Summer is a few short months away, and if you’re a planner, you’ve probably already stated making arrangements for vacation. In all the fun of booking, preparing and going on vacation, I always forget one thing—I have asthma and allergies. This might not seem like a big deal to some, but I am leaving the comfort zone of my allergy controlled home to go to a place that could be filled with triggers. I clean my home to help my asthma and allergies but will my hotel room offer the same amount of relief and comfort so I can enjoy vacation?
While preparing for a recent trip to Disney World, I set forth to see what I could find to make my stay a little better for my own asthma and allergies.
The night before we left for Florida, we stayed at the local airport Hyatt in a Certified Pure® room. It was a few dollars more than a standard room, but well worth it. I could tell as soon as I entered the room it was different than other hotel rooms I stayed in. It felt very clean. The carpets were specially cleaned, there was an air purification system in the room, and the mattress and pillows were encased in dust mite free covers. The bathroom soaps were all Hypo-allergenic and the room had a very light scent of Tea Tree Essential Oil, which is known to destroy airborne pathogens that cause allergies. This room was very well taken care of and really helped me feel the comfort that I was looking for.
The main hotel chains that offer Certified Pure® rooms are:
- Hilton
- Hyatt
- Residence Inn
- Doubletree
To find a Certified Pure® room for your next trip, visit www.pureroom.com.
The good news didn’t stop there. Walt Disney World resorts offer an allergy friendly cleaning process, but it is important to make the request at time of booking or a few weeks prior to arrival to allow the cleaning staff enough time to prepare for your arrival. Here are a couple of allergy friendly services offered:
- The resort can provide deep dry cleaning with additional shampooing of carpets, upholstery and drapes as long as the guest notifies the staff in advance.
- Housekeeping can be asked to use only vinegar and baking soda to clean the hotel room during the guest’s stay, avoiding the harsh scents of regular heavy duty cleaners.
- Steaming with hot water of any hard surfaces and bathroom and patio floors.
- Guest room air conditioning filters can be changed.
- Fragrance free soaps and hypoallergenic pillows are available.
- Bed linens and towels can be sent out and laundered with special hypo-allergenic soaps.
Leaving the comforts of your own home for a vacation can be a great adventure or an exacerbation waiting to happen, but proper preparation before leaving can make your vacation one to remember. Don’t be afraid to ask the resort, hotel, or realty company you’re working with if they offer special allergy friendly cleaning. Taking this extra step can make for a happy healthy vacation.
