a hotel where I was worried about my CPAP machine being stolen from my room, and I haven't heard of any being stolen from hotel rooms.

[Amigo]

I carry an extension cord in case the outlet is far from the bed. During the day I put my mask and hose in the nightstand drawer and either leave the machine on top of the nightstand or put it the nightstand drawer if it will fit.

Exactly what I do, although I also take a polarized three-way plug since the outlet closest to the bed is often full (clock radio and bedside lamp). I also remove and empty the humidifier chamber, and since I use nasal pillows, I carry a small screw top plastic jar so that the pillows can soak safely in some soapy water in the nightstand drawer.

I agree about the cleanliness issue. The first thing we do is remove the comforter, and tuck it in a corner. We take our chances with the blanket, but make sure to keep the clean sheets between us and it.

One of the filthiest items in any hotel/motel room is the TV remote. Either wash your hands every time you use it, or do as we do, and carry a small, clear plastic zip lock bag to put it in. The bag does not hamper pushing the buttons.

[jdm2857]

One of the filthiest items in any hotel/motel room is the TV remote. Either wash your hands every time you use it, or do as we do, and carry a small, clear plastic zip lock bag to put it in. The bag does not hamper pushing the buttons.

Now there's a good idea. Even a piece of plastic wrap would work. I banish the bedspread, too.

[sunnyway]

I leave the CPAP and acouterments out on the nightstand and have no worry of it being stolen or tampered with. I do carry an exension cord all the time.

[Captain_Midnight]

1. always bring an extension cord
2. I never leave machine out, only the electrical brick. (It only takes a second to put it away.) As an anecdote, just this year, I found a teensy, cute lizard on my hotel nightstand (in Hawaii). There are critters that you don't want crawling on, or in your machine.
3. When I travel, I keep my unit bagged as sub-assemblies, in sanitary large baggies.
4. I don't humidify, but if I did, I would most likely skip it for travel.
5. Before I put the unit down on a hotel night stand, I take a dampened hotel washcloth, and scrub the nightstand surface, sides, lamp, and anything else I can see that might need a cleaning. set the (likely filthy) clock radio on the floor.
6. I try to keep the hose off the floor
7. and I don't stay at places that use bedspreads. Poster Jaylee is right about them, pure ickiness.

[needanap]

We just got back home today from a driving trip of 400+ miles. Got to our hotel last night later than usual, so I decided to just keep the Cpap machine in the car - I just didn't want to be bothered with it and was curious how I would sleep without it. ( I'm a one-month newbie) Big mistake. Yawned all the way home today and I had to stop at every rest stop on the expressway to wake up. I can't wait to go to bed tonight with my comforting hose friend. I guess this really is FOREVER, isn't it?
BTW....I'm in denial about hotel cleanliness.....

[UNCLE MOSE]

I have a Remstar C Flex and I use the extinct Visaysis nasal mask.

After years of not traveling last year my wife and I took a two day trip to Erie, PA. Upon arriving I discovered in switching CPAP bags at the last minute the AC cord had gotten left at home. Fortunately I was carrying a DC cord and a trip to Wal Mart provided a Coleman AC to DC converter. The next problem was the plug for the outlet was behind the bed which we could not move, so I had to use a DC extension cord to stretch out the cords to an outlet in the opposite wall. You can't use the heated humidifier in this mode but then I seldom do use it.

June 6 of this year we embarked on a trip to Las Vegas to visit my son and deliver some of the things he left behind when he moved there. Three nights of staying overnight was a pain especially hauling a gallon of distilled water for the humidifier and having to dry out the tank each morning. Generally the alarm clock was unplugged to give me access to an outlet and I left it unplugged when we left. While in Las Vegas we stayed with our son and I had no problems other than remembering to refill the tank. I even washed the hose, mask and tank while there but did not sanitize it with vinegar solution.

We spent four nights at motels on the return trip and a couple of times I had to be creative plugging in the CPAP. Sometimes it meant switching normal sides of the bed than we were use to. The second day I left the CPAP unit, hose and mask out in the minivan while storing the humidifier tank and heating plate in the CPAP storage bag. I connected up to it when my wife relieved me of driving. She growled about it but I found it eliminated the headaches I got falling asleep while riding as a passenger. The down side was moving it about to use without losing something. The last night I got ready for bed only to find my mask had fallen apart and a key piece was still outside in the minivan. Fortunately I was carrying two masks to alternate with.

I also took a storage battery which is equipped with a set of jumper cables and a small air compressor. It doubles for an emergency back up power system for my CPAP. I took along a construction grade extension cord which I could use to recharge the battery or use to hook up my CPAP to another plug in the room. I had less of a problem hooking up the CPAP than hooking up the Coleman cooler we carried with us.

As to issues about the exhale relief system which the C-Flex has versus units which do not have that feature, my first machine was full bore to your setting unless you used the RAMP system. All the masks back then were like oxygen masks and leaked air into your eyes if not completely sealed. Eventually I quit using the RAMP system and these days I think I slept better without the exhaust relief system.

My other issues with using the CPAP is medical insurance. A change in our program forced me to drop my supplier and change over to one of their "preferred" suppliers or end up paying for most of my supplies out of my own pocket. Since I didn't buy my machine from that supplier I had a hard time getting supplies and when sometimes over a year using the same mask. Finally one of their other "preferred" suppliers from another city opened a store in our area and I changed over. Now my supplies come automatically. Unfortunately the mask system I helped the manufacture refine has been discontinued in a buyout of the company and now I am retrying several systems trying to find something comfortable again - likely when I do someone will buy out that company and I'll be screwed again.

[plr66]

Bedside tables are usually tiny & crowded in hotels/motels. I don't leave my cpap on them during the day unless I can move the cpap to the back of the nightstand where there is no way that it could be accidentally knocked to the floor when vacuuming or making the bed up. (Good idea to disconnect the power cord from the machine so it won't get pulled off or tripped over if you leave your cpap out). I usually just put it in its case for the day--but I absolutely keep the humidifier separate, and out on the desk with a washcloth over it and kleenex stuffed partly in the portals to keep dust out. I carry an over-the-door little plastic clothes hook and hang my hose over that on the back of the bathroom door. It'll never be noticed or touched. I happen to be finicky about my mask not being messed with, so if I wash it or clean it with clorox non-bleach wipes, I have a small mesh bag I put it in to dry during the day, and hang that on the bathroom door hook with a plastic clothespin hook. Never had a problem. Ditto the need to just keep an extension cord and 3-socket plug in your cpap bag. Happy Trails!

[jweeks]

Will a CPAP machine fit in a Hotel safe? Going to Vegas next month and am staying in a not to glamorous hotel. Hate to have my CPAP disappear on me. I am not to worried about but just thought I would ask if anyone else ever locked their machine up for the day.

Hi,

I have similar concerns with my camera gear. I don't like to take my SLR cameras with me if I am going to have to park my car somewhere that I cannot see my car. Then again, I don't like the stuff just sitting there with my room door open when they service the room. What I came with is that I bought a very tough plastic toolbox from Walmart, along with a hefty cable and a lock. In fact, I bought 2 cables and two locks, where the locks use the same key. I keep one cable in the hatchback end of my car. I loop the cable around a frame member so it cannot be removed without big tools. In the hotel, I'll loop the cable around something that is large and awkward to move. I can then use the toolbox as a carrying case, and lock it up in both the hotel and in my car. Granted, this is not going to stop a prepared or determined thief. But it will stop the casual stuff, and delay the process enough that a lower calibre thief will simply move on to another target. It also gives me peace of mind that I took a "reasonable precaution". This doesn't work when I fly. I need to find some kind of lightweight mesh type material that I can put stuff in to lock it up.

-john-

[peepers613]

You can also get plugs that screw into light sockets and then you can plug an electical cord into the light socket. I carry one of these as well as the extension cord. As far as hotel rooms being gross, I also carry a can of Lysol and spray everything and a spare bed sheet to put over the bedspread. I know it all sounds germaphobic and I offer no excuses!

[gasparama]

You can also get plugs that screw into light sockets and then you can plug an electical cord into the light socket. I carry one of these as well as the extension cord. As far as hotel rooms being gross, I also carry a can of Lysol and spray everything and a spare bed sheet to put over the bedspread. I know it all sounds germaphobic and I offer no excuses!

I also carry a package of anti-bacterial wipes and my own plastic drinking cups. Then my toothbrush and other articles never touch the bathroom counter surface.

[Kiralynx]

I just purchased this 18" roll top table for travel since I got caught at my sister's with no place to set up my Bipap. (And both she and my BIL are CPAPers, so.....). And then there was the motel with no nightstands, and I had to ask them for a card board box to set my machine on...)

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63563?from=SR&feat=sr

For flying, it might be too heavy for some people -- about 5 pounds. It sets up and takes down easily, and was quite sturdy on my carpet... even the bouncing beagle and dashing dachshunds went around it instead of tipping it over like a TV tray. In addition, it comes with its own carrying case to keep all the pieces together. It's easy to carry.

I think I'm looking forward to using it the next time I travel.

Oh, and I don't worry about cleaning staff... they won't come in the room with a pair o'dachs who sound like mastiffs.

[Hose_Head]

I travel a fair amount. For travel, I take my back up apap, an M Series auto. I take the integrated humidifier for it too.

When staying in a hotel or motel, I like to set the apap up in an open drawer of the night table, if it will fit and remain level. If not, then I set my roll-on bag beside the bed and place the apap on it. Either of this places the apap at a level that's below the surface of the bed, just like at home.

I also carry an assortment of small bungee cords, string, and hooks to be used for hose management. What I look for is an anchor point on the headboard and anywhere else from which I can support the hose. I'm also looking forward to travel with my pur-sleep cozyhose boss which uses a sticky pad to hold up the hose. (I've used the cozy hose at home with great success but I've yet to try it when on the road).

When travelling, I do not carry water. Instead, I use bottled water (not the mineralized type) or tap water (if it's potable).

As others have mentioned, I carry a 12 foot extension cord. I've never needed it, but have it on hand just in case.

I like to stay away from bedspreads too.

EDIT

Forgot to mention: when I'm out of the room during the day, I pack up my apap just as I would for travel. This means draining the humidifier and drying it. I place the apap in its bag inside my larger luggage bag and stand it in the closet. This way, it's out of harms way. It could be stolen, but as there are few alternatives, I don't worry about it.

[Muse-Inc]

I always have a 6-outlet surge protector, APAP sits on a non-slip piece of plastic at the back on nightstand plugged into the surge protector and whatever gadget I unplugged so I could plug in the surge protecter. I use a microfleece hose cover and just tuck the edge of the hose under the pillow. I use bottled water in the humidifier.

Daytime, APAP sits out unplugged, hose hangs over one of my hangers during the day, humidifier & mask in my mesh bag in the nightstand drawer atop a washcloth. I take small bottles of my soaps & a small spray bottle of vinegar inside 2 baggies in case of leaks.

I will be toting Method spray or wipes and swipe everything as it's easier than what I've done in the past. I fold the bedspread as I never need it...I sleep warm-hot. I have a piece of fabric that is similar to ultrasuede that I use as a blanket; it's lightweight and thin so it travels well, too it's very soft (my skin is easily irritated). I take my changes with the bottom sheet and pillowcases (my pillow sits on top) hoping they're clean.

I haven't flown since getting my equipment which presents it's own challenges.